Black Canyon of the Gunnison cuts one of the deepest, narrowest canyons in North America, and the campground setup reflects the park's remote feel even though the South Rim is accessible by paved road from Montrose. Two campgrounds sit on the South Rim: North Campground and South Campground, both on recreation.gov, with a mix of tent and RV sites. North Campground is open year-round; South Campground has a shorter season. Neither has hookups. No-fee camping outside Black Canyon covers the options on national forest and BLM land surrounding the park boundary.
The South Rim sits at about 8,000 feet, so even summer evenings are cool and conditions shift fast. The North Rim is a rougher, longer drive and has a small campground with primitive sites. Montrose is the practical gateway for supplies and fuel before heading into the park. Reservations at the South Rim campgrounds are recommended from May through September. The Black Canyon cabin campgrounds page covers the cabin options in the surrounding terrain with more shelter than the open rim sites.
Compare 2 top campgrounds at a time to find your favorite!
Round 1 of 5
$20 - $34 / night
"The South Rim Campground at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a fantastic place! I should know, my wife and I are the current volunteer campground hosts."
"The South Rim Campground is similar to other national park campground in that it provides convenient access to park activities and trails, but it stands apart due to the fact that the camping fees are"
"Great location right next to the park! There are plenty of sites and the views are beautiful. Entrance was slightly rutted so make sure you can off-road just a bit!"
"A few minutes outside the south gate of the park. Multiple sites, most of which are on dirt. Paths to and from can be a bit rough for most passenger vehicles. But it’s quite and close to the park."
$20 / night
"Driving through Colorado in the fall there is nothing which can compare. "
"Camped one night on our road trip throughout southwestern Colorado. Campsites over look the canyon."
$36 / night
"Peaceful park near Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Sites clean with water and electric. Nice wildlife viewing."
"Great view of the lake but the lake level was down so we weren't as close as you could be but still a great lake & mountain view. I have Verizon I had 2 to 3 bars & could stream Pandora."
$20 / night
"There are fifteen spots, 7 of those have drive in access, the other 8 are a park and walk down a small embankment - but oh, what a setting - set in a grove of trees, it was beautiful."
"down the road, you park in the sites facing the river, and walk your stuff down a little embankment to very cool, quiet, shady sites that I really liked."
"It is about 20 min to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. They have bathrooms, showers and laundry facility and they even have mini golf. Good wifi and LTE with Verizon is fine here."
"The RV sites are all on gravel but there is a large grassy area near the office. The site is on the edge of town but was fairly quiet. Nice clean laundry and restrooms."
"This campground is a gem as other reviewers have cited, BUT the road in is dangerous when wet as there is a lot of exposure off the edge. An AWD would be ok but still dicey on the downhills."
"Stunning scenery and right next to the river. The road coming in is not for the faint of heart, but it was very doable in my minivan going slow."
$42 - $149 / night
"Do hear a bit of traffic noise from highway when close to front gate. River sights look nicer. I would stay here again without hesitation"
"We camped next to the pond. Staff very welcoming. Propane on site and they fill. Laundry facilities a bit small."
$28 - $36 / night
"The site was big and a real short walk from the car. It was nice that the road didn't go next to the campsite like usual so it cut down on noise."
"Water access nearby. Bathrooms were super clean and the showers were nice and hot. Laundry facilities available. We stayed on D-183 and had a nice view of the mountains and the lake."
"from the main road but very quiet. we arrived at night and there was plenty of spots. we camped in the car just for the night but plenty of flat land for tents and we say a fire pit. only a 15 minute drive"
GuideClean bathrooms, there’s the laundry room, that then leads to a women’s & men’s restroom. Showers are their own stalls which is nice. They also look clean. Nice spot in town, no Mountain View but there is a little creek!
ScoutAbsolutely gorgeous campground. The sign warns against anything longer than 24 ft or 35 ft combined. I'm at about 42 ft but took a chance. The road in is paved and no problem, but once inside the campground, that's another story. I made it all the way thru, but it was very tight in a few spots. Site 1 is listed as tent only, but fit my rig just fine. Recreation.gov lists it all FCFS, but many sites are reserved. Take the bears seriously, the host says they are there almost every night.
GuideAbsolutely stunning site with views of lake and mountains. Multiple trailheads near by in walking distance. Plenty of sites but definitely busy. I stayed on a Tuesday night and it was 3/4 full but everyone was very considerate and it was still almost silent most of the day! The road in is difficult. I have a 4WD with a pretty high clearance and I would not reccommend doing the road in on anything less. Boulders in the road, sharp switchbacks, narrow dirt roads with steep dropoff. It’s a gorgeous drive and the campground make it well worth it, but definitely be prepared and take it slow!
ScoutEverything here is covered in poop.
ScoutRough roads. Brought a truck camper on an F350. Easy to find a spot though. Easy access to the park. Very quiet and secluded
TravelerThe spots were nice for dispersed camping, nice shade. The spots were close together but enough cover to feel separated.
Legend20 minutes from Montrose and a little road noise during the day but right on a beautiful Creek and affordable with garbage and water service and a store a few miles away that sells basics. Overall a very nice Campground for the price and in a great location near Black Canyon National Park
GuideStayed in early Sept ‘23 and it’s still one of my favorite campsites. Our site was very private with trees between us and our neighbors. No real view from the site of the canyon, but an incredible spot for stargazing. Pretty primitive site but the whole park is pretty primitive. One of my favorite NPs!
LegendJust before bridge that crosses creek to Ironton staging area, make a right onto 20D (fases white sign) and there are numerous spots, some right next to the creek and others with lots of turn around room and room for rigs up to almost 40 feet off a road that sedans can travel on for the most part. Negative is that it is very close to the highway which can get busy during the day with trucks using air brakes but otherwise it's a beautiful spot.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park sits at elevations ranging from 5,800 to 8,200 feet, creating distinct microclimates throughout the camping areas. The canyon's steep black walls drop dramatically to the Gunnison River, with some campsites positioned at lower elevations offering relief from altitude symptoms. Many campgrounds near the Black Canyon remain open year-round, though amenities like drinking water are typically available only from mid-May through mid-October.
Fishing access at canyon bottom: The East Portal Campground provides the only easy vehicle access to the Gunnison River. "The Gunnison here is gold medal trout water, being just below a dam, and there is about a mile of water fishable from shore/via wading from the camp site. Lots of big brown trout can be seen just hanging out a few feet from shore via the little path," notes a East Portal Campground camper.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Dawn and dusk present prime wildlife spotting times. "Deer roaming through the campground and one hung out by my site for awhile," reports one visitor at South Rim Campground. At East Portal, another camper observed, "I've always loved this place ever since I got to bear watch here for hours. My girlfriend and I got extremely lucky while sitting on the river. We saw 5-6 different bears come down to take a drink!"
Hiking from campgrounds: Several trails connect directly from camping areas. "There is a nice hike from the campground to the visitor center and around down a little ways into a canyon. A wilderness permit is required to go further into the canyon however," explains a reviewer at North Rim Campground. At Black Canyon Dispersed Camping, one visitor noted, "There is a trail called Cool Rock Trail and it was a nice trail. Hot for sure, so take plenty of water."
Altitude advantages: The varying elevations offer camping options for those sensitive to altitude. At East Portal, "because you take a steep, twisty ride down to the river, the elevation went from over 9000 to under 7000, a welcome change if you aren't acclimated to the altitude." The campground host at South Rim notes, "The South Rim Campground at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a fantastic place! It's a fantastic cool campground in the summer heat."
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the separation between sites. "Sites pretty close together, although our site was on the end and larger," explains one North Rim Campground visitor. At South Rim Campground, a camper mentioned, "Thick oak brush and other vegetation makes the sites feel private."
Stargazing conditions: The park's remote location creates excellent night sky viewing. One camper at North Rim Campground shared, "Absence of light pollution means awesome night skies!" At Black Canyon Dispersed Camping on BLM land, a visitor noted, "It's only 5 miles from the North Rim of Black Canyon National Park. I stayed here 3 days and never saw or heard another person."
Weather patterns: Temperatures fluctuate dramatically between day and night. "The weather in the canyon at the end of June is hot during the day and comfortable at night," reports a visitor at Cottonwood Grove Campground. Another camper at South Rim noted, "This is high desert so it does get hot during the day and cold at night."
Access limitations: Some campgrounds have vehicle restrictions. At East Portal Campground, "Well, very steep twisty road to access. CG is small and very limited for anything larger than van, trucks, tenters and small Class Cs. Signs at top note vehicles over 22ft prohibited." For Black Canyon dispersed BLM camping, "The road can be rough, especially slippery mud after rain."
Water limitations: Water availability varies significantly by location and season. A South Rim camper points out, "Campsites are open year round, but drinking water is only available mid-May through mid-October. There is drinking water available with bottle fill stations at each of the three loops. This is a difficult place to get water to, and so this is low pressure bottle fill only; not something you can fill freshwater tanks from."
Biking opportunities: Paved paths at some campgrounds are ideal for children. At Iron Creek Campground in Crawford State Park, one visitor shared, "We love this campground for many reasons. Great loops for biking with kids, very clean campsites and nice bathrooms, great trails for biking or walking between the camp loops, nice reservoir for water activities."
Shade requirements: Several campgrounds have limited tree cover. At Iron Creek Campground, "The only problem we have ran into here is the sun. We used a sun shade with a tarp on one side that we would keep rotating during the day to create shade. The sun is unbearable here for a whole weekend without some shade!"
Wildlife encounters: Plan for safe wildlife viewing with children. At East Portal Campground, a camper noted, "Saw and heard lots of wildlife. Deer for sure and a few bald eagles." At South Rim, a visitor observed, "Lots of birds, deer and other wildlife." Prepare children for encounters and pack binoculars for distant viewing.
Site selection strategies: For larger RVs, careful site selection is critical. At Cedar Creek RV Park in Montrose, "If you have a large RV or camper, there may not be a lot of sites that work for you, check the photos and use the length filter when looking at sites!" For South Rim Campground, "Pay attention to the driveway length figures in rec.gov as they are pretty accurate."
Hookup availability: Electric sites are limited at park campgrounds. At South Rim Campground, "Electric sites (22 of them for $34/night) have brand new 20/30/50 amp service. Everything is working great! All other sites are $20." For full hookups, Cedar Creek RV Park provides "Wifi and T-Mobile service are good. Park is clean and front desk people are friendly and helpful."
Road condition awareness: Some campgrounds have challenging access roads. For East Portal, "Put your car in low gear going down into the canyon. I had a jeep and didn't and I could smell the pungent smell of my brakes burning up." At Black Canyon dispersed camping, "This campground is a gem, BUT the road in is dangerous when wet as there is a lot of exposure off the edge."
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dispersed camping allowed near Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park?
While dispersed camping isn't permitted within Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park itself, several nearby areas offer dispersed camping options. The Curecanti National Recreation Area has multiple dispersed camping sites just east of the park. Curecanti Creek - Curecanti National Recreation Area offers beautiful sites near Morrow Point Reservoir. For a more remote experience, Oh Be Joyful Campground provides pristine dispersed camping options. Always check current regulations with the National Park Service or Forest Service offices before setting up camp, as rules may change seasonally. Most dispersed camping in the area follows standard regulations: camp at least 100 feet from water sources, practice Leave No Trace principles, and limit stays to 14 days.
Do I need reservations for camping at Black Canyon of the Gunnison?
Reservations are highly recommended for certain campgrounds at Black Canyon of the Gunnison, especially during peak season (summer months). At the South Rim Campground, Loops A and B require reservations, while Loop C remains first-come, first-served. Loop B offers electric hookups, making it particularly popular among RV campers. For those who prefer guaranteed accommodations, Iron Creek Campground — Crawford State Park near the North Rim offers reservable sites with water and electric hookups. Alternatively, Cedar Creek RV Park in Montrose (about 20 minutes from the park) provides reliable reservations with full amenities. During busy summer weekends and holidays, securing reservations weeks or even months in advance is advisable.
Where are the campgrounds located in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park?
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has two main campgrounds, one on each rim. South Rim Campground — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is located near the visitor center, approximately 8,200 feet in elevation, and offers three loops (A, B, and C) with a mix of reservable and first-come, first-served sites. The North Rim Campground is more remote and rustic, accessible via a gravel road from Crawford. For those seeking camping near the river at the bottom of the canyon, East Portal Campground — Curecanti National Recreation Area offers 15 spots with some drive-in access, located along the river in a beautiful setting with basic amenities.
What's the difference between the North and South Rim campgrounds at Black Canyon of the Gunnison?
The South and North Rim campgrounds offer distinctly different experiences. South Rim Campground is more developed and accessible, located at 8,200 feet elevation with 88 sites across three loops. It features electric hookups in Loop B, flush toilets, and water stations. It's closer to services in Montrose and the main visitor center. The North Rim Campground is significantly more remote and rustic, with only 13 first-come, first-served sites, vault toilets, and no hookups or water (bring your own). The North Rim is accessible via a gravel road and offers a quieter, less crowded experience. For those seeking alternatives with more amenities, Montrose / Black Canyon Nat'l Park KOA and Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch provide comfortable options within driving distance of the park.
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