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.
What to do
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."
What campers like
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."
What you should know
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."
Tips for camping with families
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.
Tips from RVers
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."
