🚗 Scenic Drive & Hidden Gems: Exploring Curecanti National Recreation Area

Switching Gears RV Diary
Aug 24, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Aug 31, 2025

August 24, 2025

🏕️ Where to Camp in Curecanti: From Lakeside to Secluded

🌲 Elk Creek Campground (Main Campground)

📍 16 miles west of Gunnison
🚿 Flush toilets, showers
🔌 Electric hookups (Loop D)
🚐 RV-friendly, dump station
🛥️ Marina with boat rentals & fish-cleaning station
🎟️ Reservations available for Loops A & D
🛒 Visitor center & small store nearby
🌌 Ranger talks & astronomy programs in amphitheater

🚣 Lake Fork Campground

📍 Near Blue Mesa Dam (west end)
🛶 Closest to the smaller marina
🚿 Flush toilets, showers
🔌 Electric & water hookups
🧱 Tiered layout with some privacy walls
🅿️ RV & trailer friendly (level sites)
🎟️ Reservations accepted

🏞️ Stevens Creek Campground

📍 North shore of Blue Mesa, near Hwy 50
🏕️ 53 sites (tent to large RVs)
🚰 Seasonal potable water
♻️ Trash, vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings
🔥 Great for peaceful camping & birdwatching
📶 Limited to no cell service

🚂 Cimarron Campground

📍 East end of Curecanti, near old rail site
🏕️ 21 first-come, first-served sites
🧼 Flush toilets, potable water, dump station
🎫 Free or low cost
🚂 Near historic Locomotive #278 & railroad exhibits

🌳 Other Notable Campgrounds

Dry Gulch (9 shaded sites + horse corrals)
Red Creek, Ponderosa, Gateview – Primitive, secluded, scenic
East Elk Creek Group Site – Great for larger gatherings

💡 Senior & Access Pass holders get 50% off fees!📲 Pro tip: Always check for seasonal closures, fire restrictions, and algae blooms before planning your stay!

🛶 Paddle the Canyons: Morrow Point Boat Tour & Canoeing

🌄 Morrow Point Boat Tour (Ranger-Guided)

⏱️ ~1.5 hours through upper Black Canyon
🛶 Scenic pontoon ride with expert narration
🥾 Requires hike down 232 stairs (via Pine Creek Trail)
🕰️ Daily tours (except Tuesdays) May–Sept
💳 Adults $12 | Kids $6 | Seniors/Access Pass $6
📅 Reservations required via Recreation.gov

🚣 Canoeing & Kayaking Morrow Point Reservoir

🛶 Hand-carry boats only (no trailers)
🏞️ About 12 miles long, ideal for calm paddling after first half mile
🏕️ 4 designated backcountry sites with toilets & fire grates
🪪 Free backcountry permit required (available at trailhead)
🐕 Pets allowed (must wear life jackets!)
🕶️ Start early — winds pick up in afternoon

🥾 Access via Pine Creek Trail:

1-mile round trip
Picnic tables at boat launch
Steep but manageable with good shoes

💡 Pro Tip: Anchor your boat — sudden water releases can shift conditions fast!

👻 Lost Towns Beneath Blue Mesa Reservoir

🏚️ Lola: Once home to 200–300 residents, its remains occasionally reappear during drought
🏫 Foundation of the old school & flagpole visible in dry years
🌊 Sapinero: The largest submerged town; relocated nearby
🏞️ Cebolla: Another small community lost beneath the waves

🧭 Blue Mesa Reservoir is Colorado’s largest lake — 20 miles long, 96 miles of shoreline, and 341 feet deep at max.

⚙️ Engineering Marvels: Dams & Hydropower

🧱 Morrow Point Dam

🇺🇸 First thin-arch, double-curvature concrete dam in U.S.
💧 Four 15-ft spillway gates drop 350+ feet
⚡ 225-ft underground power plant inside canyon wall
⚙️ 230kV underground power lines beneath your feet!

🌊 Blue Mesa Dam

🏗️ Built in 1966
💡 Produces 86 megawatts (enough for 60,000 homes)
🐟 Supports Kokanee salmon runs (largest in U.S.)
🛥️ Next to Lake Fork Marina & campground

🔥 Recently used for wildfire suppression by Super Scooper planes, pulling water at 100mph and dumping 1,500 gallons in 3 seconds!

🏙️ Gunnison: Basecamp for Campers

While Curecanti offers peace and scenery, Gunnison is your go-to for gear, food, and services!

🧰 What Campers Will Find in Gunnison:

🛒 Grocery Stores: City Market, Safeway
🛠️ Auto & RV Repairs: Local garages + trailer shops
🍽️ Restaurants & Cafés: Fuel your next adventure
🚿 Laundromats & Showers: Refresh after days outdoors
🧗 Outfitters & Sporting Goods: For hiking, fishing, off-roading
🛫 Airport Access: Small regional airport with flights to Denver
🏫 Home to Western Colorado University

💡 Known as one of the coldest towns in the U.S., Gunnison sits at 7,700 feet and regularly hits ‑40°F in winter. In summer, it’s a cool paradise at 74°F.