This river loses more elevation in 48 miles, than the Mississippi River does in 2000 miles. There are a few different options for camping along its edge, but all of them have very little shade and some suffer from the noisy highway running next to the reservoir. That means investors do NOT run the show. One had a decent amount of shade from the juniper trees, but some sites are fairly exposed to the wind and sun. RV camping in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is the perfect opportunity to explore the Colorado wilderness. Find the best campgrounds & rv parks near Black Canyon Gunnison Nat'l Park, Colorado. For most people with a 4WD vehicle looking for dispersed camping near the Black Canyon National Park, this is your best bet. Located within walking distance to the Black Canyon, North Rim Campground gets an A+ for proximity. This trail was supposed to be a mile in length, but felt more like 3 miles round trip. The road is an unpaved switchback with grades up to 16%. Questions or comments. There are two campgrounds in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park: South Rim and North Rim. This unpaved area is full of deeply-rutted dirt roads. RV Parks. The top choices for campgrounds on the Blue Mesa Reservoir are: (1) Lake Fork Campground, (2) the Elk Creek Campground, and (3) Steven’s Creek Campground. We stayed at Elk Creek campground. The BCNP is beautiful, but the area immediately surrounding it is somewhat drab. Or tell us about your favorite dog-friendly activities in the nearby area? You must obtain a permit before venturing into the Canyon trails. The East Portal Campground is located in the Curecanti National Recreation Area, directly east of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. With lots of great views, hiking and fishing opportunities, this campground is highly recommended. Check out our guide to finding cheap flights for more tips. Knowledge of self-rescue techniques is vital. Severe temperature swings happen at this campground, sometimes exceeding 30° F in one day. There are 15 sites at this campground, which are all first-come, first-served. Then check out the nearby hotels in Montrose (south rim) and Hotchkiss (north rim). Additionally, for those without dogs, there are some designated camping areas along the inner canyon hiking routes. Or head northeast toward Telluride. The town of Montrose is about 30 minutes away from the South Rim’s Visitor’s Center. The best way to experience this 32,950-acre national park is by getting amongst it. This article may contain affiliate links. Look no further for some of the best camping in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, plus tips to enjoy your stay from The Dyrt Ranger team the Switchback Kids. Another camping option, which we took advantage of, is to use the nearby Curecanti National Recreation Area. Required fields are marked *. Pets are not allowed on any other hiking trails, inner canyon routes or in the wilderness area. The Shall Gas station in northern Montrose offers a water fill and dump station. The main advantage to this area is that the trailhead begins at the base of the canyon, along the Gunnison River. For more information on the North Rim routes, see the NPS website. Trash disposal and bathrooms are available year round, potable water is seasonal (mid-May through mid-October). Even though the campground is located at the edge of the national park,  you still have a twisty ride down to the river. Hi! There is a toilet in the parking lot, but it is seasonal and may be closed during the winter. There are main reasons why people enjoy camping here: (1) It is located on the shoreline of the Gunnison River and (2) There are many box elder trees which provide shade to the campsites. Join our travel community to get access to our free guide on traveling off the beaten path AND our Ultimate Carry-on Only Packing List! Poison ivy is abundant and isolation is nearly guaranteed. So pack up your gear and your four-legged companion and plan a road trip to this spectacular national park. From the narrow canyon like feel in portions of the trail, to the sweeping vistas as we climbed higher. Thank you for supporting our work! A deep and dark canyon was created, containing the tallest cliff in Colorado – Black Canyon’s Painted wall stands at 2,250 ft. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is so sheer, deep and narrow, that sunlight only touches the canyon floor when the sun is directly overhead. But many fisherman say it is an ideal route for overnight backpacking near many fishing holes along the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon National Park. We loved being able to leave the parking lot with the pups and walk the short distances out to find even more astounding views. Don’t overlook this great national park in western Colorado. Great tips, thanks for taking the time to help East coasters like us navigate this beautiful part of our country. To the west of Black Canyon of the Gunnison, McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Camp in Colorado’s Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Camping Closures in State Parks & National Parks, RV Camping Tips and Tricks for First-Timers, 9 Small Campers You Can Pull with Almost Any Car, 7 Campgrounds in Florida That Campers Can't Get Enough Of, Freak Out Your Friends with These 13 Scary Campfire Stories, 12 Cars That Can Handle Dirt Roads and Camping, Everything You Need to Know About Wifi for Your RV, 9 Tips That Make Sleeping in Your Car Way Less Miserable, How The Dyrt Built the Biggest Camping Community, 4 Fall-Inspired Camping Breakfast Recipes, Here’s October 2020’s Campground Review Contest Winners, The Best of The Best—7 Superb Campgrounds Near Boise, Idaho, 7 Most Popular Campgrounds Near Green Bay, Wisconsin, 7 Picturesque Campgrounds Near Portland, Maine, Eureka! Some have a good amount while others are a bit more exposed. Black Canyon of the Gunnison’s pet policy, McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, Hurtta Expedition Parka Review: A High-Quality Winter Coat for your 4-Legged Best Friend, Minnesota Hiking Club Trails that you and your dog can hike all year round (including winter), How to Protect Your Dog’s Paws in the Winter, Backpacking with a Reactive Dog: What It’s Really Like. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is so sheer, deep and narrow, that sunlight only touches the canyon floor when the sun is directly overhead. Outside of the Park, I’d suggest heading either south toward the town of Ouray and into the Uncompahgre National Forest (you could maybe even stay a night at Silver Jack Campground). Free camping nearby! Obviously not looking for a guarantee, but in your opinion, is it worth trying to get site that late or should I just book a site at a local campground. We would have been impressed if the Rim Rock Trail was the only dog-friendly trail. Read more about us. There is a two night maximum stay for hikers, while boaters can only stay for one night. Not sure what topic you want to explore, but want a list of all blog posts and pages? Are these names getting to you yet? Here is a brochure with much of the information needed to camp near the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. There is no shortage of Black Canyon camping options. Get ready for your spectacular trip with this ultimate Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park RV camping guide! We’re Michael and Kristina, the adventurers behind Off Path Travels. Or check out the options for Hotchkiss, a smaller town. But this may be an option if you need to stay more than one night. Like many National Park campgrounds, reservations can be made up to six months in advance via recreation.gov. Especially compared to it’s nearby better known cousins – such as Rocky Mountain National Park (with over 4 million annual visitors) or Arches National Park (with 1.4 million annual visitors). Enjoying a walk with the dogs along the rim of this spectacular canyon was an experience we highly recommend. Now it’s time for you to make your choice and finish planning your trip to this awesome National Park. Click here to continue reading about other campgrounds in the area. Otherwise, maybe finding a spot in the campgrounds east of BCNP would be a nice compromise. We started with hiking the Rim Rock Trail. The last 7 miles of the road to the North Rim are unpaved and the road is closed in the winter. As far as hikes go, if you want an easier hike inside the Park, we enjoyed the out-and-back trail at the western end of the Park near High Point. Don’t worry, the Gunnison Gorge NCA offers dispersed camping in many other areas away from the river. More details below in our “activities in the surrounding areas” section. There are a few campsites very close to the road which may be suitable for some larger vehicles, but the best sites are tucked away down the road. 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