East Portal Campground
The Quick Take
East Portal is the campground most visitors never find, and regulars hope stays that way. While the South Rim campgrounds sit comfortably at the top of Black Canyon, East Portal drops you to the actual river at the bottom -- a descent down a road so steep and winding that anything longer than a mid-size SUV with a small trailer is literally banned. The reward is enormous: you camp in the shade of box elder trees with the Gunnison River steps away, surrounded by canyon walls that block out everything except a ribbon of sky. The trade-off is real -- no showers, no dump station, no cell service, and only fifteen sites total. This is the campground for anglers chasing Gold Medal trout water, anyone who wants to hear the river instead of generators, and campers who think the journey down is half the fun.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 15 sites are reservable.
What You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. Maximum length: 22 feet. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
5 ADA-accessible campsites. Accessible restrooms available. The campground is not wheelchair accessible. Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Rules to Know
- Fires:--Properly extinguish fires.
- Bear Safety:--Use bear boxes for any scented items, food, etc.
- Occupancy:--Maximum occupancy: 8 people, 2 vehicles per campsite.
- Stay Limit:--Stay is limited to 14 consecutive nights for a total of 30 days within a calendar year.
Pro Tips
East Portal Road has a 16% grade with hairpin turns -- drive it in daylight your first time. If your rig is anywhere close to 22 feet total (truck plus trailer), measure twice. Rangers will turn you around at the top, and there is no place to unhitch on the way down.
This stretch of the Gunnison is Gold Medal trout water, and the fishing access from camp is exceptional. Bring your Colorado fishing license and gear -- you can wade right in from the campground area without needing to hike. Early morning before the sun clears the canyon walls is prime time.
Water is only available mid-May through mid-September, timed to frost dates. If you are camping at the season edges in May or October, pack in all your own water. Also bring your own firewood -- there is none sold down here, and gathering is restricted.
Photos
NPS photo
NPS photoGetting There
Directions
From Montrose, take Hwy 50 east. After about 6 miles, turn left onto Hwy 347 and follow it for 6 miles into Black Canyon National Park. At the park’s entrance station, turn right onto East Portal Road. Continue 5 miles to the base of the canyon and turn left at the signed junction toward the campground. The campground is just past the ranger station. Due to East Portal Road's steepness (16% grade) and tight curves, vehicles longer than 22 feet (6.7 m)--*trailer included*--are prohibited on East Portal Road.
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