East Portal Campground
Curecanti National Recreation Area — riverside
Location: Montrose, CO, CO
Price: From $20 per night
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (4 reviews)
Season: May through October
The East Portal Campground is located within Curecanti National Recreation Area, but is adjacent to and only accessible from Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The campground is located at the bottom of the canyon, along the Gunnison River. It is a small campground of 15 sites (10 are tent-only), shaded by box elder trees.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Bear Boxes
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/east-portal-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Small, secluded 15-site campground located at the bottom of Black Canyon of the Gunnison with riverside access and minimal crowds. Google reviewers consistently praise it as an incredible, peaceful camping experience with clean facilities.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear present in area — bear boxes provided at sites. Also watch for Long-tailed Weasel, Hopi Chipmunk, Bald Eagle, Dusky Grouse, and various lizard species.
Insider tips for East Portal Campground: Book early — federal campground fills quickly during season. 10 of 15 sites are tent-only; only a small handful are pull-in vehicle sites, rest require short carry-in. Access via East Portal Road, 5.5 miles from Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park entrance.
Skip East Portal Campground if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available at sites.. You prefer winter camping — campground closed November through April.. You want large, developed facilities — small campground with vault toilets only..
Best time to visit East Portal Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October; closed in winter when East Portal Road is closed by Bureau of Reclamation..
Nearby campgrounds: Black Canyon Of The Gunnison South Rim Campground (MONTROSE, CO), Black Canyon Of The Gunnison North Rim Campground (Montrose, CO), Cimarron Campground (Co) (Gunnison, CO), Lake Fork Campground (GUNNISON, CO).
Cell Phone Coverage at East Portal Campground
Cell signal at East Portal Campground (Montrose, CO): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
The East Portal Campground is located within Curecanti National Recreation Area, but is adjacent to and only accessible from Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The campground is located at the bottom of the canyon, along the Gunnison River. It is a small campground of 15 sites (10 are tent-only), shaded by box elder trees.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
federal campground fills quickly during season.
10 of 15 sites are tent-only; only a small handful are pull-in vehicle sites, rest require short carry-in.
Access via East Portal Road, 5.5 miles from Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park entrance.
Campground operates seasonally May through October; closed in winter when East Portal Road is closed by Bureau of Reclamation.
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
After entering Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, turn right on East Portal Rd and follow it for 5.5 miles (8.7 km). NOTE: East Portal Campground is closed in winter, when the Bureau of Reclamation closes the East Portal Road.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Curecanti National Recreation Area fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Curecanti National Recreation Area before arrival — seasonal closures common.
- Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does East Portal Campground cost per night?+
What season is East Portal Campground open?+
Does East Portal Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at East Portal Campground?+
How do I make reservations at East Portal Campground?+
What is the cell service like at East Portal Campground?+
What season is East Portal Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
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