East Portal Campground

East Portal Campground is a small, 15-site campground at the bottom of Black Canyon, beside the Gunnison River and shaded by box elder trees. It’s a very different overnight stay from the rim campgrounds: wooded sites down at river level, reached by a steep canyon road. I’d choose it for that lower-canyon setting and a simple night outside, not for quick access to the overlooks or full-service campground amenities. The site is inside Curecanti National Recreation Area, but the NPS says it’s accessible only from Black Canyon National Park.

From the entrance station, East Portal Road drops about five miles to the campground. The road has a 16% grade and tight curves, and vehicles longer than 22 feet, trailer included, aren’t allowed. Check the length of the whole rig before going down. Five sites have parking beside them; ten are walk-in sites reached by steps, so expect to carry gear from the parking area. The campground roads and parking are gravel, and the sites are unimproved ground.

NPS lists seasonal vault toilets and potable water, along with food-storage lockers and trash collection. There are no showers or camp store, so bring meals and supplies. Sites are first-come, with no reservations. Payment is through Recreation.gov’s Scan & Pay app, and there’s no cell service at camp, so set it up before you lose coverage. The campground is not wheelchair accessible.