In association with Hikercentral.com
and Goingoutside.com
In association with Hikercentral.com
and Goingoutside.com
I'm Dick Martinez, welcome to my Great Paddling Site.
Don't forget to bring the following items when you go paddling.
| MOSQUITO PROTECTION | You need to bring a pack of mosquito coils, otherwise your trip will be quite miserable. | |
| TENT | Don't pay more than $25 for a two person tent. I've been using a $20 tent from Target for the last five years, sometimes in snow storms, it's starting to get a bit faded but it's still OK. Unless you're going to the Himalayas an expensive tent is a complete waste of money, unless of course you're one of those people that buy expensive gear to impress people. | |
| STRING | If you've ever gone on an over night canoeing trip and didn't bring string you probably ended up wishing you would have brought some string with you. String is very useful every time. | |
| CAMPING SAW | A lot of people don't bring a camp saw when they go paddling, but they really should. It comes in very handy in an emergency to make a shelter or to cut some wood for a fire. | |
| STOVE | You've got
to burn wood, not gas. I makes no sense to bring gas to the wilderness if
there's no need for it. As far as I know the lightest wood stove there is,
is the Stratus Trailstove. | |
| FIRST AID | Always bring one of those little first aid kits in case you get injured. |
Making a fire
Gather some wood, a handful of very thin twigs and a couple of handfuls of finger thick sticks will be enough to get things started. You also need to gather a number of larger pieces of wood to keep the fire going for as long as you want to.
Make a ring with rocks on the ground or dig a pit for the fire.
Make a teepee shape with the sticks and twigs, the thinner pieces on the inside and the thicker on the outside, leave a space open on one side of the teepee.
Put some starter material such as some dry leaves into the side opening and ignite.
Once the teepee collapses into a random looking heap of fire you can start adding the bigger pieces.
Gunnison, CO
Three reservoirs, named for corresponding dams on the Gunnison River, form the heart of Curecanti National Recreation Area. Panoramic mesas, fjord-like reservoirs, and deep, steep and narrow canyons abound. Blue Mesa Reservoir is Colorado's largest body of water, and is the largest Kokanee Salmon fishery in the United States. Morrow Point Reservoir is the beginning of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and below, Crystal Reservoir is the site of the Gunnison Diversion Tunnel, a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Recently discovered dinosaur fossils, a 5,000 acre archeological district, a narrow gauge train, and traces of 6000 year old dwellings further enhance the offerings of Curecanti.
CONTACTS
Email - CURE_Info@nps.gov
Fax- 970-641-3127
Write to
102 Elk Creek
Gunnison, CO 81230
Phone
Headquarters - 970-641-2337
Visitor Information -
970-641-2337 x205
TRAVEL BASICS
Operating Hours,
Seasons
The park is open every day of the year. Visitor centers are
open daily, mid-May through the end of September. Elk Creek Visitor Center
daily until the end of November, and then is open every weekend throughout
the winter (closed on Federal holidays) and intermittently during the
week.
Getting There
PLANE - Commercial airlines to Denver,
Gunnison, Montrose, and Grand Junction airports.
CAR - Via Highway 50 which runs the length of the recreation area between Montrose and Gunnison, Colorado (approximately 200 miles SW of Denver) and is easily accessed from CO Hwy 149, and CO Hwy 92.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - By bus: To Gunnison, Montrose, and Grand Junction By train: To Grand Junction
Weather & Climate
Weather can vary greatly throughout the
day. Summer daytime temperatures range between 50 to 90F (10 to 32C),
nights 40 to 60F (4 to 15C) Winter daytime temperatures range between -20
to +40F (-29 to +4C), nights -30 to +20F (-34 to -7C) Precipitation is
minimal, brief afternoon thunderstorms can occur during the summer, snow
accumulation varies greatly year to year. Layered clothing appropriate for
the season is recommended. Current weather information and a live webcam
picture from Elk Creek Visitor Center is available by clicking on the
"more information" link.
Accessibility
Accessible Visitor Centers at Elk Creek, Lake
Fork, and Cimarron. Accessible comfort stations, camping sites at Stevens
Creek, Elk Creek, Lake Fork,and Cimarron. Accessible overlooks at Dillon
Pinnacles, Hermits Rest.
Getting Around
By boat, by car and on foot.
FEES/PERMITS
Activity Fee
BOAT
PERMIT
$30.00 for Annual
$10.00 for 14 Days
$4.00
for 2 Days
Required for all motorized and/or state registered
water craft.
CAMPING
Cimarron
Open
From April to December
20 miles east of Montrose off Highway 50.
Cimarron campground is accessible with 22 sites, 5 pull through sites,
located in the vicinity of a historic narrow gauge railroad town. Water
and flush toilets, Denver and Rio Grande Wester Railroad exhibits, visitor
center, RV dump station, and easy access to fishing on Crystal Reservoir
neat the Morrow Point Dam. $10.00 per night. No water available at
beginning and end of season.
For More Information on this campground
please call 970-249-4074
Dry Gulch
Open From May to
November
Located near Blue Mesa Reservoir, 17 miles west of Gunnison.
10 sites secluded among cottonwood trees. Picnic tables, fire grates,
vault toilets and water. $10.00 per night.
For More Information on
this campground please call 970-641-2337 ext 205
East Elk
Creek
Open From mid-May to end of September
16 1/2 miles west of
Gunnison off Highway 50. Group camping for up to 50 people located near
Blue Mesa Reservoir. One group site among cottonwood trees, picnic tables
and shelter, fire grate, vault toilets and water. Showers and marina 1
mile away. Fee is $2.00 a person with a $30.00 minimum per night.
Reservations required.
For More Information on this campground
please call 970-641-2337
East Portal
Open From
mid-april to mid November
Located at the bottom of the Black Canyon of
the Gunnison below Crystal Dam. Access via the East Portal Road from the
south rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Paved road with
steep grade and switchbacks - NO trailers, buses or large RVs. 15 sites
among trees next to river, near the historic Gunnison River Diversion
Tunnel. Good fishing access. Picnic tables, fire grates, vault toilets,
water and vistor contact station. $10.00 per night.
For More
Information on this campground please call 970-641-2337 ext
205
Elk Creek
Open All Year
16 miles west of Gunnison
on Highway 50. 179 (40 are under construction) sites located on the shore
of Blue Mesa Reservoir in treeless, sagebrush, mesa country. 16 walk-in
sites and 15 pull-through sites are available. Elk Creek Campground is
accessible, has flush toilets, water, RV dump station, showers, marina,
restaurant, and a visitor center. Fee: $10.00 per night. No water
available at beginning and end of season. Water is available at the nearby
Elk Creek Picnic area year round. Loop D is closed for construction in
2001.
For More Information on this campground please call
970-641-2337 ext 205
Gateview
Open From mid-May to
mid-November
Located at extreme southern end of Lake Fork arm of Blue
Mesa Reservoir on Lake Fork of Gunnison River. Access vis Colorado Highway
149. Seven sites deep in canyon with remote access. Picnic talbes, fire
grates, vault toilets, water. No fee, dirt road access.
For More
Information on this campground please call 970-641-2337 ext
205
Lake Fork
Open From mid-April to end of
September
27 miles west of Gunnison off Highway 50. 87 sites, most are
paved, 16 pull through sites, 5 walk in sites, next to Blue Mesa
Reservoir. Lake Fork Campground is accessible, has flush toilets, water,
showers, marina, an RV dump station, visitor center, campground
amphitheater and is close to Blue Mesa Dam. $10.00 per night. No water
available at beginning and end of season.
For More Information on
this campground please call 970-641-2337 ext
205
Ponderosa
Open From third week in April to end of
November
Located at end of Soap Creek Arm of Blue Mesa Reservoir.
Access via Soap Creek Road, 7 miles north on this gravel road - hazardous
when wet. Nine walk in and 20 drive in sites among scattered pine trees.
Picnic tables, fire grates, vault toilets, water, boat ramp and horse
corral. $10.00 per night.
For More Information on this campground
please call 970-641-2337 ext 205
Red Creek
Open From
mid-May to mid-November
Located near Blue Mesa Reservoir 19 miles west
of Gunnison. Two individual sites with picnic tables, fire grates, vault
toilets and water. $10.00 per night. One group site up to 25 people. $2.00
per person with minimum $20.00 per night.
Stevens
Creek
Open From May to end of October
12 miles west of Gunnison
off Highway 50. Stevens Creek is an accessible campground with 54 sites on
Blue Mesa Reservoir, water, vault toilets, campground amphitheater, boat
ramp and fishing access. $10.00 per night
For More Information on
this campground please call 970-641-2337 ext
205
FACILITIES
Visitor
Centers
CIMARRON
Summer 9:00 - 4:00
Phone -
970-249-4074
Location - near Cimarron, CO, 35 miles west of
Gunnison.
Closures - open in summer only
Exhibits -
Denver and Rio Grande Western Narrow Gauge Railroad cars and engine.
Books, posters, maps and postcard sales outlet.
Available Facilities
- adjoining campground
ELK CREEK
Spring 8:00 am - 4:30
pm
Summer 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Fall 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Phone -
970-641-2337 ext 205
Location - 16 miles west of Gunnison, CO on
US Hwy 50.
Closures - in Winter
Special Programs -
Morning and Afternoon interpretive programs at the Visitor Center
during the summer. Kids programs on weekends. Evening Programs at the Elk
Creek campground every weekend evening during the summer.
Exhibits -
Photos and displays on scenic, natural and cultural resources of the
area.
Available Facilities - Large classroom used for resource
education classes and meetings.
LAKE FORK
Summer 9:00 -
4:00
Phone - 970-641-3128
Location - 25 miles west of
Gunnison on US Hwy 50, near the Blue Mesa Dam.
Closures - open
in summer only
Exhibits - Photos related to history and
resources of Curecanti. Book, poster, postcard sales
outlet.
Available Facilities - in campground, near
marina.
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