Red Creek Group Site
Curecanti National Recreation Area
In the heart of southwest Colorado is a group camp getaway for nature lovers and outdoor sports-enthusiasts. The Red Creek Group Site is located in the Curecanti Recreation Area, just south of the West Elk Mountains.
The campground is surrounded by national forests and park lands with Gunnison National Forest to the north, Black Canyon to the west and the Uncompahgre National forest to the southwest.
A wide range of mammals can be found within Curecanti, including mule deer, mountain lions, black bears, prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, elk and the occasional moose. Bald eagles come here to fish in winter.
This is a group camping site for a minimum of 9 people and a maximum of 20 people. Recreation vehicles over 22'' not reccomended.
Need to Know
The park shuts off the water approximately September 19th each year. If your reservation is after this date please bring all the water you will need. Pit toilets will still be available.
Red Creek Group Site has no electric hookups.
Upon arrival to the boat ramp and before launching, all watercraft will be inspected and certified Zebra and Quagga Mussel free. Inspection stations are located at the Elk Creek and Lake Fork boat ramps during peak seasons (May through October). Visit Curecanti's Boat Ramps web page for more details.
This is a high elevation facility (7542 feet/2300 m). Be aware of the signs of high elevation travel and altitude illness, especially if you are accustomed to lower elevations.
Cell phone coverage is limited.
Vehicles over 21' (6.5 m) are not recommended.
STOP THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES . Remove plants, seeds, animals, and mud from boots, gear, pets, and vehicles. Clean your gear before entering and leaving the recreation site. Stay on designated roads and trails, and follow local guidelines for firewood . CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY boats and any other recreational equipment that contacts water. Dispose of unwanted bait, worms, fish parts, or other organisms into the trash and not into the environment. For more information visit the National Invasive Species Information Center.
Natural Features
“This area is characterized by semi-arid shrubland with large cottonwood trees lining the campground. Red Creek flows out of the West Elk Mountains, through this campground, and into Blue Mesa Reservoir. By mid to late summer, the creek is low enough for wading. Some small fish inhabit the deeper pools.”
Blue Mesa connects to the Morrow Point Reservoir, which flows down to the more isolated Crystal Reservoir. The passage of the Gunnison River is marked by the steep, narrow cliffs of the Black Canyon.
Nearby Attractions
The Cimarron Canyon Rail Exhibit features a display of an old-fashioned locomotive at the last remaining railroad trestle in the Black Canyon on the Gunnison route. The bonus is picture-perfect access to the tallest cliffs in the canyon.
The Red Creek Road, which passes by the campground, provides access to national forest lands where hiking abounds.
Recreation
Hikers may enjoy the Dillon Pinnacles Trail for views of spires formed by erosional forces working volcanic debris. The trail is a lollipop of about 4 miles.
Anglers can enjoy fishing for brown, rainbow, and Mackinaw trout and Kokanee salmon. The population of Kokanee salmon is denser at Blue Mesa Reservoir than anywhere else in the country.
Changes & Cancellations
Contact Information
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21001 Hwy 50 GUNNISON CO 81230
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 970-641-2337
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
Red Creek Group campground is located off of US Hwy 50 between Gunnison and Montrose, on the north side of the highway approximately 3 1/2 miles (5.5 km) west of Elk Creek.
