Curecanti National Recreation Area Reviews

we took Morrow Point Boat tour , the tour was 1.5 hours and we enjoy every minute of it ! beautiful view on the Canyon from the river ....and not too expensive (16$ per person)

We loved this day on a pontoon boat on the waters of the Curecanti National Recreation Area departing from Elk Creek Marina. The reservation on the Internet was very easy, the price reasonable and the departure on site very well organized: the boat was ready and impeccable (very clean). We were helped a lot at the start and on the way back. The landscapes were magnificent and very varied, we encountered very few boats and mainly small boats with fishermen, which allowed for relaxed and pleasant navigation. We were very satisfied with the service and the quality of the boat, although we had hesitated after reading some negative reviews. The whole day was impeccable.

Loads of parks for camping, fishing and hiking. Unfortunately wayer is very low in all lakes. Looks like a great place for summer fun. A bit cold and snowing when we visited

Owned and operated by fed. gov. Don't get caught with alcohol [dui] or legal mj. it is not legal there. You can get find for hunting arrow heads. It' not like the old days when you could go waterskiing and have fun.

Just went on the 90 minute boat tour, Morrow Point, loved it. You must make reservations in advance, just call the phone # on the web site and they'll take your info and payment information. There is a short steep walk down to the river, but most of it was on steps, so it really wasn't as hard as you would think, then there is about a 1/2 mile walk to where the boat departs. There are restrooms next to the boat dock. The entire first portion of the boat tour is narrated by a Park Ranger, who teaches you about the river, the area, wildlife, and some of the challenges of the water management in the area. I surprised to learn that 19 states and 2 countries receive water from Colorado. Then on the last half of the tour, you can ask all of the questions you would like. Make sure and wear a hat, have some sunscreen with you, and don't forget your camera. There is nothing like seeing the area from the level of a being on a boat.

Also, if you are lucky you'll get to see some wildlife on the trip, as we were able to see a beautiful eagle, posing on the tree for us. The boat captain said on the day before, they saw a couple of bears.

While passing through on a road trip, we read the reviews that spoke about this beautiful area. However, it was really sad to see that the water was so very low. I had read that this was the largest body of water in Colorado. Unfortunately, the water level seemed about 30' lower than normal judging from the water lines against the rocks. I'm sure that this area was a beautiful place in the past.

A trip back in time with the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. This is well worth a trip of highway 50.

Great easy hike for all ages. Great views of the Pinnacles and the lake below. A great place to take pictures.

Did some great hiking in the area. Water levels are low this July 2018 but still good boating. Interesting sites reminds me of the badlands.

Curecanti is a national recreation area around three reservoirs on the upper Gunnison River. There are a number of spots for boating and fishing on the lakes as well as campgrounds, picnic areas and hiking trails. We were passing through the area and stopped for a break to hike at Dillon Pinnacles. A 2 mile trail leads to spectacular views of the strangely eroded volcanic pinnacles. It was a really beautiful hike and great way to break up the drive. Would like to explore the area more if we're ever in the area again.

Nice, calm Ranger-led pontoon boat tour. Good interpretation---did a nice job explaining the history of the canyon and contemporary water use. Great tour for taking photos.

We camped in Curecanti at the Elk Creek Campground. It's a very nice area surrounded by the Gunnison cliffs / hills and the reservoir. Also, you're only a few miles from downtown Gunnison which is nice. The Elk Creek area has sagebrush all through the campground which smells wonderful. It also has a nice marina with a bar which I was surprised by, in fact, this is all within the Elk Creek area. I didn't give it 5 stars because the campground facilities don't have showers. The showers are located over by the marina and they were horrible! I went in and the smell almost knocked me out, I couldn't take a shower at all. However, I gave it 4 stars for the price, only $12.00 per vehicle to camp and the facilities within the campground were well taken care of, which was a nice change.

The staff is great but the company running the marina are worthless. Buoys left submerged in busy areas, price gauging, and bad gasoline make this marina
alarming.

We hiked beginning at the Mesa Creek Trailhead which is conveniently located just a short distance off of US 50. Restrooms were available at the parking area. Beautiful views of the gorge as the trail meanders close to the river's edge. We were there on a Sunday morning in July and only saw a few other people, very peaceful.
The Cimarron canyon rail exhibit is nearby on the same road off of US 50; it was also an interesting place to check out.

Driving through the Curecanti National Recreation Area is one of the most breath taking site in all of Colorado. Around every corner is another stunning view. I only wish we would have had time to stop and enjoy more than just the beautiful views.

This is a beautiful area of Colorado I have driven by many times. Finally made a five day stop to enjoy the area. Used Gunnison for our base and did day hikes all along the way. Blue Mesa Reservoir was sadly very low due to the lack of winter snow, still very beautiful.

This area parallels U.S. Hwy 50 between Gunnison and Montrose and is one of our family's top picks of areas to visit and play in Colorado. Here you will find 3-reservoirs that are formed by the dams on the Gunnison River: Blue Mesa, Morrow Point and Crystal. Blue Mesa has great fishing for kokanee salmon (best late June-August), rainbow (shore fishing early spring and late fall), brown and Mackinaw trout (April, May).
Along ST 92, Morrow Point and Crystal reservoirs have many scenic overlooks as well as areas to picnic. One of our favorite tours is the Morrow Point boat tour that is an hour and a half pontoon ride through awesome upper Black Canyon. The new Gunnison Whitewater Park is also a nice place to visit for a short hike. If you are not rafting canoeing, or kayaking yourself, it is fun to watch. This park is popular on weekends with the college students who attend Western State U in Gunnison.There was also a music festival on the shore the weekend we were there. Overall, we go for the outdoor fishing, boating and hiking. But this area should definitely be on your list of locations to visit or see in Colorado whether you are an outdoors person or touring in your car. Also, don't forget to visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. There is a small entrance fee per vehicle but totally worth it.

I stopped by Curecanti on the way from Black Canyon to town of Gunnison. Actually, there are multiple stops/spots where you can park and admire the scene. There were a lot of camping places and indeed there were many campers too. It is not far from Gunnison so could be a good place to catch sunrise as well.

Beautiful fall colors and hiking availability throughout the Gunnison/Crested Butte area. Both Gunnison and Crested Butte are between seasons so the store hours are limited. Definitely come see this portion of the state!

Great swimming, cliff jumping and boat access camping. Worth spending a day or two to really enjoy it all.

Enjoyed the Boat Tour, got to see the Canyon from a new perspective. Great views, interesting information provided. The Ranger and Captain were great hosts. Worth the cost and the trek.

enjoyed a day on the lake with our son and his family.... as an out-of-state boater, the Colorado Game and Fish folks made our check-in and inspection for zebra mussels an easy but complete inspection. Made us feel welcome... People at the Visitor Center were most pleasant and informative... we'll be back with boat in tow.

You travel along in this area, on the one side you see plenty of water in the gunnison reservoir, the blue Mesa reservoir and in the rivers and streams that flow everywhere and on the other side the hills and mountains are arid with low shrubs and plants... however it is still a beautiful area, one can stop at many rest and recreation areas some areas offer fishing options. The towering mountains in the distance are a perfect frame for the picturesque area

Miles and miles of water! Levels are high and there are many little inlets to explore. Motorboats, sailboats and kayaks. Everyone had a great time!

We camped here for 14 days and had 11 days of rain. It is a beautiful lake though and the sunsets were nice; both of them. Will not go back, the area is just too rainy.

I love reflection pictures and was in heaven as we drove along this NRA! The reservoir was slick....some places were frozen....
Visitor center is small....but the ranger was very nice!
A beautiful drive!

I liked that there were very few people there at this time of the year. I also liked the attention the park rangers gave us; nice. The campgrounds were clean, and the park is definitely a place we'll visit again.

Visited pioneer point overlook and the views are amazing. We had the place to ourselves which really made it cool. There is a restroom and picnic tables at the trailhead. There are two overlooks near the parking area with awesome views of the canyon and Needle, and another trail which goes down to the reservoir (we did but take that due to the time). Definitely enjoyed this stop.

This is a gorgeous national park with a lot to see. My sons did the junior ranger program, we drove along the reservoir/dam and we took a lovely hikes among the hills and on the canyon bottom.

We saw several people out with their boats on the lake. The visitor center was busy with mainly permits being issued for fishing or boating. Not much to pick from as far as souvenirs go. The lake is surrounded on both sides by beautiful hills and is close to Black Canyon of the Gunnison

We love the area around Blue Mesa Reservoir. It's beautiful whether driving through it or camping there. We spent several nights this year on two different occasions at the Elk Creek Campground and thoroughly enjoyed it. The subsets have been breathtaking. The toilets are clean. We will definitely return!'

The boat tour was definitely worth it. Exploring the canyon from the water is the best way. Most awesome views! If you don't do it, you really missed out.

The information online is not very specific as far as finding this CG. It is on the far west side of Curecanti, where Rte 92 meets Hwy 50. The view is spectacular, the CG overlooks Blue Mesa reservoir and some beautiful mountains. Campsites are on a large paved lot that is fairly level, there are no utilities. Water is available from pumps located throughout the CG. Although it is indicated online that there are showers, none of the four showers at the CG are functioning. We drove about 13 miles east to shower at a private CG on Hwy 50. Hwy 92 east toward Crawford is one of the most beautiful drives we have ever taken, mountains and valleys and canyons that are absolutely breathtaking. It's 41 miles to Crawford but it is still part of Curecanti NRA and there are rest stops along the way with restrooms. Crawford is a small town but has a few good restaurants.

We enjoying fishing, boating and staying in the camp grounds! The staff at visiting center are always so helpful! Everyone that works in any of the areas are happy and pleasant

We Drove over from Salida, wanted to see the lakes. What a beautiful area!!! The backdrop of mountains and canyons makes these lakes a really special place
I am going back with my sea kayaks to just paddle along all these interesting shorelines. I imagine in summer this area is quite busy.....and it is beautiful!!!!

rugged beauty and constantly changing vistas!!
must see to appreciate.

Just drove threw but it was beautiful wish I had time to check it all out. Judging from all 50 or so boats must be great for fishing.

Photos don't do the area justice. I had done some homework online beforehand and was passing through on my way to Black Canyon NP. But, hiking and scenic drives here exceeded my expectations. Who doesn't appreciate expansive vistas and wilderness with little development? Late spring the hills, canyons and valley's were a pastel sage green sandwiched between a blue sky and sparkling lake. We hiked Dillon Pinnacles trail and enjoyed a ranger-guided boat tour up a lake arm. I would highly recommend this for pre-summer before temperatures soar.

Cimarron is on the Westernmost edge of the Curecanti National Recreation Area off route 12. The canyon is narrow and twisting. It ends abruptly at the 372 foot high dam. You can walk across a pedestrian bridge and down the canyon from the parking lot. Every drop of water that leaves the reservoir is routed through 13 foot diameter pipes into turbines producing 230,000 VOLTS of electricity. The original steam train was restored and placed on a replica RR bridge at one end of the parking lot.

We camped at the Elk Creek Campground, and I will say the National Rec area here is beautiful. But unless you own a boat to travel the waters and/or fish, you're limited to just hiking. Maybe we didn't spend enough time, but it's still not my favorite location.....

This wonderful national recreation site belongs to all Americans, so why not visit. We took the boat tour which is so worth it. If you're 65 or older you can get a 10 dollar lifetime pass to all your parks and get half off on the boat tour. Even without the pass, it's well worth the price. They have the tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day if water levels permit, some times a bit longer. You have to have a reservation. They take you into the magical Black Canyon of the Gunnison and tell you about the geology, wildlife and human history of the canyon. Be advised you have to walk down 232 steps to get to the easy 3/4 mile path to the boat. If you're not up to it, call them two weeks in advance and ask about an alternate program. They have a nice campground with electrical hook up. Visit your park.

Great Bational Park! Fabulous ranger staff willing to help you have a great experience. Many hidden treasures to discover in this park beyond its great fishing and boating venues!

we love the area. It is so full of nature. we traveled a lot and didn't get to see a lot by walking but I would love to come and do that.

Took the 10:00 AM Boat trip up the Gunnison River with Ranger Curt and Capt. Donald. Both were courteous and were very professional. Ranger Curt's interpretation was both informative and humorous. Capt. Donald made everyone feel safe and comfortable. Views of the Black Canyon from the river were spectacular and complemented the views from the canyon edge that we viewed the day before.

We ate dinner at the Bay of Chickens. Beautiful! We walked down to the lake/bay/reservoir. It had waves! If we’d have had a four-wheel drive vehicle, we could’ve driven right down to the water.

This 90 minute boat tour provides a wonderful introduction to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The boat travels on one of three reservoirs of the Gunnison River. The tour showcases the steep walls of the canyon from the vantage point of the river. Stefan, our guide was great. He provided lots of information about how the canyon was formed, how it has been explored and used, and why the reservoirs were created. Reservations are necessary as is the walk down 232 steps and 1/2 mile further to reach the boat dock. The boat trip is well worth the walk --- even to a woman in her sixties with two knee replacements!!! (A Senior Pass for the national parks gives the visitor a 50% discount on the cost of the tour.)

We arrived at closing which precluded the normal visiting but the Ranger went out of his way to recommend local restaurants and a place for coffee in the morning.

Great pontoon boat ride in a canyon.
90 mins
Kids must wear life jacket for whole trip. Adults can take it off for part of trip.
Great guide and boat capt from National Parks Service.
Must make reservations in advance
Walk down 232 steps and walk along river around 1/2 mile to boat
Cost $16 and worth it and goes to a good cause to keep our national parks open and taken care of.

My son and daughter and I had a blast exploring, camping and fishing! A great place to take your family!

This thing just goes on forever! I never expected to see something like this in Colorado. Truly magnificent!

Beautiful lake and scenery. Many fisherman. Great for camping and picnicking, families or solo for peace and quiet. .

We drove past this on our way to Gunnison and had to stop because it was so beautiful. This lake goes on for a while and its lovely driving along it. The water is so blue and pretty. It's weird, because it doesn't seem like it belongs in Colorado. This would be a really great place to have a picnic or camp and hang out. I would have loved to seen more when I was there.

This was such a memorable experience for us, I would highly recommend it to all in the area. Ranger-led expeditions are always so enjoyable and full of information. You start down the Pine Creek Trail, all 232 steps of it, down to the canyon floor and then it's a short walk along the Gunnison River to the Pine Creek Boat Dock. The boat departs at 10AM and they advise you to get there a bit early considering the hike. The fee was $24 per person and reservations are required in advance.

The rangers do a quick introduction and safety presentation and then you load up onto the small pontoon boat for a 1 1/2 hour guided boat tour along the reservoir and into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The rangers tell you all about the geology and history of the region and point out several points of interest including the Curecanti Needle and Chipeta Falls.

Be sure to wear sunscreen and bring plenty of water. The hike down is fairly easy however the hike back up Pine Creek Trail can be a bit strenuous in the afternoon heat. I can't recommend this adventure enough, I love to look back on my photos from our trip.

Need a break, great area to relax and enjoy some fishing. State campgrounds are well kept and usually have plenty of spaces.

Located just outside Gunnison it is a beautiful area with many camping spots and a very large rec area....not very crowed for all that it offers

Spent one night in Elm Creek Campground by the lake. We had a good time watching the chipmunks in the morning. The lake was quiet and calm. A more subdued Colorado than the high mountains, but pretty in it's own way.

I'd bet that too many folks rush through this recreation area to get to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (BCGNP), and don't know that it also has some terrific experiences that will complement their Black Canyon visit. I'll describe one, Curecanti Creek Trail, and other reviews mention others.

After a number of visits to the awesome overlooks on the south rim road in BCGNP, I'd always longed to hike down into the canyon, but realized that wasn't a realistic expectation while on a day trip from that road. On this last trip, I decided to detour on Route 92, found the trailhead on the well-marked Pioneer Point Overlook, and decided to try the Curecanti Creek Trail that has its trailhead there. This is a well-maintained trail along the walls of a side slot in the canyon (but with no significant exposure to scare off those with a mild fear of heights), and is not very steep, dropping 880 feet in two miles. (But that still means 880 feet up to get back out; the trail should be considered strenuous, and a couple of quarts of drinking water should be taken along.) The reward at the end is a good view of Morrow Point Reservoir with the steep walls of the canyon surrounding you. At the very end you may need to be a little creative in finding a way down to the very edge of the water, but it's worth the small amount of extra effort.

One surprise was the modern, standard-issue park/forest service toilet on a platform wedged into a slot in the canyon wall at the bottom, well maintained with even the hand sanitizer dispenser fully loaded.

We have visited this area every year for the last five. Curecanti stretches on and on with lovely views. Campgrounds and picnic areas abound. A really neat area for drives also.

This area follows the Blue Mesa with plenty of picnicking, restrooms and boat ramps along the way. The lake is quite low this year but still beautiful.

This is an interesting recreation area with lots of places and opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Some of the overlooks near the water offer great scenery views.
Camping, boating and hiking all along the Blue Mesa.

Group of friends rented a pontoon for the day. The boat was as very nice with one exception the ladder on back to get out of water into boat had one rung and we were not able to get into boat. We called marina twice and left messages that were not returned. I’ve been boating for many years and have never experienced a ladder with only one rung. We did go back to marina and staff gave us a portable ladder but we had to move it around to find a place where it worked. The staff stated this was only pontoon in marina with a ladder. So if you’re renting a boat inquire about ladder.

What a lovely scenic drive! Blue Mesa Reservoir is great for boating and fishing. Several campgrounds along the shore. No trees, no shade. No electric, but most have water.

A wonderful spot for enjoying nature. There is hiking, fishing and boating galore! The scenery is breathtaking!

We took this 1.5 hour boat ride in which you have to make prior reservations. It was amazing to see the canyon from the bottom up and hear the history of the area. The boat rides rain or shine and has a limit of 42 people. Be prepared for the 200+ steps plus a hike to the docking area so give yourself about an hour depending on your fitness level.

The trail was challenging at times, but it was a fun challenge. Scenery was amazing. First trail I had been on in awhile that I didn't have to pick up garbage along the way. The river was beautiful. Hiking out got a little hot, so would suggest doing it early morning. Fabulous hike!

We had a very informative guide on the pontoon ride down the river. Kurt got the children involved in his discussions and even the teenagers were interested in what he had to say. 234 steps down and then up again to our cars, but very worth while to see the canyon

Had a simple dinner at the Elk River Marina. Nice open patio with quick and attentive service! Can't wait to revisit the area.

We viewed the Aspens and tremendously rugged canyons and mountains from Hotchkiss to Blue Mesa Dam. There are many photo opportunities along the way with pullouts and view points.

This is our home away from home, my kids and I have so much fun here every year! With so much to do and see we never get bored! The lake levels will vary but it just make the fun on the water different in its own way! Bring tons of sunscreen and a camera!

Had a wonderful time sightseeing and relaxing day boating. Many places to visit and very beautiful place!!

We love to take visitors on this boat ride. This time we took our daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren. As we got on the boat, we were greeted by friends from home whom we didn't know were in the area too (small world). The ride up and back is beautiful and very informative. Saw a bald eagle both ways. Lots of opportunities for pictures. Be warned, it is a long way down to the boat and then back up your car. Delightful experience. Our government dollars working well for us!

We only did the Dillan Pinnacles hike. The parking lot is well signed off Highway 50 but the trailhead is not well signed and we found access down the boat ramp. It took us one hour to walk the trail to its end. And one hour return. Much of the trail is exposed and not particularly scenic. But stay to the end where there is a small loop for an overview of the Pinnacles and the lake. You can’t set close to the Pinnacles but the hike is still fun and worthwhile.

So, we were on our way to Canon City, when we were stopped right by an overlook of Dillon Pinnacles by a car accident that had several police, fire engines & ambulances stopping traffic for an hour & a half.

If we had to be stopped for a long period of time, I'm glad it was here. Beautiful view of the lake & mountains. There's lots of campgrounds we passed when we finally got going. Looks like a boating & fishing place.

This large area close to Gunnison has all the outdoor activities you could want. Great fishing with boat rentals available, hiking, horseback riding, sight seeing, picnicking beautiful scenery, and more. A good family recreational area.

We drove to the Blue Mesa Reservoir to the Pioneer Lookout Point. That's all the time we had before returning to our hotel in Gunnison and it was already late in the day.
Such a beautiful drive the whole way along the water. We saw deer a plenty, and there are places to stop and picnic, fish, boating, camping. We went to the Pioneer Lookout Point which was perfect to get a glimpse of the magnificent Black Canyon. It did not disappoint! There were several lookout points to walk to from the parking lot and you could see the river, the Curecanti Needle formation, and there were Golden Eagles EVERYWHERE!! They live among the cliffs and you can see them nesting and taking off from the cliffs and flying all about. We had several fly over our heads a few times. Very exciting! It was the perfect ending to our day and it definitely whetted our appetite to come back to this area to explore the whole canyon and National Park when we have the proper time.

The boat trip on the Gunnison run by the National Park Service was excellent. The ranger, Curtis, was well-informed and could answer everyone's questions and the scenery was marvelous. It was well worth walking down 272 steps and hiking 3/4 of a mile to the Morrow Boat Dock and walking the reverse and this from a 70-yr-old with a bum knee.

Through the 25 miles outside of town, found this wonderful, off the road so much secluded area, where you walk about 200 steps down, I need stairs and natural stairs, to an amazing gorge. See the photos. This is a must go to place!

Basically this a continuation of Black Canyon National Recreational Area but not as dramatic. The western side has many spires and rock formations similar to the Black Canyon but smaller. You will see a river or lake near the road forming a nice contrast with the hardness of the rocks. As you travel from west to east, the hills get lower and the lake gets bigger. Finally, at the far eastern end, the lake end and a river feeds the lake. Don't miss the turnouts along highway 92 and the Blue Mesa Dam. There is a boat tour you can take by the dam that looked very interesting. To take the tour, you need to walk down about 12 flights of stairs. By the way, only the Elk Creek Visitors center is opened regularly. Again we ran into a park ranger who told us about things we would have missed and where to watch for wildlife.

Can't help being impressed with the overall ability to have so many different vistas. So much to see and do.

Curecanti is a massive area, so it feels a little odd to give it a single rating. In particular, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Blue Mesa Reservoir and the Gunnison River basin (accessible through Pine Creek) are absolutely amazing points of interest and are must-see locations. Plan for a full day at Black Canyon, and though the South Rim is the much preferred point of access, the North Rim actually offers better viewpoints and is stunningly quiet and light with visitors. The South Rim Visitor Center is a great starting point, and be prepared for some of the most incredible sights and vistas you'll take in anywhere. Bring a camera, take your time, take a deep breath and soak it all in. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison really has no national peer in terms of take-your-breath-away, standing-and-looking-over a bar straight down into the black abyss -ness.

Blue Mesa Reservoir is also singularly dynamic, though the water is way down this season due to drought. Nonetheless, do yourself a favor and rent a boat for a day, cruise the reservoir (it's about 90 minutes end to end) and find yourself a deserted cove - complete with glassy water, stunning canyon walls and utter quiet - for a soul-refilling experience.

The last mandatory activity I'd recommend is the Morrow Point Boat Tour, at the bottom of the base of Black Canyon. It's a 90-minute boat trip (beware the strenuous trip down more than 200 steps to the bottom of the canyon, and then a one-mile trail walk to get to the access point - and remember you have to do back up at the end of the tour), but is thoroughly eye-popping, replete with a history lesson and a thousand points to photograph (including the Curecanti Needle).

The Curecanti area is sublime - do your homework to get the most out of it.

Great park for families and couples of all ages There's campgrounds in many locations both primitive and full hookups.

the views were great, what a great looking lake, the workers in the vistor center were very helpful,

Went fishing at Blue Mesa Resevoir and had to stop at the Curecanti National Rec. Area visitor center. Staff were outstanding but the center itself needs some major upgrading and TLC. Congress needs to step up and fund the National Parks and Recreation areas!!

I first came here on a geology field trip and it was such a spectacular spot that my husband and I keep coming back. When you first turn in to see the dam - you come to a campground that has been built on the site of an old narrow gauge railroad town. There were plenty of RVs there - but we weren't camping. There are some old train cars and old livestock pens right by the campground.

About a mile and a half in, you come to the dam parking area, The view of the dam is pretty darned spectacular - if you are there when there is spill over - that is an extra treat.

The dam dumps into the Gunnison River and just further down stream, the Cimarron Creek comes in and you will see a large plume where the temperature differences of the two water sources is very distinct.

The walls of the canyon are tremendously steep. You will see safety netting attached to the walls to prevent rock fall. But you will still see a lot of fallen rock. You will see lots of gneiss and schist - and igneous rocks as well. Take a guidebook to understand the at least 2 billion years of history here. Pretty breathtaking!

There are paths down to the river - but I haven't taken them. You can even walk across the bridge to the other side of the Gunnison.

There is an old train trestle over Cimarron Creek. There was an engine on it, but it is out for restoration at this point. Still worth a look to see how people were able to construct train tracks in such a tough environment.

There are several areas to access this reservoir. We just pulled into one beach shore and parked and hung out for a few hours ! Peaceful. Felt like we were at the beach for a bit.

Caught the limit--recomend using a professional guide with a boat.
Great birding, saw a Golden Eagle close up with two different immaturs.

Highly recommend Ponderosa Campground. Worth the drive off the main highway. Campsite 17 was an amazing spot that the deer, bunnies and chipmunks were kind enough to share.

As we hiked around we wondered why there weren't more hikers. Such a beautiful peaceful place.
Heard there used to be a Ranger led boat tour, but no longer in budget. First canceled because of quarantine. Must have liked the extra money in the budget once that opened up.
Contact Stuart West (general number: 970-641-2337), the Superintendent of Curecanti and Black Canyon)

Impressed with lakes on the drive thru this area - stopped by the dam, has a small campground. There are several recreational camping areas in the area. The color of the lakes are the most beautiful color. The salmon must have been biting as there were a lot of boats in one area. We took the boat ride down the river thru the canyon - learned a lot about how the railroad came thru the area. On one drive down to the river a smallish black bear ran across the road. Great area and worth the visit. Saw a marina restaurant near the visitor center where we bought the boat tickets, but did not try it. Ranger was very helpful.

We were on our way to Gunnison and were able to stop and look around. Awesome views that are right off the highway. We pulled in to the Ranger station and got some information on a few places we stop without hiking too far off the main road. Lake seemed to be low, be learned the snow really just started to melt and the reservoir would fill up soon. Nice place, everyone was friendly and helpful. It was a nice surprise to find the recreation area so easily accessible from the road.

We stopped here to eat a picnic lunch after visiting Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Specifically, we stopped near the Lake Fork Campground, so about 45 minutes between the two destinations. The weather was excellent and the views of the water were very peaceful. It looks like there is quite a bit to do in the area, including cycling, fishing, boating, camping, hiking, etc.

Enjoyed the boat tour. The guide was informative and funny. Beautiful views, breathtaking rocks. It requires a quick and pleasant hike down into the canyon. I think it is well worth the $16.

Beautiful area which was highly recommended to us while in the area. Well worth the travels to see the beauty of this area and enjoy the views of the mountains and waters below.

I love everything about this park!!! The kind friendly service of the guest's, pick-up. The staff, and the facility of the nat'l park!!

It is a great place for photography. A lot of different angles can be had. Even if you are not a photographer, it is wonderful scenery to view. You can spend a whole day out here.

There is a boat tour in the Curecanti refuge - go to web page for information. Like many opportunities in and near national parks, you need reservations. A nice hike down to the boat and then a tour of one of the reservoirs. You can hike a little more past the boat dock, but then the trail ends. you are actually hiking on remnants of the railroad bed. This was a narrow gage rr that operated until 1949. Tracks were then pulled out and you could rive your car on it. But in 1960's area was submerged under water doe to reservoir. This is maybe 20 miles east of the Black Canyon park. There is summer construction on rte 50 so allow plenty of drive time. If Ranger Curtis is your guide, you are in for an excellent guided tour. Ask him about standard gage railroad being 4 feet 8.5 inches wide.

Great fishing. Great Hiking. Not crowded. Just where you want to be to forget about people and a pandemic.

Must-see Colorado! Outstanding and peaceful area - need to return again some day! Outdoor possibilities are endless.

I read a review for the Point Morrow Boat Tour on a TripAdvisor Forum and it sounded neat. It does require advance tickets. It also requires going down (and again back up) 200-300 steps as well as walking 3/4 of a mile. Overall it was a great time. However, I was a bit annoyed that we had to beg and plead for our family of four to sit together (2 adults and 2 kids) as there was a large group and no seating assignments.The National Park Rangers weren't too helpful either. I wouldn't think that they would want children sitting unattended on water. My recommendation would be families with children load first. The other issue was that they insist on under age 13 wear life jackets. However, the life jacket my son was given was literally cutting of his circulation which impaired his ability to fully enjoy the excursion. Again though, overall was a fun experience in a beautiful setting.

This is the damned Gunnison River and it stretches a few miles west of Gunnison to a few miles east of Montrose (in Colorado). That is one long stretch. The reservoir serves 3 main purposes.. the main being recreation, of course, but all to keep water for the farmers in dry seasons and the 3rd being the production of Kokanee (pron. co-cah-knee) Salmon.. which should have a picture attached.

There are a lot of boaters using the reservoir.. mainly morning being fishing boats.. and then the yachts and sailboats later in the day. You will also find kayaks and canoes along several other types.

Hwy. 50 parallels and crosses the reservoir and offers many places to stop and pull over. Anglers will be found all over the place.. but in general.. yellow perch is all over the place and is a major nuisance to those who "bank" or "shore" fish. The reservoir is very well known for large trouts and the Kokanee salmon and those are best caught by boat. I caught a nice salmon from bank.. but one must fish before 8:00am or after 6:00pm if fishing from shore. I got lucky at 6:30pm and dang grateful. Was about to make dinner off perch only.

Most people fishing use the west side and Montrose as their base. Boaters use the East side and Gunnison as their base. There is a large RV park in the middle on the north side just to the east of Sapinero. It's about the size of a city.. some spots with trailer homes... so it's year 'round apparently.

There are no fees associated with using this rec area.. and the visitor center is on the Eastside/Gunnison area. Use a map to find it. The rangers here are very helpful with useful information. The largest boatramp is there also.

Overall, Curecanti is a great place to do a lot of things.. but nothing (outside of catching Kokanee) that separates it from other places... so I rated it only "average." Many people, esp. fishermen, will probably rate it higher.

Gas is cheaper in Montrose, btw. Gunnison has a (regular) Wal-mart, a Kroger food store (called "City Market"), and fast food chains (like McDonalds) for internet. Montrose is much larger and has a SuperWalmart, both Krogers and Safeway, and serveral fast food places. If you're gonna fish.. then the Montrose area is perfect. Several cheaper motels there also.

OH, insects are not a problem here either.

beautiful country, peaceful, relaxing,great camping facilities, close to black canyon, and many other points of view

We had planned on just passing through on our route, however ended up spending several days here. It is a beautiful area. We didn't do any boating or fishing but enjoyed the beauty. Be sure and drive highway 92 along the edge of the gorge. We also drove forest road 724 (Rainbow Lake Rd). It was a wonderful drive. The lake at the end isn't really special but the forests, views, flowers along the way were great. If you like nature this is a definite stop you shouldn't miss.

We spent just a few hours at Curecanti National Recreation Area on the way to Black Canyon of the Gunnison. We hiked the Curecanti Creek trail, and the Mesa Creek Trail. We also visited the Elk Creek Visitor Center, and Cimarron outdoor train display. Should we had more time, we would have liked to spend more time here. Unfortunately, the boat tour was already closed down in September, but it would have been something we would have liked to have done to get a better feel for the water areas. There are only a handful of established hikes, but water sport (fishing, boating, etc.) seems to be a large portion of this recreation area. We did see a number of boats - including a wind-surfer and sailboat. We saw two fisherman at the Morrow Point Dam area.

We visited here in the fall (the reservoir was well drawn down) and did some great hiking in beautiful weather. We did the Mesa Creek Trail, Dillon Pinnacles, along with a few shorted hikes. We didnlt get a chance to try any of the hikes off the road to the north rim of the Black Canyon but on a return trip we plan to try them.

We only saw rhis marvel via a car ride through it but it surely is a spectacular ride. The typography is stunning! The water beckons a boat to spend a few hours of fun. We passed several nice RV sites that looked inviting too. It's a beautiful place. I highly recommend a visit.

We had a group of 6 adults with 6 dogs... 1 small RV and 2 tents. Great place for fishing, kayaking, SUPing and camping. The camp hosts were amazing and very helpful!! Be sure to check out photo of campsites before you book. One campground area is basically a parking lot with lines (Lake Fork CG) ... fortunately we found Stevens Creek and scored 2 spots as a "walk in" sites that were still available on Labor day weekend. We had reserved spots at Lake Fork but then saw photos ... Stevens Creek so much better for our needs. We were prepared to pay for the additional spots but felt bad about leaving 2 empty reserved spots ... The camp hosts were so nice and let us trade. Great weekend and great experience with campground hosts and the National Park people too!

Beautiful scenery just minutes west of Gunnison. Saw lots of boats too so guessing the fishing is good.

As we try to visit as many national park sites as possible- we made the trek to the visitor center.
There many opportunities for fishing and boating were laid out.
We picked up our unigrid and stamp and moved on- think places like this should be in their own category and not included
with parks and historical sites.
Not very exciting for a visit

This was a big surprise driving by. It is part of the National Park System and I got to get another stamp in my book. There is lots of fishing throughout and camping. We drove down to Pine Creek and had lunch, there are picknick tables and bathrooms. There is a small waterfall and a trail that leads to the river. Very pretty.

Even at low water levels (drought) this is a beautiful area to spend a day. The water is clear & there was plenty of activity on the lake. It is another spot to just stop, rest, & relax!

If you like fishing this is the place for you. We hardly fish but had a great time camping. Took several duckies to play in the water with. A good way to cool down on a hot day.

Wow, this place is huge with lots to do. Hung out on a beach to warm up after a snow storm last week. Dog liked the water. Wishing we had a boat or at least rented one.

The Curecanti National Recreation area is large and offers all kinds of wonders: fishing&boating, hiking, and most of all, awesome views. This review is about the Morrow Point boat tour on the Gunnison River.
Is it interesting? It is, if you have not seen many black and red rocks along a river. Is it worth the $24/person for 1 ½ hr trip? I don't think so. The ranger talked philosophically about Progress and what it is... The Captain told us they saw 3 bears this morning (!) but I doubt this, since there is nothing for the bears to eat around there... We did see one beaver swimming along the boat and we got a sudden Colorado thunderstorm which left us all wet and shivering.
If you still decide to go, from the intersection of 92 & 50 go towards Montrose and 1 mile further you'll see a sign for the Pine Creek Trail. Park in the parking area and follow the trail that starts behind the restrooms. There are 232 steps (some wider, much wider than others) + ¾ mile very pleasant walk along the river to reach the boat dock. The tour is BY RESERVATION ONLY, walk in not permitted. Call the number listed on their web site (TA does not allow links or I would post it here), just Google it. They do want a credit card to guarantee the reservation.
**

This park had stunning scenery was fun to pull off on the many sites you can pull off. It was awesome to drive down to the waters edge. The scenery did not disappoint was just so beautiful and didn't get old looking at it could spend hours driving the site

The lakes are wonderful with the mountains as a backdrop. Picnic areas are plentiful. Don't expect flush toilets. Great experience with miles of hiking paths.

We were driving on Route 50 when we saw Blue Mesa/Curecanti National Recreation Area. This place has it all! You want fishing? Hiking? Boating? Lake Views? Mountain Views? Coastline? What doesn't this place have? The most stunning, panoramic views are on Route 50. This is Colorado's largest body of water. There are three reservoirs throughout. In a few spots it looks like fjords among the deep narrow canyons and mesas. There are paths to hike off the highway. There are restroom spots. No entrance fee. This place is amazing! If you have time, stop and enjoy the scenery and take a hike. We drove through and stopped in one spot with a historic marker. Amazing!

Blue Mesa is Spectacular! The Black Canyon is out of this world. Gunnison is one of the coolest mountain towns on earth. The outdoor activities are endless and world class.

On a map, this area looks like it has a river or perhaps a lake. It is deceiving. It has miles and miles of gorgeous blue lakes and is a very pretty drive. You'll want to pull off and take photos.

A group of 20 of us on motorcycles made the trip on CO 92 from Delta to Gunnison. BEAUTIFUL! Aspens were changing, road was scenic and challenging!

I rented a pontoon boat from the guys at Elk Creek Marina. They were incredibly friendly and helpful. They answered all my questions about the lake and even gave me a discount on my boat rental! I would definitely return to them. The ride on the lake was amazing. Hardly anybody was out, and this was a summer morning. The scenery was beautiful, too!

I hiked the Mesa Creek trail and Curecanti Creek trail. The Curecanti Creek trail was very strenuous and takes a few hours. The Mesa Creek trail was easy. In Cimmeron Colorado there is an AWESOME vintage train exhibit.

The Elk Creek Marina - located 16 miles west of Gunnison on highway50 - has pontoon boats available for rental ( and other boats, etc.). We make an annual event of renting one for the day. The customer service is absolutely outstanding! We had the nicest men - two years in a row - Randy (and old timer there at the marina) and Kelly Kai (a returning WSCU student). They were both informative, professional, but mainly as laid back as they come!! We want to go back and rent more than once per summer thanks to these two outstanding men! They made us feel welcome and relaxed and we were definatley off to a good start for our wonderful day of exploring Blue Mesa Reservoir!

The Blue Mesa Reservoir is a wonderful place to visit any time of year. It never seems over crowded and offers plenty of places to access the lake. Camping is available as well as two marinas. Food is pretty limited though with only one restaurant at the Elk Creek Marina. The food is not very good but also not very expensive and will satisfy your appetite. Located only about 8 miles from Gunnison, you can always go into town for better food.

Get there early for good sunrise and sunset shots. Water pretty still at sunrise for best reflections.

Fishing and paddle boarding were excellent things to do in this area. We enjoyed hanging out by the lake and would return.

This is one area of CO we'd not explored & it's really worth the visit. Not ultra spectacular like the Rockies etc... but an oasis of beautiful water (three different reservoirs strung together, with marinas, beaches, day-use areas), high-desert-type mountain vistas, 10 campgrounds, lots of hiking trails, a Visitor Center (that could use some updating) for information, books, maps & souvenirs, a concession-run restaurant... fun for a day or you could easily spend a week. We're saving the one-&-a-half hour boat tour for next trip ($16 per adult, get reservations ahead of time) but heard it's spectacular.
This area is managed by the Department of Interior & there is a fee for use unless you have the annual National Parks pass, Senior pass etc.

Elk Creek Marina Boat Renters - Be warned, this outfit is not willing to be reasonable when we could not return their pontoon boat by their closing time. We were 10 minutes late due to the 50 hp motor only churning out 2 knots and the moderate wake of the water conditions.
The rental is already very excessive for the quality of the boat and services.
We have rented here - successfully - for 6 years without complications. This will likely be our last.

We discovered this gem during a rest stop, as we were driving home from Ouray, CO. We accessed the rest stop near the sign indicating a Train Exhibit, at Cimmaron, CO. The visitor center was closed, but the small train exhibit and great signage was worth the stop. Past the visitor center was a wide open and clean parking lot, with more informational signs. When we got out of our car, we were stunned to be looking up and up at a 350' high dam! It was erie and beautiful at the same time.
You can walk almost to the base of the dam, and there are several trails along the creek - easily accessed from the parking lot. A lone fisherman was casting his line into the Gunnison River as we watched from the parking lot. The riverside access is very easy. We will definitely return to take advantage of this undiscovered part of Colorado.

The hike down was prettier and free! The Morrow Point Boat Tour wasn't worth the 16.00 per adult. Of course, it is hard to beat the natural beauty of the Yankee Boy Basin out of Ouray, Colorado...or the Million Dollar Highway from Durango to Ouray...but, I'd save my 16 bucks and go to the Black Canyon National Park. Our guide was an elementary ed major and spent half of our trip talking about the importances of conserving water. As an educator of 31 years, I wanted to know more about the history of the area and the geological formations....I was disappointed!

Kids will love the exploring opportunities here. The Curecanti campgrounds are easily accessible and well maintained.

This area of Colorado is stunning. Even in late July/early August, there were tons of wildflowers blooming. Great scenic driving, especially along Colorado 92.

Took a drive through the recreation Area. The lake seemed about twenty feet lower then usual (snow melt had not started yet), Was able to drive out to what normally would have been an island. Was planning to drive out to Black Canyon but a major storm came up so we turned back. I sure this would be a wonderful place to do some hiking and camping in the summer.

Blue Mesa Reservoir which is in this National Recreation Area is stunning! Crystal clear blue water, great fishing (including Salmon), swimming, and boating! They also have a great Junior Ranger program for kiddos to earn a badge! Check in with the rangers at the visitor center to learn more!

So I've been here 3 times now sailing out of the marina. And now...I'm looking to get my own boat. So it depends on what you're looking for. But the beaches look groovy...considering you're at over 7000 feet in CO. I want to sail and camp. You can do the same thing with a power boat. And I've actually SEEN people pulling fish out....so there's that. This is a great area....so stay away...go somewhere else....otherwise you might discover just how terrifc it is adding to the crowds.

There was keystone cop type road construction on the main highway leading to the boat tour dock in August. What should have been a half hour drive to the boat tour parking lot turned out to be an hour and 15 minutes AND we left early knowing we may have delays.

We called the NRA office to reserve tickets and times for the boat tour. We were explicitly told that you had to hike and descend over 200 steps to get to the boat ramp. The hike along the river was fine, but steps get to me so keep in mind that the steps you descend are the same steps you must climb to get out. Every senior citizen we passed on our way out who were coming for the next boat tour complained that their knees hurt on the steps. I totally agree.

I was some what disappointed by the boat ride. First of all, the river is part of a reservoir so it's not really a natural setting. We had to navigate with and around a guided fishing boat excursion as well. After visiting Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, I fully expected to see the same dramatic geology, but from a ground level perspective. Granted the geology here is amazing, but I kept waiting for that "painted wall" scene, and it just did not happen. The highlight of the trip is seeing the Curecanti Needle. It is very cool, and for a few minutes, I had hope that things would get better. Unfortunately, that's it.

The boat really does not go very far so you end up going down stream and simply turning around and going back the same way you came. The boat kind of chugs along, and you must remain seated until instructed to get up to snap pictures. Personally, I felt the seating or non seating issue should be more lax unless you were obstructing someone's view. During the excursion you hear the history of water use in the area, and I have mixed feelings about building dams on rivers. I imagine the pristine river would have been amazing, and it's sad nobody living will ever see it.

At one time a narrow gauge railroad moved through the route as well. You only see remnants of it during the tour. The symbol for the railroad was the Curecanti Needle so make sure you get that picture.

I wanted to see an eagle, a big horn sheep, or something. There wasn't a creature is sight. The group was so hungry for "something", that they got excited over a duck along the bank.

The bottom line is that if you have the time and energy, it's worth a go. I personally would not do it again.

Get ready to get you eyes knocked out! The Blue Mesa Reservoir is gorgeous and a great spot for site seeing, camping, fishing, hiking, and more! Be sure to take Route 92 north along the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and stop along the way to see the Curecanti Needle at the first major stopping area and enjoy the view from Hermit's Rest! The driver will need some courage however on this winding road, often with few guard rails!

The drive through here was rather nice. It is an artificial lake so if you are not going boating there was not a lot that we could do. We did go to the Visitor Center and that was interesting.

We drove through the area seeing many boats with fishermen. Pleasant enough. It was after we turned off on the road to Paonia and climbed the cliff above the gorge that thing got serious. The second formal viewing area provides spectacular views of the Black Canyon.

We'd hoped to visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park on this trip but it was just too far. Then, I noticed Curecanti on my map. I'd never heard of it but wow was it awesome. For miles and miles, there are turn-offs with options for fishing, boating (on Blue Mesa Reservoir), hiking, camping, etc. We traveled as far as the western end of the park and then returned to hike at Dillon Pinnacles. We drove over the Blue Mesa dam which is essentially the eastern end of the Black Canyon. It was all so impressive that we couldn't believe it isn't better known. I'd highly recommend a visit. And, since it's not a national park, it's free.

We were driving on Route 50 thinking it would be another highway but it was anything but. The views were beautiful and we were delighted to find the Visitor Center. The Park Ranger answered all of our questions including mine looking for a picnic spot. She advised us of one that was shady and easy to find. We loved learning more about the area. Great unexpected stop.

232 steps to the boat wasn't bad. I'm scared of heights and just took my time. The boat tour was amazing. The guides were so informative and included kids in the stories.

We had a wonderful time on the National Park Service, Morrow Point Boat Tour! I have wanted to take this tour for three summers and finally made it happen this year. I would highly recommend it. You must make reservations in advance and there is a one mile walk/hike to the boat dock. After you descend the 240 steps the 3/4 mile walk is very easy. The stairs are pretty amazing, beautiful stone in places. By the time our tour was finished the temperature was getting hot to climb the stairs out of the canyon. I would love to do it again in the autumn when the trees are changing colors. We had a very nice tour guide and learned a lot about the history of the Black Canyon.

The big reservoir is heavily used by fishermen. Not much other recreation boating that I could see. It gets very windy with the open landscape. Poor for swimming and not great for unpowered boats, although some people we canoeing or kayaking near the shore.

We love spending time in this area, we rented a boat from the marina (they let you bring your dog!) and spent time grilling in the picnic areas and exploring the shoreline. Lots of campers and people fishing. Great for families, and the dog loved it too.

The backdrop of this area is stunning with a variety of cliff structures unique to the area and Colorado. Simply put, the combo with the water, sky and clouds makes this an exciting place to be, and makes one happy that they got ot see it.

The l
Lake and reservoir is large. It's beautiful for boating. The mountains are more desert like in some areas. Morning light is spectacular with fall colors. There is a deep canyon on the west side of the lake by a power plant.

Went through this area on our motorcycle road trip. Beautiful views. Stopped by the Blue Mesa Dam and wasn't disappointed. Impressed with what the Dam was built to do. Nice place to take pics.

Drove thur Curecanti on our way to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Great views 0f Mountains and Lakes, falls colors were nice.

Thoroughly enjoyed our hike at Dillon Pinnacles. Good hike, great scenery and views, ample parking, restroom at parking lot.

Very beautiful area and great place to spend the day relaxing and hiking. Been there a few times and enjoyed each time

Curecanti National Recreation Area offers a great number of things to today beyond fishing, hiking, and camping, though those three are really quite wonderful. At Pine Creek, there are stairs that lead down to a boat ride that the forestry service provides with a knowledgeable person who will tell you about the geology, the biology, the botany surrounding you during this ride. Questions are encouraged. The area is extraordinary and the flora and fauna are amazing.

There are a number of trails and areas to ride one's mountain bike. It can be difficult and in the summer hot.

There are places to sit and relax letting the sun heat you while smelling the mountain air and sage, relax and let the cares of work and home life drift away.

The scenery is varied and captivating especially for those that paint - planar will test your skills and imagination.

While day trips are worthwhile, plan a longer stay or you will be seduced to return again and again.

Wanted to see the canyon from below after visiting the NP. The Morrow Point boat tour offered this for our visit. It's convenient, right off Hwy 50 east of Cimmaron with ample parking. The walk down seems longer than it is. There are 234 steps down (and back up) and a mile long flat hike to the boat dock. Ranger Curt and the crew did a great job in navigation and interpretation during the trip. Worth the time to go. Bring sunscreen, rain gear and a hat - the boat has a cover, but is frequently opened.

Blue mesa reservoir is huge and ever changing. The lake takes on the color of the sky above and can be grey to dark blue throughout the day. Wildlife are commonly seen. This place is special.

The drive along highway 92 and the Curecanti recreation area offers many beautiful vistas and overlooks. The overlooks are very close to the road, which makes accessing the gorge easy. There were interpretative rangers at several of the overlooks to explain the view, give directions, and answer questions. A great drive!!

Wonderful drive, with beautiful scenery. Easy to pull off the road to view the lake and the mountains.

Blue Mesa Reservoir is large, and great fishing and boating. The Wayne Aspinall Dam project is worth seeing all three dams. You cannot see it all in one day.

We just drove through this area, but it was beautiful. The water was so blue! If you can make this part of your trip, I highly recommend it.

Big blue is Awesome, You can boat, fish, Hunt, Hike or just sight see if you like. I have a love hate relationship with fishing on Blue, When it is good it is some of the best fishing in the State, When it is off, I love to hate this lake, But the beauty makes the lack of a bite well worth it. You can rent a pontoon boat from one of the marina's for a half day or a full day, Call for prices, Sorry I don't have a number for anyone, The Marina's are Elk Creek and Lake fork both are very friendly and can help you out. The lake is over 20 miles long and fairly narrow across but has steep canyon walls with lot of natural cover for fishing. You can wind surf or sail board I have not tried that but people do it on the lake. Most baits work well spinners are my favorite.

There are many pullouts in this area where you can picnic, camp, fish, swim, launch a boat etc. the signs are clearly marked so you can decide which recreation area is best for you. We went to Wilson to fish and take out or canoe. We ride our bikes. We launched our canoe at Riverway and the trip was awesome. Loved it. All areas are pet friendly.

Growing up in Gunnison, the Curecanti National Recreation Area was a big part of my life. So many things to do...and so beautiful!

It was gorgeous to see this recreation area. We stopped at several of the roadside stops, saw numerous campers and boaters, and of course, took numerous pictures.

We started off our tour going through the Curecanti National Recreation area. We stopped at the visitors center run by the park service. We were greeted by a very knowledgeable and friendly Park Ranger. He went over the areas of interest and marked them on the map. He also went on to help plan our trip after leaving the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. We followed everything he recommended and had a wonderful day. I wish I had gotten his name but I do remember he was originally from Conneticut. His love for this area was quite apparent and it was nice to hear such positive remarks.

A large body of water, the Blue Mesa Resevoir makes this the perfect place for boating, as well as camping and outdoor activies. There's plenty of space, so you are never crowded. There is a ranger led boat tour which takes you along the canyon walls. You need to make reservations for this at least a day in advance. There are a lot of steps to walk down (and back up - 232 I believe) and a 1/2 mile walk to the boat dock. We didn't get to do it because of time constraints, but everyone we talked to thought it was great.

Wonderful numerous options for outdoor activities. Boating, hiking, fishing etc. I would just be careful if you are out on the water if the wind is blowing hard. The water was ridculously cold and quickly cooled you off when you got hot.

There were plenty of places to stop and take in the view and to enjoy the reservoirs as well as get away from the crowds

We drove through Curecanti after we visited the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nat'l Park (North Rim) which is not in Curecanti just fyi / Curecanti is just East of the Black Canyon. Beautiful drive / very relaxing / nice visitors center too.

From a 1 mile low impact trail great for kids to a 28 mile serious work out
Curecanti has it all

Dillon Pinnacles was a good early morning walk

Bring water and a snack

We absolutely loved our time at Curecanti. We camped at Elk Creek Campground and were greeted by a lovely park ranger who was extremely helpful. There's tons of drift wood for crafty types, and they pile it up and make it available as fire wood for campers. We had a spot right on the water and loved the gorgeous views and star-filled nights.

The Curecanti National Recreation Area is amazing; awe-some every time we visit. Our first hand experience is just with the drive along CO65 and stops at the overlooks. Breath-taking view and breeze. The Hermits Rest Overlook (southeast of Crystal) gives fine views to the south and west. More amazing are the Pioneers Point Overlooks; yes, two on-the-very-edge views that can't be described. (CAUTION: if you are afraid of heights, beware?!) The Curecanti Creek Trail (8000' altitude) of about 1/2 mile leads to a western overlook. In the other direction is another. Basic Forest Service restrooms at both Hermits Rest and Pioneers Point.

Very large reservoir with motorized boating. Camping spots available with clean restrooms. No shaded areas.

Wished we had time and a boat to hang out here. Large lake, clear water, beautiful rock formations and plants.

Great area to go fishing and rafting. We were there for the fishing but saw plenty of people doing other water sports-including kayaking.

I glanced at the 'bad' reviews (1-3) for this place, surprised that there were any.
Some idiot rated it two stars because the water was too low to suit him; one upstanding citizen - well, never mind.

The valid negative ones were about private businesses. BE FORWARNED. They just don't seem to care. Decided it's not the air or water, current theory inbreeding.

Are several FREE camping spots, suitable for fourteen days or a quick nap while on road. Composting toilets. Fire rings, picnic tables.

Natural beauty.

This place is so serene and therapeutic. It's so quiet that I heard my son whisper from about 20 yards away! The waters are sparkling and the mountains are breathtaking. I could have just sat and soaked in the atmosphere forever. I never thought I'd find a body of water, other than the ocean, to be so relaxing. This scene is simply a beautiful creation.

What a scenic place to visit. The overlooks and walking trail are accessible for the whole family. The visitors center had great local art and information.

We loved the boat tour! The walk down to the boat was beautiful along the river. Our interpretive ranger, Kurt, made it a point to get to know everyone coming on the tour and mentioned all of our hometowns/countries throughout his presentation. You will learn a lot on this tour while enjoying spectacular scenery. This is an easy way to get to the "bottom" of the canyon and explore it. After seeing it from the bottom we later checked out Pioneer Point from the top with Kurt's directions and saw the boat pass by! It looked like an ant! This was our favorite part of this area, don't miss it!

This used to be a nice fishing mecca until they started draining Blue Mesa Reservoir to supply water hungry residents in Arizona, California, and Nevada. It used to be a nice destination for camping and fishing. Now it just seems to be an overnight campground for tourists. The facilities are clean and well maintained. It still offers great scenery.

We were in the area visiting Black Canyon and decided to swing over and check out Curecanit. The visitor's center is small but has restrooms and water. Staff was friendly. Made some suggestions as to what we could do with our limited time. We made the decision to head for the beach so the kids could splash in the water. Unfortunately for us this year the water is really high so most of the beach was actually underwater. Despite the limited beach we had a good time playing in the sand and splashing a little water around. There were people swimming in the lake and there was a changing stall there but I thought the water was cold so we did not swim. Overall it was a nice stop. I could see where people with a boat or fishermen would really enjoy this rec area.

We camped here at Elk Creek. The campsites were clean. There really is no tent pad on electric/water sites so we had to do walk in by the lake but it was fantastic. If you get a chance to check out the Gunnison Aquatics Center you wont be sorry.

We spent 2 days visiting the Black Canyon National Park. In order to see both rims, you can drive north through Delta or South and see the Curecanti National Recreation Area. We drove both routes and really enjoyed the route through Curecanti. The route is 30 minutes longer, but allow more time for photos and scenic views. In addition, if you have the opportunity to drive an additional 16 miles one-way from the south rim towards Gunnison, continue east on 50 past 92. On this route next to the reservoir, you will drive past a great view of the pinnacles and see the entire body of water.

Since we wanted full days for hiking at the canyon, we stayed one night in Gunnison and one night in Montrose. There are also hikes in Curecanti, but we did not leave enough time to explore because we did not know about the park previously.

We took the Morrow Point Boat Tour at Pine Creek Trail. It was great! You need to hike to the boat which takes about 30 minutes if you are moving quickly. The return to your car involves a lot a stairs going up so be prepared. Worth it though. The canyon was peaceful. Our guides were Captain Dan and Ranger Morgan of the National Park Service, they did a wonderful job!

Great lake and it was beautiful. The road was being worked on but it gave me time to star at the lovely reservoir

The reservoir was the fullest we've seen and the weather was pleasant. Sometimes this place can get toasty (i.e. near 100F), but it was in the low 80's and sunny while we were there this past June.

So I did some fishing while I was up there for business and found a spot where I was catching Perch left and right. The little guys were so hungry they were even hitting my empty hook.
Make sure to take some Sun Block and a boat if you have one. ate the far end of the lake you can get in some really good fly fishing.
The bathrooms were surprising clean, they do a good job maintaining the park.
Restaurants and hotels are nearby and easy access to the lake makes it an easy trip for those of us that are mobility challenged.
A great place to spend a day with the family..

take the time to drive up hwy 92. Do the 2 mile hike at Curecanti Creek Trail starts at Pioneer Point.

While in the Curecanti NRA, we recommend you take one of the twice-daily, one-and-a-half-hour Morrow Point Boat Tours into the dramatic Black Canyon of the Gunnison put on by the National Park Service in the summer. The view from the water of the towering canyon walls is remarkable and the narration by the park ranger is very informative and entertaining.

Advance reservations are a must as the boat holds only 42 people. Cost is $16 for adults and $8 for children 12 and under, and your payment is nonrefundable. No seniors or other free NPS access passes accepted.

Note you need to walk 232 stairs down the canyon to the 3/4-mile riverside trail to the boat dock -- and then back up those stairs, of course! This is a rugged trail that in many places does not have railings, so plan on up to an hour to get down safely unless you are very fit. The rangers recommend you bring a walking stick and wear a backpack so your hands are free. The good news is that there are picnic areas and rest stops along the trail. A half hour away is the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Visitors Center where the canyon is even deeper and the exhibits and video very interesting.

We rode SH 92 from its eastern end near Blue Mesa Reservoir to its western terminus in Delta. The route is beautiful, bordering the Gunnison River and canyon, with many views into the deep gorge and hairpin switchbacks. Saw mule deer, marmots, and some type of sidewinder at Hermit's Rest pullout.

Lots of beautiful calm water for kayaking and camping.
Many unique and hidden places to get away from the crowd.

Mandy the park ranger did a great job along with captain kenny. Go on the web site for reservation info. The doc is a 30 minute walk after you get down the steps. They will leave you if you are late. Spectacular view and presentation.

6/19- Went on a hike. There were what appeared to be bear prints near the water. My daughter was terrified and didn't want to continue hiking. My 11 year old son enjoyed playing with the rocks near the water. We drove through some other parts of this. I think this place is better for people who have boats. There is a boat trip that I would have tried if we weren't on our way to a raft trip.

Elk Creek Marina was excellent. Boat was ready, clean, worked perfectly.
Staff was very helpful. I shall continue to come back and rent with these folks.

We took our dogs here and can’t believe that there weren’t more people fishing, boating, etc. Peak of summer, campgrounds were full, yet the lake had only a handful of boats. Admittedly a very large reservoir but we drove the length of it into and out of Gunnison and this would be a fisherman’s paradise. The water was a bit cold for me to swim but our dog sure enjoyed it!

What a surprise. We live in CO only recently traveled some lesser known roads through the recreational area. Beware that Cowboys may be herding cattle down the lesser roads, but it only adds to the excitement of your trip. Plenty of pull offs for photography. You need to allow time to stop. Be sure and take plenty of water, snacks, or better yet a picnic. Not many amenities encountered. Boating in area, too.

We went on the Morrow Point 1.5 hour boat tour. Tickets are available in advance online or from the Elk Creek Visitor Center. More info at: http://www.nps.gov/cure/planyourvisit/boattour.htm

Allow 30 min - 1 hour to get from the parking lot to the boat. You have to walk down 232(?) steps and then another .5 mile. Our ranger/guide told us that each ranger does his/her own research for the tour, so no 2 ranger boat tours are alike. Our ranger, Jude, has an architectural and artistic interest, so he provided that theme for the tour. It is a relaxing ride, great scenery, and interesting stories, with time to take photos. I would not have been able to see the canyon in this light without a boat and had a great time.

Scenery was incredibly beautiful. The guides had great personalities and were informative and personable for the mix of visitors ages. Well worth the walk!

This review is for the Morrow Point Boat tour, which doesn't have a separate entry.

We scheduled this tour on advice from a friend who lives in Denver and has done it more than once. We were not disappointed.

Your adventure starts with a climb down something like 250 steps, and then a 3/4-ish mile walk toward the boat dock, so it's not for folks with mobility issues. Fortunately that wasn't an issue for us, and we soon met up with our tour group, including rangers Curt and Joel.

The scenery of the Black Canyon is simply stunning, and seeing it from the river/reservoir level is incredible. But the real joy of this trip was Ranger Curt's narration, including the history of the area starting all the way back from the formation of the canyon, onto the point where the canyon was 'discovered' while scoping out sites for a railroad (one of which was eventually built through this section of the canyon) and onto the water management issues facing the SW states and how this reservoir plays a part. This was done in a fun, interesting, and engaging way including plenty of humor and wisecracks.

Our boys (9 and 11) were given a chance to pilot the boat by Captain Joel, and toward the end of the ride were used as an example/illustration of why we need to preserve things. It was a meaningful experience for all of us.

I'd highly recommend this as part of a visit to this area or Black Canyon National Park

Through the National Recreation Area route 50 runs pretty much the whole length of the Blue Mesa Reservoir, the largest water body in the state of Colorado. Along the way there are plenty of spots for boating and fishing, along with lots of hiking and camping in the area. The reservoir pool has not filled in recent years due to low snow pack, and we were there in the Fall when it was seasonally quite low. Nevertheless it is is a very pretty spot, well away from the more crowded parts of the state.