Getting ready forCurecanti National Recreation Area.
Blue Mesa Reservoir, the largest body of water in Colorado, along U.S. Highway 50 west of Gunnison. There is no entrance fee, the park is normally open 24 hours, and the Elk Creek Visitor Center's hours vary by season.
Know before you go. The park doesn't list sensory supports. Here's what it does say about the water, the edges and the weather.
Hours
The park is normally open year-round, 24 hours a day; some facilities have limited hours during winter. Elk Creek Visitor Center: hours vary by season, so check the park's Operating Hours & Seasons page before you go. Posted hours: Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4 pm; closed Saturday and Sunday. It is also closed New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington's Birthday, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Elk Creek Visitor Center, 102 Elk Creek, Gunnison, CO 81230 (off U.S. Highway 50, 15 miles west of Gunnison)
Winter daytime temperatures usually reach 20°F to 30°F, and lows often dip below zero. Snow is common in early spring and late fall.
The park does not monitor ice conditions on the reservoir.
Mid-May to September
Most ranger programs are offered from mid-May to September; contact the visitor center for details.
Summer daytime temperatures are usually 70°F to 80°F. The wind often picks up at 12 pm and continues through the afternoon, and thunderstorms are common on summer afternoons.
The park says to return to shore if storms develop over the reservoirs.
Stay close“Personal floatation devices (PFDs) save lives and are required for children under the age of 13. They are also recommended for children walking on the docks at the marinas.”
Stay close“Water temperatures remain cold through much of the season.” “As soon as strong winds begin to blow, head for shore.”
Stay close“Water levels can change drastically due to scheduled dam releases and seasons. Be mindful of rocks and other hidden obstacles that may be just below the surface.”
Stay close“Children should be closely supervised as weathered and loose rock makes rim edges hazardous. Many places have no guardrails.”
Stay close“In summer, bodies of water at Curecanti occasionally harbor toxic algae blooms.” Check the park's Current Conditions page for algae alerts: when one is posted, the park says to “keep kids and pets out of the water.”
“The wind often picks up at 12 pm and continues through the afternoon.” “Thunderstorms are common on summer afternoons.”
“Restrooms with flush toilets and sinks and one water fountain are wheelchair accessible.” (Elk Creek Visitor Center)
“There are no restaurants or lodges in Curecanti National Recreation Area.” “No food is available.”
When it is open, the Elk Creek Visitor Center makes an easy first stop for the bathroom and water. At a separate stop, the paved and packed gravel path from the parking lot to the Hermits Rest overlook can be the whole walk; many rim edges have no guardrails, so decide in the car who stays at your kid's side, and turn back whenever your kid has had enough.
No entrance fee, and no entrance pass is needed. Most campgrounds have fees.
Elk Creek Visitor Center restrooms with flush toilets and sinks, and one water fountain, are wheelchair accessible; water is available inside when the building is open.
Anyone ages 5 to 12 can become a Junior Ranger; pick up a free Junior Ranger book at the Elk Creek Visitor Center.
Hermits Rest Overlook: the path from the parking lot is paved and packed gravel, and wheelchairs may need assistance. Neversink Trail is unpaved, packed dirt for the first 0.2 miles and may be wheelchair accessible with assistance. Other trails have rocky, uneven surfaces, wooden stairs, or steep descents.
There are no restaurants or lodges in the park, and no food is available. The nearest restaurants are in Montrose or Gunnison.
There is limited cell reception across Curecanti; within the upper Black Canyon, do not expect service.
The park sits at about 7,500 feet. U.S. Highway 50, CO Highway 92 and other roads in the area can be windy, steep, and narrow.
Public transportation is not available in Curecanti.
