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A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

National Park Service campground

Lake Fork Campground

National Park Service campground in Curecanti National Recreation Area, Gunnison County, Colorado. 7,548 feet. 22.7 miles from Crawford.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
National Park Service Curecanti National Recreation Area
Elevation
7,548 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
83 59 standard non-electric, 19 rv non-electric, 5 tent only non-electric
Longest rig
52 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Gunnison County

Overview

Lake Fork Campground is on the Blue Mesa Reservoir, near the reservoir's dam. It is a part of the historic Curecanti Recreation Area and is an ideal place to stay for days of boat recreation, hiking and taking in the views of the Black Canyon.

Recreation

Jet skiing, water skiing and canoeing are some of the many water activities available on the reservoir.

Bird Watching is also rewarding, with chances to see the black-billed magpie.

Along the shrubland, visitors can spot Gunnison's Prairie Dogs popping out of their holes.

Facilities

Flush toilets are available in summer months.

Cell phone service is limited. For anglers, a fish cleaning station is provided for conveniently preparing the days catch.

Elk Creek, Lake Fork and Iola boat ramps are OPEN for the season.

Natural Features

The steep canyon walls in this part of the reservoir were carved out by the Gunnison River, which once flowed with powerful intensity fueled by the snowmelt of nearby mountains.

Today, the Gunnison river is dammed in three places, creating three large and beautiful reservoirs to be enjoyed by visitors.

The land is characterized by semi-arid shrubland with vast expanses of sagebrush. The natural features and ecosystems of Curecanti vary greatly, with Riparian habitats, epic canyons and lush patches of Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and aspen trees.

Nearby Attractions

The recreation area is just south of Gunnison National Forest and east of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. There's no shortage of options for Scenic Drives and Hiking.

Try hiking the Curecanti Creek Trail or Hermit's Rest Trail off HWY 92..

The description, directions and fees are the National Park Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • biking
  • boating
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • hunting
  • swimming site
  • water sports
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Lake Fork Campground

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated March 11, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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