How many campgrounds does Black Canyon of the Gunnison have?

The National Park Service lists 3 campgrounds in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park with 116 sites in total: 74 reservable and 42 first-come, first-served.

Do I need a reservation to camp in Black Canyon of the Gunnison?

South Rim Campground takes reservations, while East Portal Campground and North Rim Campground are first-come, first-served. Check each campground's Recreation.gov page for its booking window.

Can I bring an RV to Black Canyon of the Gunnison?

Yes. 3 campgrounds allow RVs; the longest stated limit is 55 feet (South Rim Campground). No campground lists a dump station. Hookups are rare in national parks — check each campground's details.

Is there cell service at Black Canyon of the Gunnison campgrounds?

The NPS reports no cell reception at any of the park's campgrounds. Download maps before you arrive.

Camping

Camping in Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Last verified October 6, 2026NPS campground data

3 campgrounds, 116 sites. 74 sites are reservable and 42 are first-come, first-served. Everything here is from the National Park Service’s own campground records, including what the NPS says about booking windows.

Black Canyon near Tomichi Point — Photo: NPS Photo/Lynch

Campgrounds: 3
Sites: 116
Reservable: 74; 42 first-come
Longest RV: 55 ft; no dump station
Cell service: 0/3; campgrounds
From: $10; per night

Every campground

Sites, rules and amenities

As the National Park Service lists them. Fees are the lowest nightly rate the NPS gives for the campground.

Campground	Sites	Reservable	First-come	RV max	Cell	Showers	Dump	From	Book
South Rim Campground	88	74	14	55 ft	No	No	No	$10	Reserve
East Portal Campground	15	0	15	22 ft	No	No	No	$10	—
North Rim Campground	13	0	13	22 ft	No	No	No	$10	—

When booking opens

Booking windows for campsites and lodges

How far ahead each campground and lodge takes reservations, checked against the park's or operator's own page. The quoted line is re-checked on every build.

Campground booking · Recreation.gov (National Park Service)

South Rim Campground, North Rim Campground, East Portal Campground

South Rim Campground sites are available by reservation only, year-round, on Recreation.gov. The NPS camping page does not say how far ahead they can be booked.

“South Rim Campground: Sites available by reservation only, year-round. Reserve sites online at Recreation.gov.”

Book →Source pageUpdated — NPS camping page: September 22, 2026 · Recreation.gov record updated 2026-05-04

Lodging booking

“There are no restaurants or lodges in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.”

Source pageUpdated — NPS eating & sleeping page: November 13, 2025

What the NPS says

Reservations, in the park's words

The reservation notes the National Park Service publishes for each campground.

South Rim Campground

All sites in all loops must be reserved through Recreation.gov. Only loop B is open in winter. NOTE: Due to wildfire damage, limited sites (non-electric only) are currently available.

Recreation.gov →

East Portal Campground

Reservations are not accepted for East Portal Campground. All sites are first-come first-served. Payment MUST be submitted online using the Scan & Pay feature on the Recreation.gov mobile app. There is no cell service or connectivity on site. Download the Recreation.gov app before entering the park to arrive prepared.

North Rim Campground

Reservations are not accepted for the North Rim Campground. All sites are first-come first-served. Payment MUST be submitted online using the Scan & Pay feature on the Recreation.gov mobile app. There is no cell service or connectivity on site. Download the Recreation.gov app before entering the park to arrive prepared.

About this data

Site counts, reservation splits, RV limits and amenities are the National Park Service’s own records for each campground, retrieved from the NPS Data API and shown without edits (a dash means the park did not state it). Seasons, fees and availability change — the campground’s Recreation.gov page is the authority for what is open and bookable today.

Sources · 3

1.NPS Data API — /campgrounds · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
2.Reservation, permit, lottery and camping pages of each park on nps.gov and Recreation.gov, read and quoted · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
3.Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park — Camping (nps.gov) · National Park Service

FAQ

Black Canyon of the Gunnison camping questions

How many campgrounds does Black Canyon of the Gunnison have?: The National Park Service lists 3 campgrounds in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park with 116 sites in total: 74 reservable and 42 first-come, first-served.
Do I need a reservation to camp in Black Canyon of the Gunnison?: South Rim Campground takes reservations, while East Portal Campground and North Rim Campground are first-come, first-served. Check each campground's Recreation.gov page for its booking window.
Can I bring an RV to Black Canyon of the Gunnison?: Yes. 3 campgrounds allow RVs; the longest stated limit is 55 feet (South Rim Campground). No campground lists a dump station. Hookups are rare in national parks — check each campground's details.
Is there cell service at Black Canyon of the Gunnison campgrounds?: The NPS reports no cell reception at any of the park's campgrounds. Download maps before you arrive.

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