Curecanti National Recreation Area
Three reservoirs and surrounding lands make up this recreation area in western Colorado.
Photo: NPS/Kat Connelly / NPS
About Curecanti National Recreation Area
Three reservoirs and surrounding lands make up this recreation area in western Colorado. It is a landscape of tradeoffs; natural and human made features exist together. Geologic wonders are abundant from the sagebrush shrublands to forests. Visitors can experience the park year-round on both land and water.
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COdrive time
COdrive time
COdrive time
NMdrive time
COdrive time
COdrive time
Driving times from Curecanti National Recreation Area, one way, via road — a realistic day is 8–10 hours behind the wheel.
Hours
Curecanti National Recreation Area
- Mon
- All Day
- Tue
- All Day
- Wed
- All Day
- Thu
- All Day
- Fri
- All Day
- Sat
- All Day
- Sun
- All Day
Activities
Getting there
During spring and fall, temperatures range from 44°F to 70°F (7°C to 34°C) with overnight lows from the teens to about freezing (-9°C to 2°C). In summer, temperatures are usually in the 70°F to 80°F (21°C to 27°C). Nights are usually 40°F to 50°F (4°C to 10°C). The wind often picks up at 12 pm and continues through the afternoon. Thunderstorms are common. In winter, temperatures usually reach 20°F to 30°F (-7°C to -1°C) and lows often dip below zero (-18°C).
Frequently asked questions
- What is there to do at Curecanti National Recreation Area?
- Popular activities include Astronomy, Backcountry Camping, Birdwatching, Boating, Bookstore and Park Store, Camping.
- Which national parks are within a day's drive of Curecanti National Recreation Area?
- Within about a day's drive you can reach Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park (1 h 1 min), Colorado National Monument (2 h 19 min), Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (3 h 5 min), Aztec Ruins National Monument (3 h 32 min), Mesa Verde National Park (3 h 53 min), Yucca House National Monument (4 h 10 min).