Curecanti National Recreation Area   Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  7,000' Page Views:  3,200. Good page?    Administrators:  Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  John Peterson on May 16, 2012 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 64° | 32° 73° | 36° 73° | 36° 72° | 36° 73° | 37°

2013 Raptor Closures MORE INFO >>> Serpent Point and the adjacent walls within one-half mile are closed to public use from March 15 through July 15. This includes the landscape portions above the walls extending 50 feet from the rim edge. This pertains to the following areas: North Rim areas - The Alpine Aretes, Porcelain Arete, and Painted Wall. These climbing routes are closed: Alpine Route, Porcelain Arete, On the Border, Broken Porcelain, Northern Arete, Beyer Route, The Dragon, The Serpent, Forrest-Walker, Stratosfear, Journey Through Mirkwood, and Southern Arete. South Rim areas - Dragon Point and Dragon Point Buttress. These climbing routes are closed: Pilgrimage, Crumb Blunder, Magic Dragon, Black Adder, Black Snake, Black Heathen, Black Dragon Rider, and Silent Rage. This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund, and Mountain Project. You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates. Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment

Historic photo of Curecanti Needle before the cany...

Description 

Upstream along the Gunnison River from the Black Canyon National Park lies Curecanti National Recreation Area. This area has abundant rock of varying quality. While this part of the canyon is not as steep or deep as the national park, there are many cliffs along the banks of the reservoirs. The upper part of Morrow Point is easily accessible from the rim, but the cliffs further downstream are not as easy to approach. In the winter, a number of ice climbs form in this canyon.

The iconic rock in this area is the Curecanti Needle, just across the canyon from the Pioneer Point overlook about 3 miles below Blue Mesa Dam on CO Route 92. A narrow gauge railroad used to run through the canyon and The Needle was the symbol of the line.

Getting There 

Most of the climbs here have been developed in the canyon just downstream of Blue Mesa Dam. The dam is on US 50 about 25 miles west of Gunnison or 40 miles east of Montrose. Pine Creek is on the south side just a mile downstream on US 50 while Pioneer Point is found along CO Route 92 on the north side.

The Classics

Featured Route For Curecanti National Recreation Area

Northwest Rib 5.9-  CO : Gunnison : ... : Curecanti Needle

"Screw the Canyon Proper, this rock quality is the sh#t!" -Dirty Captain Meat Sauce.To access this phenomenal rib of Curecanti Needle, exit North onto CO 92 from W. US Hwy 50 (right if from Gunnison) cross over Blue Mesa Dam and drive about 7 miles west to Pioneer Point. Then exit left to Pioneer Point which is a senic overlook with an outhouse. Take Curecanti Creek Trail (right of outhouse and right from the Curecanti Trail sign) for about 1.5 miles. This can be a grueling march with kaya...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO

Photos of Curecanti National Recreation Area Slideshow

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Wall just downstream of the Pioneer Point trail. ...