Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area
The Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area is a 62,844-acre (254.32 km2) National Conservation Area located in west-central Colorado near Montrose. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as part of the National Landscape Conservation System. 57,725 acres (233.60 km2) were designated in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area Act of 1999. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison Boundary Revision Act of 2003 expanded the NCA to its current size.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
| Designation | National Conservation Area |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | Colorado |
| Size | 65,053 acres |
| National Conservation Lands id | NLCS000324 |
| Center point | 38.67° N, 107.85° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 25) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
1 federal campground sits inside the boundary and 3 more are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedMain Mesa Piles Rx
27 mi from the center point · 366 acres
- PrescribedUpd Baldy Mountain Piles Rx
40 mi from the center point · 120 acres
- WildfireGold Mountain
44 mi from the center point · 39,747 acres · 92% contained
- WildfireElk
46 mi from the center point · 7,257 acres · 90% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 3.5 mi
- 3.6 miLathrop, J. V., House ↗Montrose, CO
- 3.7 miMontrose Masonic Temple, Lodge No. 63 ↗Montrose, CO
- 3.7 miMethodist Episcopal Church of Montrose ↗Montrose, CO
- 3.8 miMontrose City Hall ↗Montrose, CO
- 3.8 miFirst Presbyterian Church of Eckert ↗Eckert, CO
- 3.8 miKnights of Pythias (kp) Building ↗Montrose, CO
- 3.8 miBenevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge ↗Montrose, CO
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Colorado
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area?
65,053 acres.
Source: How acreage is computed
Who manages Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Bureau of Land Management
What state is Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area in?
Colorado.
Source: How states are assigned
Can I camp at Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area?
Rules vary by unit. The BLM page has the current camping rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area?
A point inside the boundary is at 38.672° N, 107.847° W. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park is 4 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Bureau of Land Management
Is there a fire near Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Main Mesa Piles Rx at 27 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area?
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park (4 mi) and Curecanti National Recreation Area (25 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area?
The National Register has 38 listings within 15 miles, including Us Bureau of Reclamation Project Office Building and Lathrop, J. V., House.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name: the BLM National Conservation Lands layer.
- States and territories: computed by intersecting the boundary with Census state polygons and coarse outlines of the territories and outlying islands. A place is listed when it holds at least one percent of the area. A boundary that touches no outline is listed under the nearest one.
- Acreage: geodesic area of the published polygon. The agency’s official acreage can differ where the boundary includes water, easements or inholdings.
- Description: Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. The article was accepted because its title contains this unit’s name.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.