Colorado · Camping · Near Telluride

Cataract Gulch

Cataract GulchPhoto: Mitchtobin, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Jun–Jul, Sep
best months
  • At 9,601 ftHigh camp: expect cold nights, even in summer
  • Gunnison Field Office

Cataract Gulch is a Bureau of Land Management campground in western Colorado, within the Gunnison Field Office of the agency's land. Its location puts it right alongside two of the most popular hikes in the area, Carson Peak and Coney Point, both about a tenth of a mile away, making it a natural base for exploring the surrounding high-country trails. The most comfortable stretch for a visit runs from June through September. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 76°F with lows near 42°F, and September easing to about 68°F by day. Winter is harsh, with January highs near 34°F and lows around -4°F. Close by, Grizzly RT RV Park sits about 1.3 miles away and Mill Creek Campground (CO) about 2.2 miles out. Lake Fork, a canoeing spot, is 1.6 miles away, and Lily of the Valley Boulder, a climbing area, is roughly 4.9 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Cataract Gulch

    Campground

    Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Red Mountain Brewing

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 15 mi
  • If it rains

    Smuggler Union Tramhouse

    Attraction

    On your way back · 19 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Telluride

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Jul, Sep

    Best time to visit Cataract Gulch

    Best months: June–July and September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      34° / -4°

      4 wet · 4 snow

    2. Feb

      37° / -2°

      4 wet · 4 snow

    3. Mar

      43° / 9°

      5 wet · 5 snow

    4. Apr

      50° / 20°

      6 wet · 5 snow

    5. May

      60° / 29°

      5 wet · 2 snow

    6. Jun

      71° / 36°

      5 wet

    7. Jul

      76° / 42°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      73° / 41°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 35°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 25°

      6 wet · 2 snow

    11. Nov

      44° / 12°

      4 wet · 3 snow

    12. Dec

      34° / -3°

      4 wet · 3 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Rio Grande Rsvr, CO, 15.3 mi away at 9,492 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more campsites worth the drive

Highlander RV CampgroundPhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Highlander RV Campground

~16 min drive

RV campground in Colorado offering convenient access to outdoor recreation.

Henson Creek RV ParkPhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Henson Creek RV Park

~18 min drive

Mountain RV park in Colorado offering convenient access to outdoor recreation.

Silverton Lakes CampgroundPhoto: Rainer Halama, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Silverton Lakes Campground

~23 min drive

Alpine campground near Silverton Lakes with mountain lake and peak views.

Dispersed camp sitePhoto: Tobias from Germany, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Dispersed camp site

~25 min drive

First-come dispersed camping on Colorado public lands with backcountry character.

BED

River Hill

~28 min drive

BED

Amphitheater (co)

~26 min drive

BED

Grizzly RT RV Park

~2 min drive

Small, private Colorado RV park with 6 sites in a mountain setting.

BED

Mill Creek Campground (CO)

~4 min drive

BED

Mill Creek Campground

~4 min drive

First-come, first-served creek-side camping in Colorado's natural woodland setting.

BED

Burrows Park Dispersed Camping

~5 min drive

Burrows Park Dispersed Camping is a campground in Colorado.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors