Curecanti
- 1.9 mi
- round trip
- 931 ft
- climb
- 8,542 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Oct
- best months
Is Curecanti open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It doesn't name Curecanti, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Gold Mountain Wildfire Roads and Trails Closure Order v 4.0
Agency closure covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Ophir Pass Road Closure
Agency closure covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Potter Basin and Beaver Park Roads Emergency Closures
Agency alert covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
TERMINATION OF ORDER - FIRE RESTRICTIONS
Agency alert covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Dallas Area Closure order
Agency alert covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
As of · Source: USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Curecanti is a moderate out-and-back hike of about 1.9 miles in the West Elk Wilderness, part of the Paonia Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests in Colorado. The trail climbs from a low point of 8,112 feet to a high of 8,542 feet, with a total gain of 931 feet over the round trip. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.8 miles in, with a grade of 21 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Montrose, at a similar elevation, show July highs around 78°F and lows near 53°F, while winter highs stay around 31°F. The trip starts at the Curecanti Beaver parking area, and the hike takes about an hour. Hoodoo Gap lies just 0.1 mile away, and Lone Cabin Tie-In is about 0.7 mile off. Lone Cabin Trail and Little Elk Basin are both within about 4 miles.
Local outfitters
- Cedar Creek RV Park and Lodging32 mi away
- Maroon Bells Guide and Outfitters39 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Hoodoo GapHiking0.1 mi
- Lone Cabin Tie-InHiking0.7 mi
- Lone Cabin TrailHiking1.7 mi
- Little Elk BasinHiking3.9 mi
- Lone PineHiking4.1 mi
- Mt. Lamborn Summit TrailHiking4.2 mi
- Coal CreekCanoeing5.3 mi
- Cliff CreekCanoeing9.9 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Trail 860AHiking · ~10 min drivePhoto: Blake Patterson from Alexandria, VA, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Hoodoo GapHiking · Next door
- Elijah Park Trail 723Hiking · ~8 min drive
- Sink CreekHiking · ~11 min drive
- Navajo RidgeHiking · ~9 min drive
- Lone Cabin TrailHiking · ~3 min drive
- East Flat Iron Trail 721Hiking · ~10 min drive
- Peter CreekHiking · ~14 min drive
- Little Elk BasinHiking · ~7 min drive
- Coal Creek Mesa TrailHiking · ~10 min drive
Best time to visit Curecanti
Best months: May–October. 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.
Jan
31° / 14°
11 wet
Feb
34° / 17°
11 wet
Mar
42° / 23°
11 wet
Apr
50° / 29°
11 wet
May
61° / 38°
9 wet
Jun
72° / 47°
6 wet
Jul
78° / 53°
10 wet
Aug
75° / 51°
9 wet
Sep
67° / 44°
8 wet
Oct
55° / 33°
8 wet
Nov
42° / 23°
8 wet
Dec
31° / 15°
12 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Montrose 11 Ene, CO, 23.1 mi away at 8,402 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
