Curecanti
- 24.6 mi
- round trip
- 3,318 ft
- climb
- 10,482 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Aug
- 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 hard out-and-back hike in Colorado's West Elk Wilderness, within the Paonia Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. The trail runs about 24.6 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 3,318 feet, from a low point of 8,535 feet to a high of 10,482 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is on natural surface. Horses are allowed, and the trail is not accessible. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Crested Butte, which sits about 1,600 feet lower, show July highs around 76°F with lows near 40°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-20s. The trail is open from June 1 to October 31, and the parking area is named Curecanti Beaver. Nearby hikes include East Creek, about 2.5 miles away, and Sink Creek and Coal Basin, each roughly 3.5 miles off. For paddling, Soap Creek is about 6 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Cedar Creek RV Park and Lodging31 mi away
- Maroon Bells Guide and Outfitters41 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- East CreekHiking2.5 mi
- Sink CreekHiking3.4 mi
- Coal BasinHiking3.5 mi
- Kaufman Creek TrailHiking3.8 mi
- Coffeepot CreekHiking4.1 mi
- Soap CreekCanoeing6.1 mi
- Coal CreekCanoeing7.8 mi
- CommissaryCamping9.9 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Trail 860AHiking · ~8 min drivePhoto: Blake Patterson from Alexandria, VA, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- East CreekHiking · ~4 min drive
- Coffeepot CreekHiking · ~7 min drive
- Sink CreekHiking · ~6 min drive
- Kaufman Creek TrailHiking · ~6 min drive
- Sheep Lake TrailHiking · ~11 min drive
- East CurecantiHiking · ~8 min drive
- Bald Mountain Tie InHiking · ~8 min drive
- Cliff Creek Trail 840Hiking · ~13 min drive
- Lone PineHiking · ~8 min drive
Also worth it near here
Best time to visit Curecanti
Best months: June–August. 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
26° / -7°
12 wet
Feb
29° / -2°
11 wet
Mar
38° / 7°
10 wet
Apr
47° / 19°
9 wet
May
58° / 28°
8 wet
Jun
70° / 34°
7 wet
Jul
76° / 40°
10 wet
Aug
74° / 38°
12 wet
Sep
66° / 31°
9 wet
Oct
54° / 22°
8 wet
Nov
39° / 9°
9 wet
Dec
27° / -4°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Crested Butte, CO, 24.2 mi away at 8,867 ft. The station sits about 1,600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
