Curecanti National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area in Colorado. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Curecanti
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Curecanti. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Curecanti the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:26 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:32 PM | 5:13 PM | 244° | 9h 47m |
| February | 7:01 AM | 7:38 AM | 5:11 PM | 5:48 PM | 255° | 10h 47m |
| March | 7:21 AM | 7:56 AM | 6:42 PM | 7:17 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:34 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:46 PM | 283° | 13h 12m |
| May | 5:59 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:14 PM | 295° | 14h 16m |
| June | 5:46 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:36 PM | 301° | 14h 50m |
| July | 5:58 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:34 PM | 299° | 14h 36m |
| August | 6:25 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:05 PM | 289° | 13h 40m |
| September | 6:52 AM | 7:27 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:19 PM | 275° | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:19 AM | 7:55 AM | 5:57 PM | 6:33 PM | 260° | 11h 14m |
| November | 6:52 AM | 7:31 AM | 4:19 PM | 4:58 PM | 247° | 10h 06m |
| December | 7:20 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:09 PM | 4:50 PM | 241° | 9h 30m |
Computed for the park's reference point (38.4658, -107.3303); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Curecanti, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:06 AM – 5:26 AM | 0.3 | 12° |
| March | 4:25 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.3 | 19° |
| April | 2:20 AM – 4:50 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:21 AM – 4:01 AM | 3.7 | 23° |
| June | 10:33 PM – 3:43 AM | 5.2 | 23° |
| July | 10:26 PM – 2:16 AM | 3.8 | 23° |
| August | 9:43 PM – 12:13 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| September | 8:49 PM – 10:19 PM | 1.5 | 19° |
| October | 8:00 PM – 8:20 PM | 0.3 | 13° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
2 Estimated Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars.
Weather & best time to visit
During spring and fall, temperatures range from 44°F to 70°F (7°C to 34°C) with overnight lows from the teens to about freezing (-9°C to 2°C). In summer, temperatures are usually in the 70°F to 80°F (21°C to 27°C). Nights are usually 40°F to 50°F (4°C to 10°C). The wind often picks up at 12 pm and continues through the afternoon. Thunderstorms are common. In winter, temperatures usually reach 20°F to 30°F (-7°C to -1°C) and lows often dip below zero (-18°C).
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 39% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (66%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Curecanti is located between the Colorado towns of Gunnison (to the east), Montrose (to the west), and Lake City (to the south). The West Elk Mountain Wilderness area borders Curecanti to the north. U.S. Highway 50 runs the length of Curecanti east to west.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Boating
- Motorized Boating
- Sailing
- Jet Skiing
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Climbing
- Rock Climbing
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horse Camping (see also camping)
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting and Gathering
Nearby parks
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