Curecanti National Recreation Area, established in 1965, located in West Central Colorado and includes three reservoirs: Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal. Blue Mesa is the largest body of water in Colorado, being 20 miles in length with 96 miles of shoreline. When Blue Mesa is filled to capacity there are approximately 941,000 acre feet of water and stocked with 4 million fish every year. Blue Mesa boasts some of the best deep water fishing in Colorado.
Morrow Point Reservoir is downstream from Blue Mesa, the result of the construction of the Morrow Point dam. Access to Morrow Point is challenging due to the lack of road access. There are weekly boat tours, occurring twice daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, reservations are required.
Crystal Reservoir was created in 1976 by the Bureau of Reclamation with three features, water storage, hydroelectric power, and public recreation. Crystal is part of the Curecanti NRA, is the least developed, most difficult to access, and the smallest of the three reservoirs. Crystal Reservoir is the last water storage unit before the Gunnison River enters the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
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Activities:
- Boating (2 boat launches, personal watercraft prohibited)
- Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Ice Fishing
- Horseback Riding
- Water Skiing
- Wind Surfing
- Camping (10 developed campgrounds)
- Boat-in Campsites
- Bird Watching
- Hiking
- Hunting
Curecanti National Recreation Area Park Map
Morrow Point Boat Tour- Lisa Lynch
