Scenic Drives

Roads impacted by U.S. 50 Bridge Closure

Access to U.S. Highway 50 and CO Highway 92 are impacted due to an emergency bridge closure by the Colorado Department of Transportation. Check current conditions and plan accordingly for additional drive times via detours.

 

 

Surrounding Public Lands

Curecanti National Recreation Area is surrounded by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land. Several roads, which begin in Curecanti, continue onto these public lands. These roads are suitable for cars in good weather. Some roads may require high clearance or 4-wheel drive capability depending on the season.

Consult the BLM or the USFS for regulations regarding recreational use.

Soap Creek Road

From CO Highway 92, .75 miles (1.2 km) north of the Blue Mesa Dam, turn onto the Soap Creek Road. Continue for 7 miles (11.3 km) up the Soap Creek Arm to Ponderosa Campground. Continue for another 2 miles (3.2 km) to the Soap Creek Campground and several trailheads.

Red Creek Road

1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of the Middle Bridge, Red Creek Road heads north to Red Creek Campground. The road then follows Red Creek, with its many beaver dams and ponds, north into the Sapinero Wildlife Area and eventually the Gunnison National Forest.

Rainbow Lake Road

About one mile (1.6 km) east of Elk Creek on Highway 50, Rainbow Lake Road takes you into BLM and USFS land; beyond is Rainbow Lake and the West Elk Wilderness area.