Ute III Camp

For experienced Colorado outdoors enthusiasts seeking a truly remote and rugged experience, **Ute III Camp** offers an exciting opportunity deep within the **Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (NCA)**, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Delta County. This is not a typical roadside campground but rather a designated, primitive campsite often utilized by those embarking on river trips down the Gunnison River, a spectacular and remote section of the Western Slope.

Ute III Camp is one of a series of designated primitive sites—like Ute I, Ute II, etc.—found along the Ute Trail and the Gunnison River corridor. The experience here is characterized by stunning canyon views, the sound of the flowing river, and complete disconnection from urban life. It is the ideal destination for local users ready for a **self-reliant adventure**, whether you are a rafter floating the Gunnison Gorge or a prepared hiker descending the challenging Ute Trail to access the river's edge. This location demands respect for the wilderness and strict adherence to **Leave No Trace** principles but rewards visitors with unparalleled natural beauty and solitude.

### Location and Accessibility

Ute III Camp is geographically located in the wilderness area of **Delta County, CO 81416, USA**, specifically within the **Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (NCA)**. It is most directly associated with the **Ute Trailhead**, which serves as the primary land access point to this part of the Gorge.

The camp is remote and its accessibility is dual-natured:

• **Land Access:** The Ute Trailhead itself, which provides access to the primitive campsites just outside the Wilderness boundary, is typically reached via **Ute Road**, which is a high-clearance, **four-wheel-drive road**. Access to the specific, more remote river campsites like Ute III requires traversing the **challenging 7.1-mile Ute Trail** on foot or by horse/pack animal, or camping at the designated sites near the trailhead.
• **River Access:** Ute III Campsite is specifically noted as a potential **boat-in campsite** on the Gunnison River, meaning it is often accessed by rafters or kayakers floating through the Gorge.

Visitors must be aware of the primitive nature of the terrain and the limited infrastructure. While the Ute Trailhead may have a parking area (**Wheelchair accessible parking lot** is common at main BLM trailheads), the individual Ute III campsite itself is deep within a rustic environment where accessibility is limited to rugged trails and natural terrain.

### Services Offered

As a primitive campsite within a National Conservation Area, Ute III Camp offers minimal services, focusing on resource protection and visitor safety rather than comfort amenities. Campers should be fully prepared for off-grid, dry camping.

• **Designated Campsite:** Provides a specific, established area to minimize environmental impact, typically cleared and level enough for tents.
• **Limited Amenities:** Similar primitive campsites nearby, such as those at the Ute Trailhead, include basic features like a **vault toilet** and a **picnic table** with a **shade structure**. It is highly likely Ute III provides at least these basic sanitation and gathering structures.
• **Fee Required:** Visitors to this area are required to pay a user fee, which varies depending on the length of stay: **Day Use & Camping** is typically **$5 per person per calendar day** ($10 for 1 night, $15 for 2 nights—the maximum allowable stay).
• **No Water or Power:** Campers must bring **all necessary potable water** and be completely **self-contained**, as there are no electric, water, or sewer hookups.
• **Waste Disposal:** Campers are required to **pack out all trash** and ensure the campsite is left pristine, following strict wilderness ethics.
• **On-site Services (Trailhead):** The Ute Trailhead itself, the entry point to this area, typically features an **informational kiosk** and parking.

### Features / Highlights

The highlights of Ute III Camp and its surrounding area are entirely focused on its spectacular, challenging, and pristine wilderness environment.

• **Gunnison Gorge Views:** Located near a canyon rim, the area offers **breathtaking, panoramic views** of the Gunnison Gorge NCA, a dramatic landscape of steep canyon walls and the flowing Gunnison River.
• **River Access:** The site's location on the Gunnison River (or within very close proximity) makes it an exceptional base for **Gold Medal fishing** and **whitewater rafting/kayaking** in one of Colorado’s premier river canyons.
• **Challenging Hiking:** The **Ute Trail**, which provides land access, is a challenging 7.1-mile out-and-back trail known for its difficulty and spectacular scenery, appealing to serious hikers.
• **Primitive Wilderness Setting:** The camp is situated just outside the official **Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Area**, guaranteeing a highly protected and untrammeled environment free from mechanized travel.
• **Geological Exploration:** The entire region is part of the **Colorado Plateau**, offering unique opportunities for geological exploration, rockhounding, and admiring towering rock walls.
• **Secluded Camping:** For those seeking true **solitude and quiet**, this remote location offers an unparalleled opportunity to disconnect from cell service and light pollution for pristine stargazing.
• **Wildlife Viewing:** The remote nature of the Gorge means excellent opportunities for **wildlife watching**, including birds of prey and large mammals (campers must be bear aware).

### Contact Information

For information on current conditions, fire restrictions, required user fees, and details on river access permits, contact the local Bureau of Land Management (BLM) office, which manages the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area.

Address: **Delta County, CO 81416, USA** (General Gunnison Gorge NCA Area)
Contact (BLM Gunnison Field Office): **(970) 642-4940** (Recommended number for NCA information and permit details)

### What is Worth Choosing

Choosing Ute III Camp is choosing a demanding but deeply rewarding Colorado wilderness experience. It is unequivocally worth choosing for the local camper who is an **adventurer first and a camper second**.

The primary draw is its status as a **gateway to the Gunnison Gorge**. Whether accessed by a high-clearance vehicle to the trailhead, or by boat on the river, the campsite puts you directly into one of the state’s most pristine and dramatic canyon ecosystems. This is the place for serious rafters, kayakers, and those wanting a base for **Gold Medal river fishing**.

Secondly, the camp guarantees **extreme solitude and an authentic primitive experience**. You will not find crowds, paved roads, or loud generators here. The required user fee helps maintain the minimal facilities like the vault toilet and shade structures, ensuring the area remains clean and protected, which is essential for a high-quality wilderness experience.

Finally, the **challenge of the Ute Trail** and the remoteness of the site elevate the reward. For Colorado residents looking to test their skills, unplug completely, and be rewarded with spectacular views of one of the deepest and most rugged canyons on the Western Slope, Ute III Camp—and the experience around the Ute Trailhead—offers an unforgettable, premier wilderness destination.

Ute III Camp

Delta County, CO 81416, USA