Plants

View within a deep steep canyon with conifer and deciduous tree species growing on either side. A small wooden bridge is visible above a creek with large boulders.
Deciduous trees, shrubs and conifers grow along Curecanti Creek Trail.

NPS Photo

 

Curecanti has more than 750 species of vascular plants. The park has vegetation communities that are both representative of the adjacent Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Gunnison Valley.

The park lies within the Dry Domain (climate classification) and supports montane (mountain), temperate, and semi-desert vegetation. Outside of the steep Black Canyon of the Gunnison areas, Curecanti is characterized by semi-arid shrublands of sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and Gambel oak. The Gunnison Basin sagebrush ecosystem is one of the largest remaining in the country.

Douglas-fir, Colorado blue spruce, and other shrubs grow on the north facing canyon slopes surrounding Morrow Point and Crystal reservoirs. The drier, warmer south-facing slopes host big sagebrush and juniper communities. The canyon rims are a mix of pinyon-juniper woodlands, quaking aspen, and other conifers. Riparian vegetation dominates along the Gunnison River and 53 miles (85 km) of tributaries. Cottonwood, willow, box elder, and some conifers occur along the canyon bottoms and riverbanks. The distribution of vegetation is driven by elevation, type of soil, geology, amount of sunlight, availability of water, and fire.

 

Ecoregions

Multiple ecoregions, or areas of similar ecosystems, meet within the boundaries of Curecanti. The park falls predominatly within the Sedimentary Mid-Elevation Forests and Sagebrush Parks of the Southern Rockies Ecoregion. The Semiarid Benchlands and Canyonlands of the Colorado Plateau Ecoregion make up the western canyon-dominated portion of the park.

Diverse plant communities are found here due to the topographic variation and elevation differences in the reservoirs, canyons, mesas. This affects temperature, sunlight, and water conditions for plant communities. Unique habitats such as seeps, springs, riparian areas, and hanging gardens also exist. A small number of rare plant species are either known or suspected.
 
Detailed map of shaded with different colors to represent vegetation classes within the park boundary and outside of it
Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Curecanti National Recreation Area. August 2010. Click image to view a larger map.

Northern Colorado Plateau Network

Vegetation Classes

A vegetation map shows the visual distribution of vegetation communities. These maps help park staff know what is growing in a park and what kinds of native plant communities exist. This mapping project (completed in 2010) was led by the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, with assistance from park staff and several governmental and nonprofit partners.

Twenty-seven vegetation classes (both natural and semi-natural) are found at Curecanti. The most common map class found at Curecanti is the Wyoming Big Sagebrush Shrubland. It covers around 22% of the map area (larger than the park boundary). Sagebrush shrublands are the predominant vegetation. Dense forests exist on the north-facing slopes of Black Canyon and on some of the canyon rims. Riparian vegetation exists along the Gunnison River and its tributaries.
 
Trees and shrubs show orange fall foliage colors along the banks of a shallow river
Trees & Shrubs

Deciduous trees are prevalent in riparian areas. Conifers are common on canyon rims and north-facing slopes. Shrublands exists throughout.

Brown and gray sagebrush bushes grow across an arid landscape. Blue sky is above.
Sagebrush

The sagebrush landscape is critical habitat for hundreds of plants and animals, including the threatened Gunnison sage-grouse.

Purple flowers on a tall green stalk grow along a dirt path. Grasses and other plants behind it.
Wildflowers

Wildflowers grow in the shrublands, woodlands, and riparian areas of the recreation area.

Large pink flowers grow from a ground level green cactus.
Cacti & Desert Succulents

Five species of succulents are found at Curecanti.

A fuzzy purple flower with several buds on a green stem. Blurry green background.
Invasive Plants

Invasive species can disrupt native ecosystems, displace native plants, and alter ecosystem functions.

 
For a complete list of vascular plant species found at Curecanti National Recreation Area, use the tool below. Select 'Vascular Plants' under species category.
 

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Ongoing Research

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    Tags: plants vegetation mapping upland vegetation vegetation monitoring vegetation sagebrush

    Last updated: March 27, 2025

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