Veterans Find Camaraderie on the Gunnison River at Black Canyon and Curecanti
A weekend of fly fishing, camping, and community in Colorado’s rugged canyon country.
Carved by the Gunnison River over two million years, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and neighboring Curecanti National Recreation Area hold some of Colorado’s most dramatic scenery: sheer canyon walls plunging toward the water, cold clear currents, and a river prized by anglers for its wild brown trout.
In early August, National Park Trust partnered with Project Healing Waters, a nonprofit dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of veterans and active-duty military through fly fishing. Together, we welcomed a group of veterans to Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Curecanti for a weekend centered around fishing, camping, and connection.
The group set up camp at East Elk Creek, tucked along the shore of Blue Mesa Reservoir within Curecanti National Recreation Area. Evenings around the fire gave veterans room to unwind, swap stories, and get to know one another before and after each day on the river.
During the day, the group waded into the cold current of the Gunnison River in pursuit of brown trout, casting beneath magnificent canyon walls. Volunteer guides and fellow veterans worked side by side on the water, trading tips and encouragement with every cast.
For many participants, fly fishing offers more than a chance to catch fish. The focus and rhythm of casting can be meditative, and veterans in Project Healing Waters chapters often describe the sport as a way to quiet a busy mind. “Being outside is my one place to be at peace,” shared one veteran attending the event.
What stood out most over the weekend wasn’t any single catch, but the community that formed. Time at camp, hours spent at the river, and a shared activity gave veterans a chance to build real camaraderie. Research consistently shows that time outdoors and connection with fellow veterans can meaningfully support mental health and well-being.
What are National Park Trust’s Military Family Programs?
National Park Trust is proud to partner with organizations like Project Healing Waters to provide meaningful outlets for military communities and to honor their service by connecting them to the public lands they’ve helped protect. Through outings like this one at Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Curecanti, we help veterans build community and experience the physical and mental benefits of time in parks, public lands, and waters across the country.
In 2025 alone, we partnered with military installations and military-focused nonprofits like Project Healing Waters to connect over 1,200 individuals from 350 families through 50 outdoor outings nationwide.
Learn more about our Military Family Programs.
How can you support National Park Trust’s Military Family Programs?
At National Park Trust, we believe parks have the power to bring people together. Your support helps create meaningful outdoor experiences that inspire wellness, strengthen community, and give veterans opportunities to make lasting memories together. Learn about ways to support our mission.
About National Park Trust
National Park Trust is an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has protected national park land since 1983, acquiring missing pieces of our national parks and benefiting 58 national park sites nationwide. Our mission is to preserve parks today and create park stewards for tomorrow.
Our youth education and family initiatives — Buddy Bison School Programs, College Ambassador Program, and Military Family Programs, along with National Kids to Parks Day — connect tens of thousands of people to the outdoors each year.
We believe public parks, lands, and waters should be cared for, enjoyed, and preserved by all, for current and future generations. Learn more at parktrust.org.
