Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

About Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

One of Colorado’s four national parks, the Black Canyon held National Monument status from 1933 until it was designated a National Park in 1999. This park offers a highly dramatic landscape – steep cliffs, sheer drops, and the thundering Gunnison River that over the course of two million years, along with the forces of weathering, sculpted this vertical wilderness.

The Canyon’s name is owed to its steepness and depth, making it difficult for sunlight to reach to the bottom of the canyon and as a result, it is often shrouded in shadow, causing the rocky walls to appear black.

Explore the park’s hiking trails and encounter a variety of plant life including sagebush, mountain mahogany, pinyon pine, Gambel oak, and juniper. Look out for wildlife – a variety of mammals, reptiles, and birds call this park home. You may see yellow-bellied marmot, elk, mule deer, long-tail weasels, bighorn sheep, skunk, badgers, and coyotes. There are even mountain lions, bobcats, and black bears here, and it is home to four species of non-venomous snake. As you explore, you will have excellent views of the Gunnison river, the surrounding mountain ranges, and the extremely deep walls of the canyon.

Enjoy the 7-mile long South Rim Scenic Drive, stop along the way at the many short trails and overlooks for a variety of perspectives of the canyon.

Spend some time in the local area and visit the Museum of the Mountain West, the Ute Indian Museum, and the nearby historic and charming downtown of Montrose.

Interesting Facts About Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Parks

Due to the canyon’s steepness and depth, parts of the gorge receive only 33 minutes of sunlight a day.
The Gunnison River drops an average of 34 feet per mile through the canyon, and at its steepest point, drops 240 feet in one mile. (For comparison, the Colorado River drops an average of 7 feet per mile through the Grand Canyon).