Things to do in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

What is the most interesting about Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park? I would say the color of the rocks make it more interesting. The sheer black cliffs that drop 2000 ft to the Gunnison River below creates an amazing scene that you will not be able to forget for a long time. You will be amazed to see the rough, ragged formations eroded for millions of years and taking its current shape- who knows after another hundred year it would be same or not!

Black Canyon of the Gunnisondreamcatcher_mahdi

South Rim and North Rim visit

This Park has two rim- South Rim and North Rim. Both Rims are only one fourth of a mile apart at its widest and the base of the canyon walls are 40 ft apart at the Narrows viewpoint. As a result, sunlight do not reach into some of the deepest parts of the Canyon. While standing on either of the rim, you will be able to see fourteen miles of the 48-mile canyon.

South Rim of the Park is the easily accessible one. You can go for the seven-mile-long scenic Rim drive that has 12 scenic viewpoints which give a spectacular view of the Canyon. To reach most of the overlooks, you may need to take a short trail. Some of the overlooks I think give the best view are Painted Wall, Chasm view, Gunnison point, Sunset view, and Pulpit Rock.

On the other hand, North Rim is not that much developed. There is no visitor center at the North Rim. But the god part is less people, less traffic, beautiful trails, and incredible views. Though the distance between the Rims is not much, still it takes a while (more than two hours) to reach the North rim from the South Rim Visitor Center. If you are driving, be prepared to drive the last few miles in the dirt.

You can also drive down into the canyon via the East Portal, which is a 5-mile fully paved, 16-percent-grade road, but steep and includes a lot of switchbacks. This road is not suitable for large vehicle or RV specially vehicles longer than 22 feet.

Black Canyon of GunnisonVincent ledvina/unsplash

Hiking

Hiking is an amazing way to explore any place. Here in this National Park, you can hike a lot of trails and have the breathtaking views of the canyon. You can take the Rim Rock Nature trail which is 1 mile (RT) flat and easy hike, and you will be able to see both walls of the canyon and the river below. Oat Flat Loop Trail is 2-mile strenuous hike will take you below Black Canyon’s Rim, where you will be able to get the view of the canyon from a different perspective. But this trail will not take you to the bottom of the canyon. Warner Point trail is a moderate 1.5-mile (round trip) hike from which you will be able to get the views of Black Canyon, the Gunnison River, the valley and the mountains beyond the National Park. If you are a first timer to hike the rim to river in this National Park, you can take the Gunnison Route trail which takes around two to four hours to hike down and three or more hours to ascend. In case you are looking for an extreme adventure, you should check out the hike to the river from the canyon rim. But I must say, the experience is intense and not for the faint heart. You will need a same-day backcountry permit issued at the visitor. You have to hike through an unmarked trail, which means you have to find your own way through a steep pathway. Its more like scrambling in places. Not only that, but also there are poison ivy, ticks, nettle, etc. which you have to face in places. If you are going to hike this one, make sure to start early and bring plenty of water, snacks with you.

Gunnison riverVincent Ledvian/unsplash

Camping

How amazing it will be to sleep under the sky full of stars and wake up in such a beautiful place! There are two campgrounds in the two rims of the canyon. Additionally, the East Portal campground is located right next to the river at the bottom of the canyon, technically just outside the borders of the National Park. But you can also stay here, fish, do hiking or simply enjoy the view of the canyon. Also, this park is an International Dark Sky Park. That means you can spend the whole night stargazing or take any Ranger led night sky adventure. If you want to do backcountry camping in the inner part of the canyon, you have to get a permit. Backcountry permits are available in the Visitor’s Center, which are given out on the day, and they are not available for advance reservations. Do not forget to bring the essentials if you are planning to do backcountry camping.

Camping under the starsdreamcatcher_mahdi

Fishing

Fishing is a popular activity to do in this National Park. The amazing fact about Gunnison River is that the waters of this river provide excellent angling opportunities for large trout. That’s why this river is designated as Gold Medal Waters. If you love fishing especially fly-fishing, this is your place. Simply grab a fishing license from the nearby city and go for it. There is also another Reservoir known as Blue Mesa Reservoir which is also great for trout fishing. You can also rent a boat here.

Boat ride

Every Tuesday throughout the summer Curecanti National Recreation Center, a sister national park site of Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park, offers a ranger-led boat tour known as Morrow Point Boat Tour. This boat tour is one and a half hours long and you will be amazed to experience the inner part of the canyon. The waterfalls dropping from the opening in the canyon wall, wildlife along the banks of the river, and the walls of the canyons-overall the experience is wonderful. At the same time, you will learn about the history, geology, wildlife, and water of the area. To experience the boat tour, you will need to make a reservation. You can call 970-641-2337 x 205 to reserve your seat in advance or book online here: Morrow Point Boat Tour, Curecanti National Recreation Area Tours - Recreation.gov

Source

• Things To Do - Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

#travel #explore #outdoor #adventure #hike

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