Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a smaller, less crowded version of the Grand Canyon. You can enjoy the views along both rims, hike the rim trails, or go on a real adventure by hiking below the rim.

The park preserves the narrowest and deepest section of the Gunnison Gorge. It’s often described as being deep, steep, and narrow.

Of the four national parks in Colorado, Black Canyon of the Gunnison is the least visited. Crowds here tend to be low, even during the busy summer months, making this park a delight to visit.

For some of the best views of the canyon, you can simply drive from overlook to overlook along both rims. It’s easy to get breathtaking views of the Black Canyon with very little effort. But for those who seek adventure, take your pick from the challenging trails that descend from the rim to the Gunnison River, go rock climbing, or go white water rafting.

Founded: October 21, 1999

Annual Visitors: 360,000 in 2023, making it the 17th least visited national park that year.

Size: 31,000 acres

Location: Colorado

Gunnison Point

Top Ten Experiences in Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Visit the overlooks on South Rim Road. South Rim Road runs along the top of the South Rim. This road is 7 miles long and has 12 viewpoints. Some of our favorite viewpoints are Gunnison Point, Chasm View, Cross Fissures View, Pulpit Rock Overlook, Painted Wall, and Cedar Point Nature Trail.

Hike a trail on the South Rim. There are several short trails on the South Rim that lead to more overlooks of the Black Canyon. These include the Oak Flat Loop Trail, the Warner Point Trail, and the Rim Rock Nature Trail.

Hike an Inner Canyon Route. For the ultimate adventure in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, hike below the rim to the Gunnison River. There are trails on both rims that lead to the Gunnison River. We hiked the Gunnison Route and it was our favorite experience in the park.

Drive East Portal Road. East Portal Road leads from the South Rim to the Gunnison River, so it’s a great option for those who want to get up close with the Gunnison River without hiking an inner canyon route.

Go stargazing. In September 2015, Black Canyon of the Gunnison was designated as a Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association. The best time to view the night sky is during the new moon phase or when the moon rises late in the night.

Exclamation Point. This is the best viewpoint in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. To get here, it is a 3-mile round trip hike on the North Rim.

Drive North Rim Road. North Rim Road leads to several overlooks on the North Rim. It is a 4.5-mile unpaved road, but it is suitable for all vehicles.

Hike Green Mountain. This 7-mile round trip hike takes you to the top of Green Mountain for panoramic views of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

Walk the Chasm View Nature Trail. This very short and easy hiking trail is located on the North Rim and gives you one of the best views of the Painted Wall.

Learn More About Black Canyon of the Gunnison

How to Hike the Gunnison Route | Black Canyon of the Gunnison

The Gunnison Route takes hikers from the south rim of the Black Canyon to the Gunnison River. It’s the most popular inner canyon experience on the south rim, but don’t let that fool you. This is a hard, strenuous hike where you will descend (and later hike back up) a massive amount of elevation in […]

Complete Guide to South Rim Drive Road, Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Driving South Rim Drive Road is one of the best things to do in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Along its short distance, you can take your pick between 12 overlooks. This is the easiest and fastest way to get panoramic views of the canyon, see the unique, striated cliffs, and peer down to […]

Best Things to Do on the South Rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a highly underrated national park. In some ways, it’s a smaller, less crowded version of the Grand Canyon. You can enjoy the views along both rims, hike the rim trails, or go on a real adventure by hiking below the rim. You can explore both the North and […]

6 Things to Do on the North Rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Only a fraction of the visitors to Black Canyon of the Gunnison make the trip to the North Rim. Those that do are rewarded with a wonderfully quiet, uncrowded experience and views that beat those from the South Rim. Similar to the South Rim, you can drive the rim road, stopping at overlooks along the […]

How to Visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison: North & South Rims

In some ways, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a smaller version of the Grand Canyon. You can visit both the North and South Rims, enjoy the views from the overlooks, and, for the ultimate adventure, hike below the rim to the Gunnison River. In this guide, learn how to visit Black Canyon of […]

How to Get to Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is located in the southwest quadrant of Colorado.

The closest major airport is in Grand Junction. From here, it takes just over an hour of driving to get to Montrose, the closest town to the South Rim.

Most people visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park on a road trip through Colorado. If you have 10 days, you can do a loop around the state, stopping at the national parks along the way. With the multitude of scenic highways and by-ways, it is a beautiful road trip.

Best Time to Visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison

15 Best National Parks to Visit in May 2024 (USA)

Planning a trip to the US national parks in May and don’t know which ones to visit? May is a beautiful time to visit the national parks, now that the snow has melted across much of the country and roads are beginning to reopen. The list of national parks to visit in May is a […]

12 Best National Parks to Visit in September 2024 (USA)

September is one of the best months of the year to visit the national parks. The weather is fantastic across much of the USA, the busy summer season is coming to an end, and, in some parks, you can see the first of the fall colors. In this guide, we list 12 of the best […]

How Many Days Do You Need in Black Canyon of the Gunnison?

In order to visit both the North and South Rims, you will need two days.

How to Plan Your Time

  • Morning and midday: Drive South Rim Road and visit the Overlooks; hike one of the short trails on the rim
  • Early afternoon: Drive East Portal Road to the Gunnison River
  • Late afternoon: Return to Montrose or continue your Colorado road trip

Two Days in Black Canyon of the Gunnison (North & South Rims):

  • Day 1: Follow the one day itinerary above
  • Day 2: In the morning, drive to the North Rim (1.5 hours); hike to Exclamation Point and maybe continue up Green Mountain; visit the North Rim overlooks (this takes roughly 2 to 3 hours); continue to your next destination

Two Days on the South Rim (+ an Inner Canyon Route):

  • Day 1: Drive South Rim Road and visit the Overlooks; hike one of the short trails on the rim; in the afternoon, attend the ranger talk and get your wilderness use permit
  • Day 2: Inner canyon hike

USA Road Trip Ideas

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Map

Black Canyon Map

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Photos

US National Parks List

Black Canyon of the Gunnison Travel Guide

Visit More National Parks