Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

A deep, narrow, dark canyon carved by the Gunnison River, with sheer walls dropping nearly 800 m and the awe-inspiring Painted Wall; easily combined with Blue Mesa Reservoir and the town of Ouray.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is in Montrose County in western Colorado. Over some 2 million years, the Gunnison River has cut through hard Precambrian gneiss to form a canyon about 77 km long, up to about 830 m deep and only about 12 m wide at the bottom at its narrowest. Its walls are so steep that the canyon floor sees little sunlight all day – hence the name “Black Canyon.” The park has two rims. The South Rim is easily accessible: South Rim Road links 12 overlooks, including Gunnison Point, Chasm View, Painted Wall and Sunset View, and is where the vast majority of visitors spend their time. The North Rim is about a 2-hour detour away, quieter and wilder along its gravel road; East Portal Road lets you drive right down to the river at the bottom of the canyon. The park is also an International Dark Sky Park, with stargazing programs in summer. Adjoining it to the east, Curecanti National Recreation Area has Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado's largest body of water, for boating and fishing; about an hour south on US 550 is Ouray, the “Switzerland of America,” gateway to the Million Dollar Highway. The best season is May–Oct, when all roads on both rims are open and aspens turn gold from late September to early October; summer afternoons bring frequent thunderstorms. In winter the North Rim and East Portal Road close and South Rim Road is open only as far as Gunnison Point, but you can go snowshoeing. Getting there: The nearest airport is Montrose Regional Airport (with summer nonstops from Denver, Houston and elsewhere), and it's about a 5-hour drive from Denver; the South Rim entrance is about 24 km from Montrose. Entry is $30 per vehicle (valid for 7 days). There are no gas stations or restaurants in the park, and most lodging is in Montrose. Plan on 1–2 days: one day for South Rim Road and East Portal Road, and another for Blue Mesa Reservoir or Ouray.

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