Length of stay: 1 day
Visited: May 2024
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is located in western Colorado. It boasts of having some of the steepest cliffs and oldest rocks in North America. It contains two main areas: the South Rim, which is the more developed side of the park and the North Rim, which is more primitive and has limited services. Both contain a scenic drive with overlooks and access to a few hiking trails. But there is no bridge or road that connects the two sides and the drive from one side to the other can take over two hours.
We spent the morning driving the Million Dollar Highway from Silverton to Ouray. Since most of the trails along the way were still snowbound, the drive didn’t take nearly as long as expected. We still had most of the afternoon so we decided to visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison a day earlier.
We headed to the South Rim section of the park where there are twelve overlooks of the canyon. There was some construction near the entrance though and the first overlook at Tomichi Point was blocked off. The road was also reduced to a single lane in a couple of spots, including right before the turnoff for the visitor centre.
Our first priority was to eat some lunch. So we drove to the first picnic area labelled on the map at Pulpit Rock. All the picnic tables were in full sun so we decided to move onto the next picnic area at Sunset View. But since we were already here we figured we should at least check out the views of the canyon. From the parking lot it’s 134 yards to get to the viewing platform.
We were eager to see more of the canyon so we quickly stopped at Chasm View. The overlook is located right by the road and features a view of the canyon at its narrowest point.
When we reached Sunset View there were a couple of picnic tables near the parking lot and overlook. But they were also in full sun. At this point we were getting pretty hungry, so we decided to stay put and make do. We busted out the picnic blanket for the baby and set up an umbrella to give her some shade. Despite the sun (and wind), the views were fantastic.
We then drove to the end of the scenic drive where the High Point overlook is located, along with the trailhead for the Warner Point Nature Trail. The baby was starting to get fussy so I stayed in the car to nurse her while K scoped it out. According to him the overlook was a bit underwhelming in comparison to some of the other ones we already saw. He didn’t complete the entire nature trail as there was apparently a bear sighting by a couple of hikers in front of him so everyone turned around.
On the drive back to the visitor centre we took turns at the rest of the overlooks. It was a bit too windy for baby M to be in her baby carrier so we let her play around in the trunk. Our next stop was at Dragon Point, which required a short walk (100 yards) to reach the viewing platform. The wide path was lined with windswept desert shrubbery, including several twisted juniper trees.
We were back on the road for a few minutes before stopping at the Painted Wall overlook, which required walking about 200 yards to reach the viewpoint of the tallest cliff in Colorado. From river to rim it is just over 685 metres (or 2,250 feet) tall. The wall gets its name from the prominent veins of pink igneous pegmatite that run horizontally through the dark canyon walls.
We then hit up Rock Point, which involved walking 294 yards to an outcrop to see the narrowing of the canyon.
We had about 30 minutes until the visitor centre closed so we drove there to check out the exhibits. And then it was time to head to Montrose where we planned to spend the night.
L
You were kind of lucky that you had the full sun overhead as your pictures turned out great. All of my pics from the canyon show a black wall…I think that a frustrated photographer must have named this canyon 🙂
I’m not a fan of being in the direct sun, but it does make for some great photography. Apparently some areas in the gorge only receive about 30min of sunlight per day, which makes the walls look even darker. So it does sound like we lucked out with the timing of our visit.
Wow that does look incredibly steep! I wouldn’t want to try hiking out of the canyon.
The only “hiking” we did was walk to about half of the viewpoints. I wouldn’t want to hike into the canyon either. Or fall into it.
Isn’t this place so cool? I think it’s Colorado’s most underrated park. I’m glad you were able to visit it!
Apparently it’s one of the least visited national parks in the United States. I was actually kind of surprised to hear that. It’s not like it’s super remote or anything. And the dark walls are pretty neat. But hey, if it means no crowds, I’m all for it.
There is just something about a big hole in the ground that makes us want to have a look. This is a pretty impressive canyon Linda. I love the look of the Painted Wall. I remember those days of only one of us being able to see the sights, while the other stayed with the little one. Thanks for sharing. Allan
Well naturally we want to see how far down it goes! The Painted Wall is definitely the prettiest section of the gorge, likely because the colours of the veins really stand out in contrast to the dark walls. And oh the things we do to keep our little ones happy! Thanks for reading. Enjoy the rest of the week. Hard to believe it’s already the end of August. Linda
Wow, the views of the canyon are truly spectacular! Love the twisted juniper tree too. Hmm yes, with a bear sighting I’d be the first one to turn around (very quickly)!
We’ve seen a few canyons in North America, but this was the first one with such dark coloured rocks. It was pretty neat. The windswept juniper was also very beautiful. It’s amazing how some plants adapt and survive in such a harsh environment. I’ve never seen a bear on the trail and I’d like to keep it that way!
That’s deep canyon. It’s still part of the canyon system that extends all the way to the Grand Canyon, right?
It’s pretty neat because the Black Canyon of the Gunison is deeper than it is wide in many places. Similar to the Grand Canyon, it’s a part of the Colorado Plateau, but I don’t think it connects with it.
While the views are certainly magnificent, it’s the twisted juniper tree that really caught my attention. It looks almost like a sculpture! I hope it can withstand the elements for many more years to come.
The windswept juniper was quite the sight. It caught my eye as well as I was walking to one of the viewpoints. It’s pretty impressive how some trees like this are able to twist and turn with the wind. Goes to show how resilient this type of tree is.
Your pictures are so amazing!
Happy Tuesday!
Thanks for your lovely comment. The dark colour of the canyon walls is so interesting. It was neat to see it from different vantage points when it was both narrow and wide. Enjoy the rest of the week. Linda
That would definitely be something to see! 🙂
For sure. Apparently it’s a bit tough to see the details along the canyon walls when it’s overcast because of the dark coloured walls. So even though it was windy, I guess we lucked out with the weather! Hopefully you’re able to see it for yourself someday.
I sure hope so, too. 🙂 🌺
Such impressive canyon walls, and so many! I laughed when you said the baby played in the trunk, but it’s actually probably better than the back seat! Maggie
Apparently this is one of the least visited parks in the United States which I’m still trying to figure out why. The black colour of the canyon walls is so neat. One of the nice thing about travelling with M when she was so young was that she wasn’t rolling or crawling yet. So we could just plop her down on a blanket in the trunk and let her thrash her arms and legs around and even give her some tummy time no problem. Our rental vehicle was a Ford Expedition so she had a ton of space.
Spectacular! What am impressive site.
Totally! We’ve seen a lot of canyons in North America, but this was our first one with such dark coloured walls. I still can’t get over how deep it was either.
That landscape seems very primal and as evidenced by the juniper tree, a huge fight to survive. Your photos of the views are fantastic. Colorado has such varied and stunning landscapes.
The environment is quite harsh near the rim of the Black Canyon. It’s just over 2,400 m above sea level. It was neat to see all the windswept vegetation which gives you an appreciation of just how hardy these plants are. Agreed, I was honestly surprised at how different the terrain is in Colorado depending where you are.
A very beautiful place!! ❤️
It’s hard to believe it’s one of the least visited national parks in the United States. The scenery and black walls of the canyon were pretty cool.
Amazing!
Nature is just full of surprises and wonder
Stunning.
Oh absolutely. We’ve seen a lot of canyons in North America, but this was the first one with such dark coloured walls. It was all very scenic.
Wow, those views are spectacular! I love your photo of the twisted tree, it’s so striking and unusual.
Thanks for your kind words. The views of the canyon were pretty incredible. I was also intrigued by all the windswept vegetation. It’s amazing how those juniper trees are able to twist, turn and bend because of the wind.
Those views of the canyon are incredible! And Indian Paintbrush is one of my favorite wildflowers- I just love that bright color. 🙂
It was such an unexpected surprise to come across the Indian Paintbrush on the trail. The environment here is quite harsh and yet they seemed to be thriving. It was a nice pop of colour in contrast to the dark canyon walls.
I thoroughly enjoyed this nature escape. Love Colorado! Thank you for photo and details. 🌄👏🏻
Thanks for your kind words. It’s amazing how varied the terrain is in Colorado. We had a lot of fun visiting a few of the national parks and soaking in the scenery. Nature really is the best artist.
Amen to that, yes! Mother Nature paints the gorgeous sky and landscapes. 🙏🏻 You’re most welcome – thank you for sharing your travels.
It’s amazing how nature continues to surprise and amaze us. All the more reason to spend more time outdoors!
👍🏻
Wow, the photos are great!
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. It’s hard to take a bad picture when the landscape is that beautiful.
It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful this world is. It’s nice to see it through your eyes and photographs.
You are too kind. I couldn’t agree more about how beautiful nature is. Even though we visited a lot of national parks on our road trip through Colorado and New Mexico, I loved how different each one was. The scenery just never gets boring.
Wow. What stunning views, Linda. I can’t help but smile knowing that this was experienced by Baby M. I can only imagine with amusement what must be going through her mind as she takes in all these adventures and views.
Those twisted juniper trees are beautiful in an otherwise rocky terrain. Noticed that there was not a whole lot of trees!
The bear sighting would’ve been exciting but probably best that you avoided it!
I often wonder what she must think of us and the places we bring her. She won’t remember any of it, but I like to think it’s good to share new experiences with her. Plus at the very least, it’s always good to get some fresh air.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison is one of the least visited national parks in the United States, which is actually quite surprising. It’s not like it’s super remote or anything. It was neat so see such dark rocks and gnarled trees. Nature is pretty amazing. As to the bear, it would have been better to see it from the car. That’s my ideal type of bear encounter!
Enjoy the long weekend. Hopefully you’re still able to go camping.
I bet with the photos you take, they’ll become core and subconscious memories. I’m blown away at times with the memories T remembers from his toddler years.
We did not go camping as it thunderstormed Friday night and rained this morning. We took T to Wonderland yesterday instead. 🤣😂
PS. I’ve been obsessed lately with watching people’s photos of bears in the wild. They are such beautiful creatures (from afar).
It’s fascinating the stuff we remember from our childhood and the feelings we get when we reminisce about the past. It’s one of the reasons why I love to take pictures as it helps capture those moments and trigger some memories.
Good call on ditching your camping plans. It was pretty cold overnight as well, which wouldn’t have been very fun. Hopefully it wasn’t too busy at Wonderland.
Bears are pretty magnificent. I would not want to encounter one while camping or on the trail though!
This is spectacular!! I’ve always wanted to visit!
It’s pretty neat how the colour of the canyon walls are so dark. If we had a bit more time we would have loved to visit the rim from the other side. Hopefully you’re able to see it for yourself someday. There’s a lot of great national parks and historic sites in this area.
The steep, jagged terrain is stunningly magnificent. I’ve never heard of this NP, but will definitely have to visit someday as it looks very inviting. Love the gnarly juniper trees too.
Oh totally! It’s pretty incredible just how deep the canyon is. And the dark coloured walls make it look even more menacing. It doesn’t get too many visitors. It’s actually one of the least visited national park in the United States, but I think it’s worth checking out.
The canyon views look stunning Linda. I’m pleased you found somewhere to enjoy your picnic lunch and could keep your baby daughter in the shade.
It’s funny because I like the sun, it’s great for photography and spending time outside, but I don’t like being directly in it and prefer the shade. I’m glad we managed to make it work though as it sure beat eating our lunch in the car!
Sounds like you were there about the same time we were there. We visited May 5th. The trees there are definitely great to photograph. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Oh no way! We were actually there on May 4th! I believe there was a high wind warning in effect on May 5th. We were in Colorado National Monument that day. It’s too bad our paths didn’t cross. That would have been funny! Hope you enjoyed your time there. Agreed, the windswept trees were pretty magnificent (as was the Black Canyon too of course). Cheers. Linda
What amazing views, and I love that photo of the tree with its quirky roots and trunk 🙂
There isn’t much vegetation along the rim of the canyon, but whatever does manage to grow must be pretty hardy. It was neat to see all twisted and windswept juniper trees. I couldn’t help but wonder how old it was.
Your photos are amazing. Love the view of the Painted Wall. And I smiled when you mentioned baby playing in the trunk, ‘real’ traveling parents go on fun adventures, and still keep babies entertained, comfy, and safe. ❤️ Love reading your blog!
Thanks so much for your lovely comment. The Painted Wall was really pretty with the lighter bands of colour in the dark canyon walls. Baby M was about 4.5 months old at the time and wasn’t rolling or crawling around yet. So we could just place her down wherever and let her move her arms and legs around. We had rented a bigger sized vehicle which certainly came in handy!
Spectacular sceneries and inspiring our wonderful earth 🌍 photography Superb 👌😍
We can see how beautiful the nature is with views of the mountains standing so beautifully 👍🏻🏞
Canyon National Park so gracefully dear you shared and many thankful with Blessings 🌷🙏💞✌🏼🌷
Thanks for your kind words. The overlooks along the rim of the canyon were pretty incredible. I’m glad we had some sunshine to enjoy the views.
Thank you so much for likes and most welcome 🙏 ❤️
Because of sunshine the places can view so marvellous 👍🏻😍
Have a great weekend my dear friend 💞👏
I completely agree. The landscape always looks more magical with some sunshine.
🌷🙏💕💐
Wow that’s a gorgeous canyon. I always think there’s something awesome about canyons – you just think about the raw power that moulded the land into that shape and realise yet again how fantastic the natural world is. I think we would have found it hard to tear ourselves away from that view!
We’ve seen a bunch of canyons in North America, but this one was so unique with its dark coloured walls and for being so deep. Agreed, it does make you appreciate how powerful yet beautiful nature is. It certainly gives some perspective about time and life.
Thank you for taking us on this tour.
It’s a paradise for geologists – and tourists as well.
All the best
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
You bet! Geology rocks! Thanks so much for reading and leaving a comment. Cheers. Linda
It’s not an easy landscape, spectacular to see but it seems a little complicated to visit.
The landscape is quite harsh as the rim of the canyon is located at a higher elevation. If we had a bit more time we would have loved to have also explored the North Rim, but as you said, it’s a bit tricky to get to since there is no road that connects both sides.
So gorgeous 😍
The scenery was pretty spectacular with the dark canyon walls and windswept vegetation. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment.
It was awesome to stand on this canyon rim….an unforgettable experience.
Oh absolutely. You can’t help but feel so small. Nature is pretty incredible.
Stunning views and dramatic rock faces abound. Love that gnarly on charismatic juniper tree. The final shot is great too, I see four fingers of a hand with the far left protruding rock looking like a thumb.
This park was all about the overlooks, which I’m okay with as hiking into the canyon seems like it would be super challenging. It was neat to see the windswept vegetation along the rim. Those juniper trees look like they’ve withstood a lot over the years. It’s pretty amazing how they’re able to survive such a harsh environment. I took another look at that last picture and you’re right, the rock formations on the left totally resemble a hand.
Pictures can’t really do a place like that justice, they’re so two dimensional. Steep and deep, it must have been amazing to see in person.
Oh absolutely. It’s hard to fully capture the beauty of the landscape as well as the feeling you get when seeing it. It’s such a neat canyon in terms of how dark the rocks are as well as just how deep it is. It’s actually deeper than it is wide in many places.
Nice post 🎸🎸
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. The scenery was pretty spectacular.
What a beautiful place to visit. The canyons are gorgeous 😍.
It was fun to check out the various overlooks and see the canyon from such different angles and viewpoints. It’s incredible just how deep and steep it is. Plus the dark colour of the canyon walls was so unique.
Stunning
The landscape here is pretty spectacular and it’s incredible just how deep the canyon is. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Good call to skip the bear encounter. Love the photo of the twisted tree. (I keep having to enter my info, so they may not be consistent.)
I much prefer to see a bear while I’m in the safety of a car! The twisted and windswept juniper trees were so beautiful. Goes to show that only the hardy can survive up here on the rim of the canyon.
Such incredible views!! This is another area we have yet to visit and this certainly makes me want to go!!
It’s a very underrated national park and actually doesn’t get too many visitors. I’m not sure why as I thought the views of the canyon were beautiful. It’s definitely worth adding to your list!
They have a lot of viewing areas. That’s really cool. I love seeing views like these. Colorado is one state I have always wanted to visit. There are so many neat places there and this post confirms the sights. Great post and photos
There aren’t too many trails at this park, but there definitely are a lot of overlooks! It was neat to see the canyon from different viewpoints and angles. I hope you’re able to make it to Colorado someday as the scenery is spectacular. There’s no shortage of parks to explore and I love how varied the terrain is.
Thank you ! I hope so, too !!! 🙏
I must say that these photos are very impressive, the landscapes are amazing. You write very well about those places you visit. Have a great new week😊👍
Thanks for your lovely comment. You are too kind. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison doesn’t get nearly as many visitors as the other national parks in Colorado, but the scenery is quite impressive. Enjoy the rest of your week as well. It’s hard to believe that it’s almost Christmas!
Your welcome 🙂 You have great posts and photos, there is a lot for me to explore.
Thanks! Me as well! There’s no shortage of places to visit on my travel list!