Tips for Visiting Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park contains some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. The park is one of the least visited National Parks as it is far from major cities. However, this makes it a great place to visit with fewer crowds.
In this guide to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, I’ll cover everything you need to know to plan a perfect trip based on my experience visiting the park.
Let’s get started!
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Basic Information
Black Canyon of the Gunnison is open 24/7 every day of the year. You can visit the South Rim of the park any day of the year, while the North Rim is typically closed from late November to mid-April. The East Portal Road which can be accessed on the South side of the park is also typically closed from mid-November to mid-April.
There is one Visitor Center located along the South Rim which is open:
Summer (late May to early September): 8am - 6pm
Spring/Fall (late April to early May and early September to late October): 8am - 5pm
Winter (late October to late April): 9am - 4pm
The Visitor Center is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Park fees are $30 per vehicle which is valid for 7 days. If you’re planning on visiting multiple national parks an annual pass can be purchased for $80 and gives you access to all Federal fee areas for one year.
Best Things to do on the South Rim
The South Rim is the most popular side of the park due to it’s access to the nearby town of Montrose. If planning on visiting both the South Rim and the North Rim, plan to drive at least an hour and a half between the two sides of the park.
Drive the Scenic South Rim Road
Distance: 7 miles from Tomichi Point to High Point
Duration: 2-3 hours
There are 12 overlooks to stop at along the road that look out over and into the canyon. Most overlooks have a short walk to reach the edge.
3 of the overlooks are accessible: Pulpit Rock, Chasm View, and Sunset View.
If you have limited time and don’t want to stop at all of the overlooks, the most popular overlooks that shouldn’t be missed are Gunnison Point, Chasm View, Painted Wall, and Sunset View.
Drive the East Portal Road
Distance: 5 miles
Duration: 2-3 hours
The only way to access the Gunnison River in the park is to drive down the East Portal Road. The road is extremely steep (16% grades) with hairpin curves. Vehicles must be less than 22 feet in length to drive on the road.
When driving on the road low speeds and low gears are recommended to avoid burning out your cars brakes. Once you reach the bottom, give your brakes a chance to cool off before continuing.
Once at the bottom of the canyon, you can stroll along the river, eat a picnic lunch, or fish. While we were there we saw a bear on the opposite side of the river.
Trekker Tip: Because of how narrow and steep the canyon is, the interior of the canyon can get very little sun, with some spots only getting 30 minutes of sun a day. Plan the go down the canyon in the middle of the day for the best chance of catching sun on the canyon walls.
Hike the Rim Rock Nature Trail
Distance: 2.0 mile roundtrip
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Change: 200 ft
Duration: 1 hour
Trailhead: There are 3 trailhead locations to choose from: one at the Visitor Center, one at the mid-point of the Tomichi Point Overlook and one at the South Rim campground.
Hike along the rim of the canyon with views of the Gunnison River.
Best Things to do on the North Rim
The North Rim gets fewer visitors than the South Rim due to its remote location, but if you have additional time in the park, it shouldn’t be missed. The North Rim offers impressive views of the park as the canyon walls are near vertical in several locations.
Drive the North Rim Road
Distance: 4.5 miles
Duration: 2-3 hours
Location: The North Rim can be reached by taking a gravel road from the east side of Crawford State Park.
Drive along the road and stop at the 6 overlooks to have some of the most impressive views in the park. The North Rim is only open from late spring to early fall, so check road conditions ahead of time before starting the drive.
Some of the best overlooks to stop at are The Narrows View, Balanced Rock View, and Big Island View
Chasm View Nature Trail
Distance: 0.3 mile roundtrip
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: <30 minutes
Trailhead: Located at the end of the North Rim campground
A short walk for views of the Painted Wall, Serpent Point, and the Gunnison River below. At the overlook if you look across the canyon, you can see people at the Chasm View overlook 1,100 feet away.
Where to Stay
Lodging in Great Sand Dunes National Park:
There is no lodging within the park.
There are three campgrounds in the park:
South Rim campground
North Rim campground
East Portal campground
Lodging in Montrose:
Most lodging is in Montrose which is about a 14 mile drive southwest of the park and takes about 20 minutes to get to.
Days Inn by Wyndham Montrose
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Montrose
Hampton Inn Montrose
Quality Inn & Suites Montrose
Super 8 by Wyndham Montrose
Camping at Crawford State Park:
We camped at Crawford State Park which is 15 miles northeast of the North Rim and takes about 30 minutes to get to. We had a great time walking along the water and watching the boaters.
Reservations are required to camp at the state park. The park offers two campgrounds: the Iron Creek campground and the Clear Fork campground
Campgrounds are located near the water with views of the nearby mountains. Jet skiing, motor boating, and water skiing are popular activities at the park in the summer months.
Where to Eat
There are no restaurants located within the park.
The nearest restaurants are located in the nearby town of Montrose.
Trattoria Di Sofia offers Italian food and is nearby most hotels.
Hiro Japanese Steakhouse offers a relaxed environment to enjoy Japanese cuisine.
Himalayan Pun Hill Kitchen is a casual stop for Nepalese and Indian food.
Jimmers Steak BBQ Bar & Grill offers barbecue.
Camp Robber is a modern Southwestern eatery.
Mi Mexico offers Mexican cuisine.
What to Pack
Good hiking socks if you’re planning to walk along any of the trails in the park.
Hiking boots that cover your ankles come in handy along the trails.
Keep your hands free while having space for your sunscreen, water, and more.
Is a must at the top of the rims as there is little to no shade at the top of the canyon.
Stay hydrated while you’re hiking in the hot sun.
A roll-up hat you can pack in your day bag to keep cool in the heat.
Protect your eyes as the top rims can be very sunny. If hiking into the canyon from the East Portal, you might want to pack away the sunglasses as the canyon doesn’t get much sun.
