Spotlight: Colorado - Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP

Spotlight: The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park was established in 1999 and protects 12 miles of the Gunnison River. The Gunnison River drops an average of 34 feet per mile, making it the 5th steepest mountain descent in North America. The steepness of the canyon casts most of its walls in shadow and making them appear black - hence its name. In fact, much of the canyon only receives 33 minutes of direct sunshine each day. The canyon is home to a wide variety of animals including pronghorn, black bear, coyote, muskrat, cougar, raccoon, beaver, elk, otter, bobcat, mule deer, eagle, hawk, falcon, etc.

Location: The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is located in western Colorado near Montrose. It is accessible from I-50.

Cost: $10/person or $20/vehicle; entrance fees are waived for holders of the America the Beautiful passes

Time: Most of the park is closed during the winter except the South Rim Road to the Visitors Center. Other roads usually open from mid-April through mid-November, depending on weather. The Visitors Center hours are from: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm during the spring and fall, 9am - 4 pm in winter, and 8am - 6 pm in summer. Plan on staying for 3-6 hours depending on which activities you plan on doing.

Description: The most common way to see the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is by driving along the scenic drives and getting out at the viewpoints. The South Rim Drive is 7 miles with 12 overlooks and takes about 2-3 hours to drive (including stopping at the viewpoints). The North Rim is reached by taking a gravel road from the east end of Crawford State Park. The North Rim Road traverses along nearly vertical canyon walls to 6 overlooks. This route will require another 2-3 hours. The East Portal Road drops down into the canyon along a very steep road (16% grades) with hairpin turns to the Gunnison River. At the bottom, you can access the Curecanti National Recreation Area where visitors can camp, picnic and fish.

     However, to see the best views, you need to get out and hike along the trails that lead to even better viewpoints. Most of these trails are rated "moderate" and are about a mile in length (round trip). Of course there are also a couple of more extensive trails, such as the North Vista Trail (7 miles/strenuous).

     Other popular activities include: rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, wildlife watching and horseback riding. Winter activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoe trekking and winter backcountry camping.

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: - Many trails pass by steep dropoffs, so keep a close eye on children.
- The South Rim entrance is about 15 miles east of Montrose. The North Rim Entrance is 11 miles south of Crawford.
- Campgrounds are located at the North Rim, South Rim and East Portal.
- Vehicles over 22 feet in length (including trailers) are prohibited to go down the East Portal Road.
- Honestly, the pictures don't do the park justice.

Nearby: Needle Rock, Baldridge Park, Dominguez-Escalante Nat'l Conservation Area, Grand Mesa National Forest