Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park protects a steep, narrow gorge carved by the Gunnison River in western Colorado. The canyon is known for its sheer walls, narrow inner gorge and dramatic vertical relief.

Major attractions are the park’s rim drives and overlooks that provide views into the narrow canyon, rock climbing opportunities, hiking on rim trails and limited river trips in the inner canyon. The park is valued for scenic viewing, geology and solitude rather than large developed facilities.

The area was set aside for long-term protection in the 20th century and designated as a national park at the end of that century to preserve its unique canyon landscapes and natural features. Management focuses on balancing visitor access with protection of fragile canyon environments.

The park lies in western Colorado, with the two main developed areas known as the South Rim and North Rim located near the towns of Montrose and Gunnison respectively; access is by paved roads to park overlooks and trailheads.

• Painted Wall height: The Painted Wall is the canyon's largest exposed cliff face and rises well over 2,000 feet above the river, making it one of the park's signature landmarks and a focus for many overlooks.

What to See #

• South Rim overlooks: South Rim - a series of overlooks and short trails that provide the park's most visited viewpoints and vehicle access to the canyon edge.
• North Rim and trails: North Rim - a higher and less-developed rim with overlooks, trail access and more remote viewpoints across the canyon.
• Gunnison River and canyon floor access: Gunnison River corridor - the river that carved the canyon flows at canyon floor level and offers technical whitewater and limited river trips; access is restricted and often requires permits or guided runs.