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National park status protects the deepest 12 miles of the Black Canyon. But the Park Service only maintains a few trails and scenic overlooks along the canyon rim.
Everywhere else — the canyon walls, the rushing river, and the precarious cliff-hanging routes to the water — is designated wilderness and left intentionally untamed. Park rangers strongly warn against climbing or kayaking if you’re not a professional. And they encourage day hikers to bring overnight equipment just in case.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
There are two sections of the park: the more developed South Rim and the less known North Rim. There is no bridge across the canyon.
We recommend that you visit the North Rim. Though it’s more primitive (dirt roads and no visitor center) and a bit out of the way, the view from Exclamation Point is reason enough for the visit. The walls from the north side are steeper and the overlooks more breathtaking (literally). There are several wilderness hiking routes down to the river bottom, including the S.O.B. Draw route from which you can access the base of the Painted Wall.
The North Rim does have a ranger station, a few rim trails and overlooks, and a 16-site first-come, first-served campground. From the North Rim Chasm View, you can lean over a railing and stare 2,200 feet straight down to the rushing Gunnison River. It’s staggering. From the top, the river looks like a creek, the trees like shrubs. But it’s difficult to comprehend the true height of the vertical walls until you descend to the waters below.
If you opt to descend the North Rim’s S.O.B. Draw wilderness hiking route you’re in for a trip spent enveloped by the canyon. It descends (and then ascends on your way back out) 1,800 feet over 1.75 miles. Expect steep scree, a plethora of butt-slides, and, on the way up, exhausting high-knee steps.
Once you reach the river, you can scramble a few miles along its banks, over to the base of the Painted Wall. This is the iconic feature of Black Canyon of the Gunnison and also the tallest cliff in Colorado. It’s a towering, vertical rock face, with a nice rocky beach at its base that’s seemingly “painted” with pink streaks of igneous pegmatite rock. It’s the perfect place for a picnic, maybe drop a line or just sit and ponder the majesty of the canyon and it’s waters.
Tips for travelers…
Tip: Space out your activities, especially if you plan to hike down to the river. A one-mile route may seem like nothing, but it can easily be sufficient for the day once you descend 1,800 feet, hang out by the river, and then ascend 1,800 feet back up. Plan to spend time in the canyon, enjoying the sights and sounds with a picnic.
National park status protects the deepest 12 miles of the Black Canyon. But the Park Service only maintains a few trails and scenic overlooks along the canyon rim.
Everywhere else — the canyon walls, the rushing river, and the precarious cliff-hanging routes to the water — is designated wilderness and left intentionally untamed. Park rangers strongly warn against climbing or kayaking if you’re not a professional. And they encourage day hikers to bring overnight equipment just in case.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
There are two sections of the park: the more developed South Rim and the less known North Rim. There is no bridge across the canyon.
We recommend that you visit the North Rim. Though it’s more primitive (dirt roads and no visitor center) and a bit out of the way, the view from Exclamation Point is reason enough for the visit. The walls from the north side are steeper and the overlooks more breathtaking (literally). There are several wilderness hiking routes down to the river bottom, including the S.O.B. Draw route from which you can access the base of the Painted Wall.
The North Rim does have a ranger station, a few rim trails and overlooks, and a 16-site first-come, first-served campground. From the North Rim Chasm View, you can lean over a railing and stare 2,200 feet straight down to the rushing Gunnison River. It’s staggering. From the top, the river looks like a creek, the trees like shrubs. But it’s difficult to comprehend the true height of the vertical walls until you descend to the waters below.
If you opt to descend the North Rim’s S.O.B. Draw wilderness hiking route you’re in for a trip spent enveloped by the canyon. It descends (and then ascends on your way back out) 1,800 feet over 1.75 miles. Expect steep scree, a plethora of butt-slides, and, on the way up, exhausting high-knee steps.
Once you reach the river, you can scramble a few miles along its banks, over to the base of the Painted Wall. This is the iconic feature of Black Canyon of the Gunnison and also the tallest cliff in Colorado. It’s a towering, vertical rock face, with a nice rocky beach at its base that’s seemingly “painted” with pink streaks of igneous pegmatite rock. It’s the perfect place for a picnic, maybe drop a line or just sit and ponder the majesty of the canyon and it’s waters.
Tips for travelers…
Tip: Space out your activities, especially if you plan to hike down to the river. A one-mile route may seem like nothing, but it can easily be sufficient for the day once you descend 1,800 feet, hang out by the river, and then ascend 1,800 feet back up. Plan to spend time in the canyon, enjoying the sights and sounds with a picnic.