Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a large, narrow, and steep canyon formed by the Gunnison River that cuts western center of the state. This national park may not be the most popular park in the state, but that isn’t because the beauty isn’t worth it. We spent a day on the South Rim and I fell hard for this beautiful, western park.
There Are Two Rims to Visit in Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Both rims of Black Canyon of the Gunnison are part of the national park. The north rim, is much less popular and much less visited. Not for lack of beauty, but simply because it’s much more out of the way. We haven’t made it to the north rim yet, but we absolutely will as soon as we can!
To Enter the Inner Canyon, A Permit is Required
There are no maintained trails within the inner canyon. Instead, they are wilderness “routes” which are far more rugged, have uneven footing and the NPS recommends that anyone with a heart or lung condition should think before tackling the steep canyon down to the base of the canyon, and, of course, back up as well. Permits from the north rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison are first come, first served. If you’re looking to visit from the South Rim, you have to reserve your permits on Recreation.gov. The permit reservation dates will potentially change year-to-year, but all dates through 10/31/2025 are now open!
The Overlooks are Essentially Super Short Trails, Which We Loved
There are many trails within the park, on both rims. But each of the overlooks are actually unpaved, short little trails, which I absolutely loved! In fact, I ended up recording each of the overlooks we did as hike on my Garmin Watch and it added up to about 2.5 miles, and the views from the overlook are absolute stunning!
Gear I’d Recommend for a Visit to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Things We Use for Safety – I have a Garmin InReach Mini 2 that helps me feel so safe and secure in the wilderness. I think it’s especially important for any solo adventures. Just know that you do have to pay for a subscription for this. We do it monthly so that it is less expensive, and you’re not obligated to sign up for a certain amount of months. A first aid kit is especially important for tackling remote, backcountry hiking or parks like this one that have limiting cell service. I always like to have a basic first aid kit, but even on something small I like to bring basics like bandaids – I think these cloth ones stay on the best, Neosporin, and alcohol wipes. I also like to keep some moleskin in my pack in case I get a blister.
My Latest Gear Obsession – My Garmin Instinct 3 watch. I’m not really a “techy” girl, but I am now obsessed with my Garmin watch. I love stats, I love tracking my health and activity and nothing beats this. This watch feels like it’s all about activity and adventure first, and smartwatch second, which is exactly what I needed and wanted. The battery life on this is up to 18 days and it tracks so much in real-time including weather, altitude and more. Plus, it’s built to be more resilient and I can wear it in water without even thinking about it.
Prepare for Sun Exposure – This park doesn’t have a whole lot of opportunities to find shade. So, I highly recommend being prepared for that. I have this sunhat from REI that I love, and Matt has this Columbia Sunhat that he also loves. They’re very similar, mine has the little girly band around it. Also, grab a sunscreen stick to throw into your pack so you can reapply throughout the day. I like the sticks because my hands don’t get sunscreeny while out on the trail.
Footwear – Matt and I both love our Merrell hiking boots. In fact just this year, I found my all-time-favorite hiking boots – they’re still mids, they’re lightweight and waterproof. Regardless of which brand works best or fits your foot, though, we both recommend a boot with ankle support. A lot of people recommend trail runners, but for me, nothing beats a hiking boot. These Merrell socks are perfect for my hiking adventures. I love that they’re cushioned slightly and are the perfect height for ankle boots. If I don’t wear boots and am just doing a shorter hike, just a stroll around the paved areas of a park, or a water activity, I’d wear my Teva sandals. They also make great campsite shoes but still have a lot of support for hiking and other activities
Daypack – If I’m doing a quick day hike of 10-12 miles or less, I’m obsessed with my Osprey Daylite. It’s the perfect size to cram water and snacks for the hike. Plus, if I have a light layer, it fits in the pack as well. If I’m doing a more intense or 12+ mile hike I’m obsessed with my Deuter 28L pack that holds a little more without being monstrous, but will hold more water, more layers and more snacks – ya know, just in case.
What’s in My Pack? – Water is always the very first thing that goes into my daypack and I love using these Nalgene water bottles because the wide mouth on the bottle makes it really easy to clean. Some snacks that you can almost always find in my backpack are beef jerky tender bites, peanut butter & honey crackers, peanut m&ms, trail mix and dehydrated fruit strips. If I’m going to have a long hiking day, or I’m hiking somewhere that I know I’m going to sit and hang out for a while, I am obsessed with my little mini camp chair – it only fits in my Deuter pack, though, not the Osprey.
Stargazing in Black Canyon of the Gunnison? Here’s What You Need – A red light flashlight or headlamp. This is super important if you’re going to stargaze because it allows your eyes to stay adjusted to the dark. I’d also recommend a camp chair. Want to get super fancy about it? I have this rocking camp chair that I’m absolutely obsessed with – and my kids love it too because they both love being rocked.
Do You Want to Track Your National Park Adventures? – I actually authored this National Park Journal and I’m really proud of it! This is the perfect guided journal with fun facts and simple tips to help you make the most of your trip and, most importantly, curate your memories in each park! I’d be honored to be part of your national park adventures in this way!
You Can See the Tallest Cliff in Colorado Here
The Painted Wall rises high above the Gunnison River to a staggering height of 2,250 feet. I would love to stand at the base of it and look up at it someday, but there is an unbelievable, and short, overlook trail that gives you a great vantage point of the Painted Wall from riverbank to cliff edge. It’s a marvel to see.
Despite The Mountains All Around, This Has a Very Desert-Feel in this Canyon
I was really surprised that Black Canyon of the Gunnison has a major desert feel. I shouldn’t be, because canyon typically equals desert, but because there are snow-capped mountains so close by, I expected a bit more of a mountain feel, but it’s not. It’s definitely hot, bright, sandy, rocky and filled with desert flora and fauna. So, of course, this desert-lover was in heaven!
You Can See Very Little From Your Car, You Need to Walk/Hike a Bit to Really See It
There’s really only one overlook (at least on the South Rim) where you can see down in the canyon without at least a little walk, other than the visitor center. You can get a little look there too. But the drive-up one is probably my least favorite overlook to look at. It’s definitely worth getting out at the overlooks to truly grasp the vastness of this great canyon.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison is An International Dark Sky Park
International Dark Sky Parks are designations that can be quite difficult to get. These spaces where the light pollution is so light and the skies are so dark, that you can truly take in the majesty of what a small space we hold in our vast universe.
This is a Popular Destination for Rock Climbers
These crazy canyon walls make for an incredible spot for rock climbers. Permits are required for climbing here. However, even if you’re not a climber, this is important to know because you never know if they might be on a cliff below you, even if you can’t see them. Don’t throw rocks off the canyon rims.
You May Have Good Luck Seeing Wildlife
Black bears, mountain lions, long-tailed weasels, bobcats, bighorn sheep, elk, deer and many other animals all call Black Canyon of the Gunnison home. While certain animals are rare to see, you just might get a little luck, depending on the day. We got insanely lucky to see 3 bighorn sheep cross the Warner Point trail. One was even at the end viewpoint looking all majestic.
There are a Shocking Amount of Wildflowers Here, Depending on the Season
We were at Black Canyon of the Gunnison in early June and holy cow there were so many wildflowers in bloom! I loved photographing and identifying them. I am definitely becoming a big fan of searching out and learning about native plants of different destinations. Nature nerd alert, over here.
There is a Junior Ranger Program Here
If you have kids, I cannot highly recommend the Junior Ranger Program enough! This is a free program that gives kids nature workbooks filled with activities based on each park. Each one is unique to the destination but are filled with activities like matching, drawing, coloring, word searches and writing exercises.
The Only Accommodation within the Park is Campsites
While many national parks have lodges, Black Canyon of the Gunnison is not one of them. They do have campgrounds, though, and the south rim of Black Canyon also has RV sites. Reservations for campsites (tent and RV) can be made at Recreation.gov.
This is the Least-Visited National Park in Colorado
There are FOUR national parks in Colorado: Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde and Rocky Mountain National Parks. And of all of these, Black Canyon is the least visited of them. That is in no way a reflection of how beautiful it is, though. It should absolutely not be missed!
Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a really special park. I love exploring a new canyon and I had so many beautiful experiences while we were there. From getting to see bighorn cross my path, to crazy expanses of wildflowers and vast canyons. I already cannot wait to get back here and explore deeper and deeper into Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. If you’ve been to Black Canyon of the Gunnison did I miss anything that you think people should know before visiting.
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