Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado

This smaller national park offers some very big views. Perfect for a one-day stop, Black Canyon has a number of viewpoints and scenic walks for visitors of all fitness levels. We didn’t really know what to expect at this park, but it’s safe to say that it exceeded our expectations.

Unlike most other national parks, Black Canyon doesn’t have a main attraction that commands your attention. Instead, this park is all about getting off the grid, enjoying nature, and taking in the views of this unique canyon.

There is also a dichotomy of sorts at this national park: the hiking options are either very easy walks around the rim or incredibly steep descents into the canyon. You can’t even visit the inner canyon without a permit. This didn’t bother us, as we were happy to give our legs a bit of a break after days of intense hikes. Still, keep this in mind before visiting Black Canyon. Get a permit if you’re interested in hiking into the canyon or backcountry camping.

If you plan to follow our lead and visit the south rim of the canyon in 24 hours or less, we highly recommend following the below itinerary to make the most of your trip.

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Warner Point Nature Trail

Start your morning with the Warner Point Nature Trail, which begins at the end of the South Rim Road and stretches for 1.5 miles round trip. Even though the elevation gain of this hike is minimal (406 feet), you may get winded if you’re not used to high altitude. The canyon rim is over 8,000 feet above sea level. Drink plenty of water, and don’t take this altitude for granted.

At the end of this out-and-back trail is a great viewpoint into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The lighting can be a bit harsh early in the morning, but it is a worthwhile trade-off to avoid crowds and enjoy the cooler temperatures (if you’re visiting in the summer).

Even though this trail goes through a nice wooded area, we didn’t notice many bugs. Overall, we found it to be a pleasant, relaxing walk with a rewarding viewpoint at the end.

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South Rim Road

After you finish the Warner Point Nature Trail, take your time driving back on the South Rim Road.

All along the road are marked pull-outs that lead to canyon viewpoints. Some of the viewpoints are right off the road, but most are a short walk to the canyon rim (700 yards or less). Each pull-out has a sign indicating the distance to the viewpoint, so you can decide which spots are worth it for you.

We stopped at every viewpoint along the South Rim Road from the Visitor Center to the Warner Point Nature Trail. While all offer tremendous views, we can admit that some feel duplicative. If you’re short on time or don’t feel like visiting all of the viewpoints, we recommend you prioritize Tomichi Point, Pulpit Rock, Cross Fissures View, Cedar Point, and Sunset View.

While the viewpoints along this road are great at any time of day, we really appreciated how daylight and twilight had different effects on the canyon’s appearance. We unfortunately didn’t have a clear sky to appreciate the sunset from Sunset View, but we recommend visiting this viewpoint along with a few others late in the day if you have the opportunity.

All together, we spent 2-3 hours driving along the South Rim Road and walking to each of the viewpoints. We think this was a perfect amount of time to spend in the area, but you could definitely get away with spending more or less depending on your schedule.

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Other Tips & Tricks

• Where to Stay: The closest town to Black Canyon is Montrose (~20 minutes away). Honestly, there’s not much there. Instead of choosing between mediocre hotels in town, we’d recommend pitching a tent at the South Rim Campground. The only facilities are a vault toilet and seasonal drinking water, but you’ll be inside the park, minutes from the South Rim Road, and able to enjoy the clear skies and crisp air of the canyon. Tent sites tend to book up in advance, so visit this link to make your reservation. First-come, first-served sites are also available, but be warned that there aren’t many alternatives if you arrive and all the sites are taken.

• Where to Eat: There are no food options in the park. You’ll want to either have a full cooler or pick up some food in Montrose ahead of time. The options in town didn’t impress us, so we kept it cheap and enjoyed the local Wendy’s.

• Wildlife Spotting: Welcome to bear country! Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective), we didn’t see any of the furry creatures during our visit, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have the same experience. The Visitor Center has a public chart that shows when and where each type of local animal was most recently spotted, as reported by park rangers. Our only encounter was a feeding mule deer at the South Rim Campground. If you do run into any wildlife in the park, make sure to follow the rangers’ recommended actions to stay safe.

Happy traveling!

Kitrina & Jordan