Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a striking gem in western Colorado — dramatic, deeply carved cliffs of ancient rock towering over the Gunnison River. Here’s your ultimate guide to the best things to do when visiting this underrated park.
Best Things to Do in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
🌄 1. Scenic Drives & Overlook Viewing
- South Rim Drive features twelve scenic overlooks—including Painted Wall, Pulpit Rock, Chasm View, and Sunset View—offering breathtaking canyon panoramas and safe pull-offs for photos and wildlife viewing.
- North Rim Road offers a quieter, more remote experience, with five historic overlooks and far fewer crowds.
Pulpit Rock Overlook (above) is one of 12 overlooks along the South Rim of Black Canyon (image: NPS)
🥾 2. Hiking Trails Along the Rim
- Chasm View Nature Trail (North Rim): A short 0.5‑mile interpretive loop that offers excellent views of the narrowest section of the canyon.
- Oak Flat Loop Trail (South Rim): Around 1.4 miles through Gambel oak forest with a hidden climbing wall and several rim viewpoints.
🌅 3. Sunset Spots: Dragon Point & Cedar Point
- Dragon Point is a favorite spot for sunset with expansive west-facing views over the river corridor.
- Cedar Point offers similarly stunning evening color across deep canyon vistas.
🧗 4. Inner Canyon Adventures
- Six rugged routes descend into the canyon (three from each rim), including the relatively “easy” Gunnison Route and more challenging Warner Route and Long Draw. Permits are required, and routes require excellent physical conditioning, route-finding ability, and class‑3 scrambling skills.
- Long Draw Trail on the North Rim leads to “The Narrows,” a spectacular tight gorge with towering cliff walls.
🎣 5. Gold-Medal Fly Fishing at East Portal
- The Gunnison River in the canyon is designated Gold Medal Water for trout fishing. Artificial flies and catch-and-release rules apply.
- The steep East Portal Road descends to a riverside campground—ideal for anglers and campers alike (vehicles over 22 ft not allowed).
⛺ 6. Camping & Backcountry Options
- Campgrounds: South Rim, North Rim, and East Portal. Reservations required for the South Rim; others are first-come, first-served.
- Backcountry camping on the canyon floor is possible with a wilderness permit (May–October). Be aware of hazards like ticks, poison ivy, steep terrain, and river flow.
🔭 7. Stargazing at an International Dark Sky Park
Every year-round, the park hosts stargazing and astronomy programs (including telescope nights). Undisturbed skies make it excellent for night photography, especially during new moon phases.
❄️ 8. Winter Recreation
Winter brings ranger-led snowshoe adventures along the canyon rim trails and meadows (typically Jan–mid-March). Note, several roads and campgrounds—like the North Rim and East Portal—are closed during winter.
🦅 9. Wildlife & Nature Programs
Guided nature walks and ranger programs are offered seasonally. Wildlife spotting opportunities include peregrine falcons, bobcats, mountain lions, mule deer, and black bears—especially at dawn or dusk.
🗺️ 10. Ranger Programs & Visitor Center
- Plan ahead by visiting the South Rim Visitor Center or North Rim Ranger Station for orientation, maps, verbal updates, and permit information.
✅ Practical Tips & Warnings
- Many rim sections are unfenced—exercise extreme caution near cliff edges, especially with children.
- Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer—plan early hikes and be weather-aware.
- Limited cell service inside the canyon; emergency satellite devices may not work reliably.
🗺️ Suggested Itineraries
Day‑Trip Highlights:
- Drive the South Rim Loop, hit key overlooks, hike Oak Flat or Chasm View, watch the sunset at Dragon Point, and end with stargazing under pristine night skies.
Longer Visit (2–3 Days):
- Add a North Rim visit, attempt a canyon descent (Gunnison or Long Draw—with permit), camp at East Portal or canyon floor, fish the Gunnison River, and enjoy evening ranger-led programs.
🏞️ Why Visit?
With just ~340,000 visitors in 2024, Black Canyon of the Gunnison stands out as one of Colorado’s least-crowded yet most dramatic parks. From sheer cliff faces like Painted Wall (Colorado’s highest cliff at ~2,250 ft) to remote serenity, it offers a unique blend of solitude, adventure, and raw geological beauty.