Black Canyon

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park became a national park in 1999, though the Gunnison River started carving it millions of years ago. The walls are often shrouded in shadow, making them appear black, and the canyon exposes some of Earth oldest rock at nearly 2 billion years old. You are looking down 2,000 feet to see the river that descends at one of the fastest rates in North America, and there are no guardrails in many spots. The Painted Wall on the South Rim rises 2,250 feet, making it the highest cliff in Colorado, standing a thousand feet taller than the Empire State Building.

Key Features:

– Rim Rock Nature Trail: a flat 1 mile path offering expansive overlooks of the river, canyon walls, and local plant life. Rim Rock Trail Details

– South Rim: features highly developed facilities and the easiest access roads from nearby Montrose.

– North Rim: includes 13 first come first served campsites nestled in a heavy pinyon juniper forest with far fewer crowds. North Rim Camping Info

– Painted Wall: a massive sheer rock face dropping 2250 feet, officially standing as the highest cliff in Colorado. Explore Painted Wall