Montrose, Colorado.

It’s not your typical canyon. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison stands out for its landscape of staggering extremes: deep, steep, and narrow. OK, I lifted the term “deep, steep, and narrow” from the National Park website. How else could I describe this beautiful canyon?

Created by the 180-mile-long (290 km) Gunnison River, the canyon is but one section of the river, which is the state’s second-largest by volume and a major tributary of the Colorado River. The “River of Contrasts” winds through Colorado from its headwaters along the Continental Divide to its confluence with the Colorado River near Grand Junction.

The Gunnison River’s most iconic section is undoubtedly the Gunnison National Park’s Black Canyon. The sheer walls plunge more than 2,000 feet (610 m) below the rim, making it one of the deepest canyons in the United States. The narrowness of the canyon, with some sections just 40 feet (12 m) wide at the rim, is a photographer’s delight.

The South Rim Road is a 12-mile scenic route with numerous pullouts offering breathtaking vistas of the canyon depths. Most require a short (a few hundred yards at most) walk to the edge. Three overlooks are handicapped accessible: Pulpit Rock, Chasm View, and Sunset View. This post features images captured from several overlooks, though I neglected to identify them as I took the pictures.

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park offers a variety of activities for visitors, though due to its steep and rugged nature, many activities are focused on sightseeing and scenic appreciation.

Hikers will enjoy their journey on well-maintained trails that range from easy strolls to challenging adventures. The Warner Point Trail is popular, providing stunning views from a high overlook. For a more strenuous hike, try the Oak Flat Loop Trail, which winds through juniper and piñon forests.

The short hikes to the overlooks were as strenuous as we wanted them to be. However, for those seeking a more extreme challenge, the Black Canyon offers opportunities for:

Rock Climbing: The canyon walls are a haven for experienced rock climbers, with challenging routes for all skill levels.

Kayaking and Rafting: Skilled paddlers can navigate the Gunnison River through the canyon’s depths. Permits are required for this activity.

Backpacking: Backpack through the remote wilderness of the inner canyon. Permits and proper planning are essential for this challenging adventure.

Road improvement projects at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park began in March 2024 and continue through 2025. These much-needed improvements will significantly impact access to the park. Visitors can expect some travel delays during their visit, and there will be a significantly reduced number of parking spots at some locations during construction.

After we visited Black Canyon, we headed on our planned route. In writing this post, I learned about the Curecanti National Recreation Area, a stunning swathe of land overseen by the National Park Service on the western slope of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. When you are planning your trip, you might also consider visiting Curecanti.

I went crazy with my cell phone and Nikon D500 cameras in the park. On my Flickr site here, I’ve posted many more images captured on our scenic drive along the south rim of the canyon. All Flickr images are posted in 2K HD, and the Nikon images are processed in 3-image brackets via Lightroom Classic’s High Dynamic Range (HDR) tool. You can find more information here about the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

John Steiner