General Information
Location
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is located in southwest Colorado approximately 14 miles east of the city of Montrose. The south rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison is 7 miles north of CO 347. The North rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison can be accessed from the CO HWY 92 near the town of Crawford, Colorado.
It is possible to drive from one rim of the canyon to the other. This scenic route takes approximately 3 hours to complete.
Size: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is approximately 47 square miles (122 Square KM).
Climate: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has a climate that is classified as a “Warm Summer Continental Climate” according to the Köppen Climate Classification. This means that in the hottest months the temperature averages between 70-80-degrees F. In the coldest months, the average temperature is about 20 degrees F. It should be noted that the elevation change between the canyon rim and the canyon floor is significant. This elevation change can drastically affect the temperature making the canyon floor significantly hotter than the rim.
Cost: According to nps.gov, on August 31, 2020 the fees to visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park are as follows:
History
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a beautiful park that consists of a deep, steep-walled gorge that was carved out over millennia by the Gunnison River. Roads and trails along the north and south rims provide views of the Black Canyon’s dramatic cliffs. Wildlife in the area includes mule deer, elk and golden eagles. Black Canyon of the Gunnison is home to the largest cliff face in Colorado, which is 1000 feet taller than the Empire State Building.
This area has a long history as a sacred place for indigenous peoples, but the signs of occupation have been limited to the rims of the canyon. According to legend, the indigenous tribes in the area avoided the canyon out of superstition.
During colonialization, westerners “discovered” the canyon. The first expeditions of the canyon were carried out by the Spanish – and later Americans following the acquisition of the land in the 1848. It is rumored that many fur traders inhabited the canyon while searching for beaver pelts, though there is very little written documentation to support this claim.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison was originally classified as a national monument in 1933 and redesignated as a national park in 1999.
Our Experience
To be completely honest, we had never heard of Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Luckily, the area was recommended to us as a “must-see” and we made a several hour detour to visit the park. While driving several hours out of our way might seem extreme, we are beyond happy to have done so as Black Canyon of the Gunnison has been on of our favorite parks that we have visited. The views of the canyons were impeccable and awe inspiring. They left us both with an incredible respect for nature and the vastness of the world we live in.
Pros
The park is extremely accessible, the road is very well maintained and follows the canyon rim. This means that you can take in all of the views from the comfort of your car.
There are dozens of pull-outs along the main road. This is extremely convenient as you can take your time while driving through the park and are able to stop often to take in the views.
The park was not crowded at all. It seems that this park is not very well known, which we loved.
The park is located minutes from free campsites that are RV accessible and have cellphone service.
There is a lot of informational signage that is strategically placed throughout the park to inform visitors about what they are seeing and experiencing.
Cons
While the park is really pretty, the views through the park do not change. After a while, it can seem like you are looking at the same things over and over again.
For us, the park was a little bit out of the way. While this did help with congestion in the park, there is not a lot to do in the surrounding area – with the exception of the city of Montrose, Colorado
While you can take in the views from the roadside, the best views can be found by taking a short hike from your car. This may limit some people as the hiking terrain is not super accessible and is extremely rocky and uneven.
General Score
We gave Black Canyon of the Gunnison 4 out of 5 stars.
We rated Black Canyon in this way because we absolutely loved this park and the views that we were able to take in. We found the park to be immersed with natural beauty and it left us with a feeling of excitement to continue exploring new places.
Pet Rating
We rated Black Canyon of the Gunnison 4 out of 5 bones for dog friendliness. Dogs are allowed on all main roads in the park as well as in all the pullouts. Also, the climate in the region was perfect for the pups as they were not too hot (or too cold). If we wanted to venture to a viewpoint where dogs were not allowed, we could comfortably leave them in the van without fear of them being in an unsafe environment. Lastly, Black Canyon of the Gunnison has several dog-friendly trails throughout the park, which is unusual for national parks. More information concerning those dog friendly trails is below.
