Overview

Black Canyon drops 2,000 feet nearly straight down to the Gunnison River—some of the steepest cliffs in North America, carved through 1.7-billion-year-old metamorphic rock. The drama is immediate: most viewpoints are a 5-minute walk from parking. With just 336,000 annual visitors (Zion gets 4.6 million), you'll often have overlooks to yourself. The trade-off: this is a rim experience—hiking into the canyon requires technical skills and a backcountry permit. Most visitors see it in 2-3 hours via South Rim Drive.

Trail Tip

Hit Chasm View at sunrise in late September. The low-angle light ignites the Painted Wall (Colorado's tallest cliff at 2,250 feet) in orange and gold, and you'll dodge the summer heat and afternoon thunderstorms. Bring a wide-angle lens—the canyon is too narrow to capture any other way.

When to Go

The sweet spot is April — good weather meets manageable crowds. Peak season hits in July.

Peak conditions before summer heat. South Rim trails dry out, wildflowers emerge, and you'll find parking at every overlook.

Monthly crowd levels — click a month for details

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Low Moderate High Peak

How Busy Is It?

How Black Canyon Of The Gunnison compares to all 62 national parks

Busier than 55% of national parks

QuietBusy
Above Average

More crowded trails than 49% of parks

QuietBusy
Moderate

Higher campsite pressure than 32% of parks

EasyTough
Moderate
10,496 Visitors / Trail Mile
493 Campsite Pressure

Notable Trails

Black Canyon Of The Gunnison has more trail mileage than 19% of national parks, with 32 miles across 25 maintained trails.

The difficulty split leans moderate to strenuous — only 32% of trails are rated easy.

Easy 32% Moderate 56% Strenuous 12%
Uplands Trail

Hike Uplands Trail - South Rim

moderate
0.9 mi
Hike the Rim Rock Trail

Hike Rim Rock Trail - South Rim

moderate_strenuous
0 mi
Green and blueish canyon cliffs with mountains in the background

Hike North Vista Trail - North Rim

moderate_strenuous
0 mi
Deadhorse Trail

Hike Deadhorse Trail - North Rim

moderate_strenuous
0 mi
View all 12 trails
Trail Tip

Start early — Black Canyon Of The Gunnison's most popular trailheads fill up by mid-morning in peak season.

Camping

3 campgrounds with 116 total sites. About 67% are first-come, first-served.

East Portal Campground - Sites with vehicle access

East Portal Campground Reservable

15 sites ·$20/night ·Seasonal
Two tents (yellow and blue) with a picnic table in forested campground area

North Rim Campground Reservable

13 sites ·$20/night ·Seasonal
picnic table and fire pit in a grassy clearing among the brush

South Rim Campground Reservable

88 sites ·$20/night ·Seasonal

Top Activities

Black Canyon Of The Gunnison excels at 10 of 17 activity types — here are the standouts rated 7/10 or higher.

Kayaking Canoeing

9/10

Expert-only rafting and kayaking through steep canyon with challenging rapids

Photography

9/10

Dramatic canyon scenery, river gorge, and geological formations offer exceptional photography

Hiking

8/10

32 miles of rim and backcountry trails offering canyon views and varied terrain

Rock Climbing

8/10

World-class rock climbing on Precambrian granite and metamorphic rock

Scenic Driving

8/10

South Rim Drive offers 7 miles of scenic overlooks and access to multiple viewpoints

Stargazing

8/10

Dark skies away from Montrose offer good stargazing opportunities

Fishing

7/10

Trout fishing in Gunnison River; challenging canyon access

Wildlife Viewing

7/10

Mule deer, elk, coyotes, and canyon wren commonly sighted

Bird Watching

7/10

Over 70 bird species including canyon wren, raven, hawk, and eagle species

Ranger Programs

7/10

Ranger talks, geology programs, and interpretive walks about the canyon formation

Who It's For

Couples 9/10 Photographers 9/10 Adventure Seekers 9/10 Families Teens 8/10 Solo Travelers 8/10 First Time Park Visitors 8/10 Experienced Hikers 8/10 Budget Travelers 8/10 International Visitors 8/10

Planning Your Trip

Getting There

Nearest city: Grand Junction, CO (60 mi). Fly into GJT.

In-Park Services

No gas in park · No lodging in park · Cell: limited

Gateway Town

Montrose, CO — full amenities

Featured In ?Rankings based on data-driven scoring across all 62 national parks.

#5 Best National Parks for Kayaking #9 Best National Parks for Rock Climbing #6 Best National Parks for Solo Travelers #7 Best National Parks for Couples #10 Best National Parks for Adventure Seekers

Stories

8 Dark Sky Parks With Incredible Scenic Drives Eight parks where the scenic drive you take by day becomes a stargazing platform after dark 8 Parks Where Kids Can Hike Every Trail Eight national parks where the entire trail system stays short and gentle enough for elementary schoolers to complete Arches vs Black Canyon Of The Gunnison: Which Park Should You Visit? One park delivers red rock icons and crowds to match. The other hides North America's steepest gorge in plain sight 8 National Parks for Solo Adventurers Eight parks where solo adventurers find space to disappear, trails worth hiking alone, and April weather that cooperates 8 National Parks That Won't Break the Bank Eight national parks where April weather, thin crowds, and low overhead create the budget trip that doesn't feel like one 8 National Parks for a Romantic Stargazing Getaway From Atlantic granite to Utah canyon country, eight national parks where April nights make the best case for going somewhere dark together 8 National Parks Where the Water Is the Main Event Eight national parks where paddling isn't optional and crowds are scarce, from flooded forests to volcanic calderas 8 National Parks Every Climber Should Visit Eight parks where the rock tells stories older than the sport, from desert towers to alpine walls that demand more than gym skills 8 National Parks With More to Do Than Hiking Eight parks where rock climbing, paddling, and scenic drives rival the hiking—with family programs that make them work for any skill level 8 National Parks Built Around Canyons Eight parks where canyons define the landscape, from limestone caverns to river gorges that trap sunlight for minutes a day 8 National Parks for Your First Park Trip Eight national parks that reward first-timers with clear payoffs, accessible trails, and April weather that won't punish you 8 Best National Parks for RV Camping Eight parks where RVs fit the roads, campgrounds, and April weather without the peak-season chaos 8 National Parks That Will Impress Your Teenager Eight parks where teenagers trade screen time for slot canyons, coral reefs, and trails that feel like actual adventures The Rocky Mountain National Parks Road Trip Six mountain parks stay open all winter and welcome families without specialized gear or backcountry skills

Gateway Cities

Denver, CO 217 mi / 3.9h drive Salt Lake City, UT 348 mi / 6.3h drive

Compare Black Canyon Of The Gunnison

See how Black Canyon Of The Gunnison stacks up against other national parks — crowds, trails, and more.

Compare Black Canyon Of The Gunnison

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park?

The best month to visit Black Canyon Of The Gunnison is April, based on a balance of weather, crowds, and accessibility. Peak visitation is in July. The park has 5 comfortable months for visiting.

How crowded is Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park?

Black Canyon Of The Gunnison is crowded, with a congestion index of 5.3/10. The park receives 336K visitors annually across 48.1 square miles.

How many trails does Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park have?

Black Canyon Of The Gunnison has 32 miles of trails across 8 easy, 14 moderate, and 3 strenuous routes. Popular trails include Chasm View Trail, Gunnison Point Trail, Rim Rock Trail.

Can you camp at Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park?

Yes, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison has 3 campgrounds with 116 total sites. Some sites are available first-come, first-served.

Is Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park open year-round?

Yes, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison is open year-round, though some roads and facilities may close seasonally. The park's climate is classified as semi_arid_high_elevation.

Nearby Parks

Arches National Park 101 mi away
Mesa Verde National Park 101 mi away
Canyonlands National Park 119 mi away