Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
Hike Uplands Trail - South Rim
moderate FamiliesWildlife WatchingMorning Strolls
0.9 mi Distance
Varies Estimated Time
roundtrip Trail Type
What to Expect
The Uplands Trail is Black Canyon's quiet connector — a short ramble through Gambel oak and serviceberry that most visitors skip entirely on their way to the rim. That's their loss. This sub-mile link between the campground area and the South Rim Visitor Center threads through scrubby upland habitat that feels nothing like the dramatic canyon views nearby, and that's exactly the point. You're trading vertigo-inducing depths for a gentler landscape of sagebrush meadows and scattered wildflowers, with the West Elk Mountains filling the eastern horizon. The trail surface is accessible and relatively smooth, making it one of the few wheelchair-friendly options in the park. Dawn and dusk are when this trail earns its keep — mule deer browse through the oaks, and you might catch cottontails or the occasional coyote trotting through the sage. This one's for the visitor who wants a mellow leg-stretcher between bigger adventures.
Trail Details
Distance 0.9 miles round-trip
Difficulty moderate
Estimated Time Varies
Trail Type roundtrip
Pets Not allowed
Season Year-round
Trailhead Hike Uplands Trail - South Rim
Pro Tips
Trail Tip
Use this trail as a car-free commute between the campground and the visitor center — it beats walking along the road and you'll actually see wildlife instead of RV mirrors.
Trail Tip
Hit it at first light or in the last hour before sunset when the West Elk Mountains glow and the deer come out to feed in the oak thickets along the trail.
Trail Tip
Combine it with the Rim Rock Trail and the upper Oak Flat Loop for a longer ramble that stays interesting without ever demanding too much from your legs.
Photos
NPS Photo
