We have visited Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park several times over the years. Even though this is a small park, there are a variety of activities and things to do. Here are some of the things we have enjoyed, plus a few that we never got to do.
Explore the South Rim Drive
The South Rim Drive is the main park drive, which leads to the campground, visitor center, and canyon overlooks. The 7-mile drive is deceivingly short, but you will need to plan on 2-3 hours if you are visiting all of the overlooks. Because each overlook is reached by a short trail, you will be outside of your car more than you are inside. This drive is a fun and easy way to see the canyon in different areas, and unless you are interested in an extremely dangerous and strenuous hike/climb into the canyon, it’s the best way to view things.
Watch a Film in the Visitor Center
The small visitor center has a few exhibits, mainly focused on the natural life of the area and the process of creating irrigation tunnels that happened in the early 1900s. These tunnels divert water from the Gunnison River starting at the East Portal and into the valley where it is used to irrigate crops. The tunnel was an engineering feat and the story of its construction is told in the park film. You can watch this film during your visit to the park, or, if you want to get a head start, you can watch it online.
Attend a Ranger Talk
In many national parks, rangers give educational talks, do demonstrations, and lead informative hikes or tours. Black Canyon is no different. Ranger geology and nature talks and educational hikes take place on many days throughout the summer. During the off-season, there may be educational presentations at the visitor center. The ranger talks and hikes are a great way to learn more about the nature and geography of the canyon and are educational for older kids and adults. Small children might find some of the presentations boring, so consider finding a talk geared toward families or children to keep them learning and interested.
Hike the Oak Flat Trail
The Oak Flat Trail is the best way for mere mortals like us to get below the rim of the canyon. Other hikes involve very steep slopes that require you to hang on to chains in order to descend (and ascend) safely. These wilderness trails also require permits. The Oak Flat Trail, on the other hand, is the perfect way to enjoy the canyon, the views, and the forest. We enjoyed this trail with our older children, who are experienced hikers and were old enough to be cautious.
Be aware that this trail is considered strenuous and does have some areas with dangerous drop-offs, so young children might want to stick to safer hiking alternatives. The loop trail is around 2 miles long and has some switchbacks as it goes down into the canyon. You will only travel along near the top edge of the canyon, and won’t get near the river. The trail starts near the visitor center and you can park in the visitor center parking lot.
Tip: Also visit the other overlooks and trails that begin at the visitor center, such as the Gunnison Point Overlook and the Rim Rock Trails.
Try Snowshoeing
During the winter, much of the park is closed. The main park road is plowed as far as the visitor center, and beyond that, the road is closed for most of the winter. Because of this limited access, there aren’t many areas open during the winter. However, one of the best winter activities in the park is available on weekends, requires no extra equipment, and is absolutely free! Consider joining the rangers on a free snowshoe walk to experience the park during the winter.
Don’t worry if you don’t have snowshoes, because the park provides them. The walks are short, usually around 1 mile, and take up to 2 hours. Beginners are welcome but you should be aware that snowshoeing is more difficult than hiking, and these walks, even though short, are considered moderately strenuous. Our family found the walks to be the perfect level of difficulty for our out-of-shape mid-winter selves. We broke a sweat and got in some good exercise, but weren’t winded or too tired to enjoy ourselves and the wintery landscape.
Take the East Portal Road into the canyon
The East Portal Road is the only way to drive into the canyon. The road is very steep and winding, and vehicles over 22 feet in length are not allowed. The road is closed during the winter. There is a small campground at the bottom, which is actually located within the boundaries of Curecanti National Recreation Area but can only be accessed through the National Park. Popular activities in this area include hiking, fishing the gold medal waters, and picnicking.
This road was built to allow access to the canyon for the construction crews, engineers, and other workers during the construction of the irrigation tunnels. At that time, a small town, known as East Portal, sprang up here at the bottom of the canyon. The town held around 250 residents at its peak and much of it was temporarily constructed. As you travel into the canyon, you can stop to read informational signs with more information.
Go Fishing
Fishing is a favorite activity along the Gunnison River, and for good reason. The Gunnison River is a Gold Medal Stream through Black Canyon and up to the junction with the North Fork. This designation is given to trout streams and lakes in Colorado which have shown that they hold a lot of trout and a large, trophy-size trout. Special regulations exist for fishing in these waters, including regulations on the kinds of fishing and which fish can be kept. In the Park, one of the most accessible areas of the river is at the bottom of East Portal Road. Most other access points are at the north end of the canyon or require strenuous hikes and backcountry permits.
Camp in one of the Campgrounds
Camping is one of the best ways to get to know any natural area. There is just nothing like the feeling of waking up in the morning, right in the park. A quick breakfast and a cup of coffee, and you are ready to explore before the crowds arrive. There are three campgrounds in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
South Rim Campground: The south rim campground is located near the visitor center and is the largest and most accessible of the three. If your goal is to enjoy exploring the main areas of the park, you will probably want to be in this one. Several interesting hiking trails begin here, including the Rim Rock Nature Trail that stretches between the campground and the visitor center.
- RV hookups (limited sites available up to 55 feet)
- Reservations accepted in the summer
- Pit toilets and water are available
- 23 sites with electric hookups
- 23 sites open year-round (first-come-first-served during the off-season)
- No showers
- Fire rings, picnic tables, and food lockers at the sites
North Rim Campground: The north rim campground is more isolated and primitive than the south rim campground. This campground is better for people who want a more wilderness experience, or who want to spend more time on the north rim. Tent, van, or truck camping will be the most common forms in this campground. This campground is also used as a picnic area for the North Rim.
- No RV hookups (Vehicles limited to 22 feet including trailers)
- No reservations needed
- Pit toilets and water are available
- 13 sites total
- Open from April to November
- No showers
- Fire rings, picnic tables, and food lockers at the sites
East Portal Campground: Located near the river at the bottom of the canyon, this campground is a good base camp for those who are here for fishing. It is a scenic and
- No RV hookups (Vehicles limited to 22 feet including trailers)
- No reservations needed
- Pit toilets and water are available
- 15 sites total, five have vehicle access (10 require campers to walk down from the parking area)
- Open from April to November
- No showers
- Fire rings, picnic tables, and food lockers at the sites
Enjoy the Night Sky
If you are camping in the park, take some time away from your RV or campfire to do some star gazing. Even if you aren’t camping, consider staying in the park late to experience what a truly dark area looks like at night. In the park, you will be able to see stars and constellations that are invisible in many areas because it is too bright for them to be seen. The Black Canon astronomy Festival is held in the park early each fall.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a dark sky park, which means it has been certified to have very low levels of light pollution. Receiving this certification required parks and other areas to modify their lighting if needed and apply for certification, which can take several years to complete. You can learn more about Black Canyon’s certification at their website.
Become a Junior Ranger
Children of all ages (and many adults) have become Junior Rangers at National Park Sites around the country. This program is educational and fun and gives children a sense of ownership of our natural resources. At Black Canyon, ask for a free Junior Ranger booklet for your children (or yourself!) and complete the necessary activities. Once finished, return the book to the visitor center or ranger station where you will take a pledge and receive your badges. Our children have over 45 badges from all over the country and I am a huge supporter of this program.
Have a Picnic
There’s nothing like a picnic in a national park. And since Black Canyon has no food service, a picnic is the best way to avoid having to drive a long way for a meal. The park has picnic tables in several areas, including the visitor center, where you can eat on the porch overlooking the canyon. Make sure that you leave no trace, clean up after yourself, and don’t feed the animals and birds.
Stroll Along a Nature Trail
The park has several nature trails, which are short hikes designed as learning experiences. At Black Canyon National Park there are several nature trails that you can take. These trails have signs and kiosks with educational information about life in the canyon, geology, and more.
The Rim Rock Nature Trail follows a relatively level path along the rim, from the campground to the visitor center. The round trip of this self-guided trail is about 2 miles. The Cedar Point Nature Trail is short and sweet at 2/3 of a mile. It leads to great overlooks of the canyon and has signs about local plant life. The Warner Point Nature Trail is 1 1/2 miles long and you can pick up a brochure at the nature center to facilitate your self-guided tour. On the north side, the Chasm View Nature Trail is short at only 1/3 of a mile, and leads to an overview of the canyon where you can see visitors on the south side!
One-Day Itinerary
Morning: Arrive at the park. Travel to the visitor center and spend half an hour looking at exhibits. Spend another half hour or so at the two Gunnison Point Overlooks. Pick up Junior Ranger books if needed. After you are finished, take 2 hours to drive the South Rim Drive and explore the overlooks.
Stop at a picnic area or back at the visitor center for lunch.
Afternoon: Hike the Oak Flat Trail. This will take around 2 hours. For the rest of the afternoon, you can either go down to the East Portal area or spend more time on the rim. Consider attending a ranger program. Don’t forget to turn in your Junior Ranger books before the visitor center closes.
Itinerary for a Two-Day Camping Trip
For one of your days, follow the above itinerary to explore the south rim. Since you are camping, you will have time in the evening to enjoy a campfire and the night sky in this Dark Sky designated area.
Day Two Morning: Travel out of the park to neighboring areas. Visit Marrow Point Dam where you can see one of the three dams that hold back the Gunnison River and generate power. There is a picnic area and hiking trails here, as well. After your visit to Marrow Point, continue east along Hwy 50 to Blue Mesa. Take an hour or so to explore the area, using ideas from my post on things to do near Black Canyon.
Day Two Afternoon Option One: Visit the Blue Mesa dam on the west side of the lake. This dam is actually the bridge for the road you will take to the North Rim of the canyon. Continue driving along Highway 92, where you will see magnificent views of the canyon on your left. Eventually, you will move away from the canyon rim towards the town of Crawford. Follow the directions on the NPS website to get to the North Rim of the park. After you are done exploring, travel on to the tiny towns of Crawford or Hotchkiss for a great supper in a small-town restaurant.
Day Two Afternoon Option Two: Stay in the Curecante National Recreation Area where you can rent boats and explore the lake, go fishing, or find a good hike. (One recommendation is the Dillon Pinnacles hike). After you have finished exploring the Blue Mesa area, keep traveling east and visit Gunnison. This is a good place to get supper and maybe do a little shopping. If your kids are bored, Gunnison has a great playground right off the highway.
