Big enough to be overwhelming, still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time, Black Canyon of the Gunnison exposes you to some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. With two million years to work, the Gunnison River, along with the forces of weathering, has sculpted this vertical wilderness of rock, water, and sky.
Community Trips
Gunnison Point Overlook is located directly behind the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park visitor center.You can see the overlook from the visitor center.Along the short walk, mica flakes in the rocks sparkle in the sunlight.Pegmatite DikesOver a billion years ago, molten rock was squeezed into fissures forming the light-colored bands which thread Black Canyon's otherwise dark walls. You are standing on one of these bands. As the hot fluid slowly...
The Warner Point Trail trailhead is located at High Point (38°33'44.91"N, 107°44'31.21"W), which has restrooms and picnic tables. The hike is 1373 yards (0.78 miles).This self-guided trail is a moderate 1.4-mile round-trip walk through a pleasant pinyon pine/juniper forest. It follows the ridge and has several short, steep up-and-down sections. Benches along the way offer welcome rest, especially if you are not accustomed to teh altitude. Your efforts will be rewarded by...
A quick hike on the Oak Flats Trail at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park near Montrose, CO.
The Oak Flat Loop trail is a 2-mile loop along the rim of the Black Canyon. When we went in April, much of the trail was covered in snow. The trail was pretty and had a good view of the canyon, but it wasn't as amazing as some of the other trails we've been on.
The Great UnconformityEach layer of rock marks a span of geologic time. But often the layers representing certain spans of time are absent. Either nothing was being deposited at a given time or deposits were later eroded away and left no record of their presence. As a result, young rock may rest directly on very ancient rock. This area of contact between younger rocks and older rocks marks a gap in the...
The Painted Wall Overlook in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a short, 200-yard stroll from the parking area. At 2,250 feet tall, the Painted Wall is the tallest cliff in Colorado. Signs at the lookout explain the white pegmatite intrusions and several of the bird species in the park.
Drive along the rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, with a small side hike thrown in.
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