Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Live Webcams

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Introduction

Nestled in the rugged wilderness of western Colorado, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park stands as a testament to the forces of nature. With its sheer cliffs, dramatic gorges, and breathtaking overlooks, this park offers a unique and awe-inspiring experience for visitors. The distance between the South Rim and the North Rim is a mere 1,100 feet at its narrowest point.  From the rim, the canyon walls plunge almost 2,000 feet straight down to the Gunnison River. Down by the river, the canyon narrows to a mere 40 feet. The park covers approximately 30,750 acres of wilderness, making it one of the smallest national parks in the US. In 2022, Black Canyon received approximately 300,000 visitors.  Surprisingly, it ranks as the least visited national park in Colorado and one of the least visited in the entire US. 

The canyon has been a formidable barrier to humans throughout history. Interestingly, even the Ute Indians, who have inhabited the area for centuries, left no evidence of occupation within the gorge itself.  In 1933, Black Canyon was proclaimed a national monument. However, it wasn't until 1999 that it achieved national park status. The North Rim Road, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, now graces the US Register of Historic Places.

Black Canyon is home to a diverse array of wildlife including Mule deer, Yellow-bellied marmots Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, elk, and coyotes.

For more information on the park, visit the Wikipedia site.

Hiking

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a spectacular destination for hiking enthusiasts. The park offers 15 trails that range from easy to strenuous and provide breathtaking views of the canyon and the Gunnison River.  For a full list of hikes go to the NPS Website.

Four of the popular trails are:

Rim Rock Nature Trail: A moderate 2 mile (3.2 km) round trip trail that offers excellent views of the canyon and the Gunnison River.

Oak Flat Loop Trail: A strenuous 2 mile (3.2 km) round trip trail that takes you below the rim of the canyon and offers variety to the hiker who would like to explore the canyon without taking on the challenge of hiking to the river.

Uplands Trail: An easy 1-mile (1.6 km) each way connector trail that links the Rim Rock Trail to the upper Oak Flat Loop Trail near the South Rim Visitor Center. This trail provides a chance to glimpse wildlife when they are most active.

Cedar Point Nature Trail: An easy 2/3-mile (1 km) round trip trail that offers guideposts describing the various plants along the way. At the end are two overlooks offering breathtaking views of the river over 2,000 feet (609 m) below.

The Gunnison Route is a inner-canyon hike on the South Rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. It is recommended for individuals in excellent physical condition who are attempting their first inner-canyon hike. Beware this is not for the faint of heart. The route is strenuous and involves descending (and later hiking back up) 1,800 feet (550 m) elevation in a short period of time (1.5 miles/2.4 km). Visitors are encouraged to come early during the busy summer months to get a wilderness permit. Trailhead begins at the South Rim Visitor Center.  Please note that the Gunnison Route is not a maintained or marked trail. Instead, it is an unmarked scramble to the river. Hikers are expected to find their own way and be prepared for self-rescue. Poison ivy is nearly impossible to avoid and can be found growing 5 feet tall along the river.

Please note that drinking water is not available in the park from late fall through mid-spring, so it's advisable to carry sufficient water while hiking. Also, hikers should be aware that limited cattle grazing is permitted on the North Rim, so please keep cattle gates closed should you encounter them. Finally, it's important to be bear aware as bears have made amazing efforts to obtain hikers' snacks. A bear that becomes habituated to humans and their food will ultimately need to be destroyed.

Fishing

Fishing in Black Canyon of the Gunnison can only be described as incredible.  Below are some of the highlights and regulations.  Here is a link to the NPS website with all the rules is below.

The Gunnison River within Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is designated as Gold Medal Water & Wild Trout Water by the state wildlife commission because it provides outstanding angling opportunities for large trout. Streams and rivers in Colorado are designated as Gold Medal Waters because they provide outstanding angling opportunities for large trout. Of the more than 9,000 miles (14,454 km) of trout streams in Colorado, only 168 miles (270) are designated as Gold Medal.

Fishing is permitted in the Gunnison River within Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and within Curecanti National Recreation Area at East Portal (between the closure at Crystal Dam and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park boundary).

Camping

There are two campgrounds in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National park, one on each rim.  Reservations are made in advance at recreation.gov are below.  For more information on the campground please go to the NPS Website.

South Rim Campground is located one mile from the South Rim Visitor Center in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. It has 88 campsites for tents, trailers, and RVs, and is open year-round. The campground offers electric hookups in loop B during summer. Sites are partially shaded by Gambel oak and serviceberry bushes. Reservations can be made on recreation.gov for mid-May to mid-October, and it is first-come, first-served after that. Each campsite has a table, fire ring, and grate. The campground is equipped with toilets.

North Rim Campground is located in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. It has 13 first-come, first-served campsites for vehicles up to 22-feet (6.7 m) long. The campground has vault toilets and seasonal drinking water. There are no showers or electric hookups on the North Rim. Each campsite has a table, fire ring, and grill. Food storage lockers are available year-round.

East Portal Campground is located in the Curecanti National Recreation area, next to the national park.  There are 15 sites, 10 of them are tent-only.  There is no cell reception but there are vault toilets.

Restaurants and Groceries There are no restaurants or grocery stores within Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The nearest restaurants and hotels are in Montrose, CO, or Gunnison, CO. Western National Parks Association sells some hiking snacks in the bookstore at the South Rim Visitor Center.