Hidden Gem
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Trip length
- 2–3 days
- Budget
- $200–$700
- per person · excl. airfare
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Hiking
Park entrance: $30 (Entrance - Private Vehicle) · source: NPS
Big enough to be overwhelming, yet still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time. Come see some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. Forces of nature and the Gunnison River sculpted this canyon over two million years. The result is a vertical wilderness of rock, water, and sky.
Highlights
- Sheer, narrow gorge
- Painted Wall cliff
- Dramatic rim overlooks
Photos
Photos via Wikimedia Commons under their respective licences.
Map
Trails (11)· Moderate–Expert
- View →Sidewinder TrailRepresentative4.4 mi0 ft gainModerate~1.5 h
- View →North Vista TrailRepresentative3.3 mi0 ft gainModerate~1.1 h
- View →Sunset Rocks TrailRepresentative3.3 mi0 ft gainModerate~1.1 h
- View →Red Rock Canyon RouteRepresentative2 mi0 ft gainModerate~0.7 h
- View →Elephant Ridge TrailRepresentative2.7 mi0 ft gainModerate~0.9 h
- View →West Lateral Ditch RoadRepresentative1.5 mi115 ft gainModerate~0.6 h
- View →Warner RouteRepresentative1.5 mi0 ft gainExpert~0.5 h
- View →Ute TrailRepresentative3.2 mi0 ft gainModerate~1.1 h
- View →Red Rocks-Nighthorse TrailRepresentative3 mi0 ft gainModerate~1 h
- View →Dead Horse TrailRepresentative2.2 mi0 ft gainModerate~0.7 h
- View →Dead Horse Loop TrailRepresentative1.4 mi0 ft gainModerate~0.5 h
Getting there
- MTJ Montrose Regional · 10 mi
- GJT Grand Junction Regional · 57 mi
- CNY Canyonlands Field (Moab) · 110 mi
Straight-line distances to nearby airports. Airfare and drive times are not included.
Permits & access
Reservation required
Wilderness permit for the steep, unmaintained inner-canyon routes — confirm current rules on the official site.
Official permit & conditions ↗Last verified 7/24/2026