Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park was an unplanned stop during John and I’s Southern Colorado Road Trip. We booked a last minute stay in the town of Montrose, and once we discovered how close we were to the canyon, we knew that we had to make the drive over to check it out.

If you would like to read more from our entire week in the San Juan Mountains please check out our separate blog post HERE!

Before heading to the park, I did some research on trails down into the canyon. I found that the Tomichi Trail is the shortest way to the Gunnison River via the south rim. Since we were going after work, our time was limited, so the Tomichi Trail seemed like our best option.  Once we closed our work laptops, we hopped in the car and headed for the park! ​

​We arrived at Tomichi Point and were so pumped up by the visible parts of the canyon that we practically ran to the trail. The trail was very steep, but the views were unbelievable.

The first view we got of the canyon from Tomichi Point.

​It didn't take us long to discover that we needed a permit to hike all the way to the bottom. We were forced to turn back around, but our dog, Maria, was happy to get off the steep, rocky trail. Sadly, our goal to get to the Gunnison River would have to wait for another trip.

Starting the hike down Tomichi Trail.

Turning around on the trail since we needed permits.

Once we got back in the car, we chose to drive down the South Rim Road and pull off at every viewpoint we saw. If we weren't going to be able to walk to the bottom, we were determined to see it from every available angle!

The map from the Visitors Center.

​Our first stop was the visitor center to get some maps and information. Once we had an idea of how many stops there were along the South Rim Road, we headed west filled with excitement. ​

​We pulled off at Gunnison Point after leaving the visitor’s center, and this was the first time we could clearly see the river below! After reading all of the infographics and getting our first bits of knowledge about the park, we drove over to the next point Pulpit Rock Overlook.

The infographic at Gunnison Point.

The Cross Fissures section.

​After that quick hike, we came to what would end up being my favorite spot of our visit, The Cross Fissures. ​At the cross fissures, we could clearly see the way in which erosion has formed and carved the canyon. What erosion has revealed, though, is what makes the canyon so special.

The black rock is different metamorphic rocks formed in the Earth’s crust by volcanic activity. Over millions of years, it moved and shifted creating large cracks. Those cracks then filled in with magma before the magma cooled in place to form the pinkish lines that stripe the canyon walls. The incredible result was then revealed by the cutting and carving of the mighty Gunnison River. We stood over the edge gazing down at the layers of canyon wall visible at the cross fissure area until the wind nearly blew us over. 

Walking around the Cross Fissures section.

The next few stops were Rock Point, Devils Lookout, and Chasm View. Each stop has its own unique set of short and rocky trails surrounded by scruffy bushes and short, gnarly trees. Our dog, Maria, enjoyed trying to chase ground squirrels and other unseen critters through the brush, and Taylor and I enjoyed seeing the canyon from all different perspectives. Once we’d visited each of these points, we came to the most popular stop on the South Rim Road, The Painted Wall.

The Painted Wall.

The Painted Wall is the grandest display of the park’s geologic features, and is one of the steepest and tallest ledges in Colorado. It was beautiful and baffling. We stood there and questioned the things we had learned at the Cross Fissures while reading the Painted Wall’s infographics.

The Painted Wall was our last stop for the day, and as we were gazing at the natural wonder, I remembered that the visitors center was offering a guided geology hiking tour the next day, so I decided I had to come back to learn more! ​

​The next afternoon, I entered the park the same way as the day before with just as much excitement! The guided geology tour started at the visitors center and walked along the Rim Rock Trail.

Starting our guided geology tour.

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​It was the most educational and fun hour I had spent with a group inside a national park. Not only was our guide really entertaining, he was super knowledgeable. I only asked one question that stumped him, and it was about the flowers not the rocks!

He spent the hour explaining to us how the canyon was formed, pointing out all the different types of rocks, and describing how the canyon might look millions of years from now. I had never taken one of the National Parks’ offered ranger experiences, but after how much I learned from this one, I will always try to make time for one when I’m inside a park from now on.

When the tour ended and we were back at the visitors center, I was sad to be leaving. I still had so many questions and there was so much more to see, but I had to leave and meet back up with John who had to work instead of joining me on the tour. All I could think about while I was leaving was how this is truly a place I cannot wait to come back and explore more.

If you want to see more from inside the National Park please watch my video below!

​Similar Links:
 San Juan Mountains Road Trip - Mount Sneffels and Uncompahgre Wilderness
Mesa Verde National Park - Durango, Colorado
Road Trip From Colorado Springs to Rocky Mountain National Park