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Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Montrose, CO

Photo: Terry Foote, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

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Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Look down sheer dark walls to the Gunnison River from rim overlooks, then hike, climb or stargaze.

9800 Highway 347 · Montrose, CO

About Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

The Gunnison River cut this narrow, steep-walled canyon, and you see it from wooden-fenced overlooks along the South Rim and North Rim drives. The Painted Wall, at 2,250 feet, is the tallest sheer cliff in Colorado, and at its narrowest the canyon is only 40 feet wide at the river. No road or bridge connects the two rims. You can hike rim trails, watch for bighorn sheep, and stay after dark, since the park is an International Dark Sky Park.

  • #national park
  • #canyon
  • #scenic drive
  • #hiking
  • #stargazing

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What's around here?

The closest stops to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sports & Outdoors

    Crawford State Park

    Check prices

    A Western Slope state park with a 400-acre reservoir, camping, fishing, watersports, and hunting amid mountain scenery.

    10 mi awayMore like this

  • Shopping
    Outdoor Adventure

    Ed's Fly Shop

    No admission fee

    A downtown Montrose fly fishing shop with rods, flies and tying supplies, plus casting lessons and fly tying classes.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    11 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Sightseeing
    Outdoor Adventure

    Montrose

    No admission fee

    Western Colorado city serving as the main gateway to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    12 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sports & Outdoors
    Outdoor Adventure

    Montrose Anglers

    No admission fee

    A Montrose fly shop and guide service on Mayfly Drive offering float and wade trips on the Gunnison and Uncompahgre rivers.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    12 mi awayMore like this

  • Sports & Outdoors
    Outdoor Adventure

    Top Edge Rentals

    $50+

    Powersports rental outfitter renting UTVs, ATVs, boats, jet skis and snowmobiles for exploring the Montrose area.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    12 mi awayMore like this

  • Tours
    Local Gem

    RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Service

    $50+

    Full-service fly shop and guided fly fishing outfitter on Colorado's Western Slope rivers.

    28 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

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