Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Water meets dramatic rock spires that meet the sky. Few places in North America afford the caliber of these views in western Colorado. Eye-catching flora and fauna spot areas that overlook the San Juan Mountains, the West Elk Mountains and the Uncompahgre Valley.
A scenic drive high on the rims suits some. Others take off on foot, exploring above through thickets of piñon pine and juniper, or down below in unmaintained, unmarked gullies – quadrants not for the unprepared, the park warns. Painted Wall stands as Colorado’s highest cliff at 2,250 feet (that’s two Chrysler Buildings). The soaring rocks dare climbers while the Gunnison River rushing between them tests kayakers. The water falls an average 34 feet per mile, astonishing when considering that descent is 7.5 miles along the Colorado River. Anglers are treated by Gold Medal fishing.
Activities: Scenic drives, hiking, fishing, rock climbing, kayaking, camping
Wildlife: Elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer, mountain lion, bobcat, red fox, coyote among mammals; Bald eagle, peregrine falcon, white-throated swift, mountain bluebird, Stellar’s jay, canyon wren, great horned owl among birds; various lizards, snakes and frogs; brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout, long-nose, white and bluehead sucker among fish
Fun fact: Parts of the canyon get a little more than 30 minutes of sunlight a day.
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Address: 102 Elk Creek, Gunnison 81230 (mailing)
Contact: 970-641-2337
Hours: Roads close for the winter, typically in mid-November
Directions: South Rim is 7 miles north on Colorado 347 from U.S. 50 east of Montrose; North Rim is 11 miles southwest of Crawford, off Colorado 92
SETH BOSTER, THE GAZETTE