Of the 4 parks in Colorado, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is the least visited and essentially the most distant. Named for the minimal daylight the canyon receives through the shorter months of the 12 months, it’s a sight to behold when the solar graces its mountains and the shores of the Gunnison River.
Why Visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in an RV?
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park beckons to RVers and campers. The 300,000-plus acre park is small in comparison with others however makes up for it in grandeur and intimacy. You received’t be overwhelmed by crowds, and the possibilities of discovering a spot to park your RV or camper on the campsites is increased, making it simpler to tug off a last-minute journey in the summertime with out a lot planning.
Black Canyon also can simply work right into a multi-day itinerary that features all 4 Colorado parks, looping in Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde, and Great Sand Dunes.
Beware that RVs as much as 35 ft can entry the South Rim Campground, however there are restrictions on the opposite park roads that solely enable entry to autos as much as 22 ft.
When to Visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison is open 24/7, three hundred and sixty five days a 12 months, however the North Rim Road is closed within the winter, beginning round mid-November. The South Rim Road is open year-round, however sections are closed to motor autos within the winter. Peak season usually runs from April to September, however it hardly ever will get busy sufficient that you would be able to’t discover a place to park.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park within the Spring
Spring is a superb time for climbing at Black Canyon. The towering partitions provide nice climbing alternatives, and being contained in the canyon means much less publicity to the beating western Colorado solar.
This can also be an incredible season for chicken watchers to identify peregrine falcons nesting and feeding their chicks. You can stand at an simply accessible overlook and watch the quickest chicken on the planet zip round, catch prey, and make raucous calls.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park within the Summer
In the summer time, Black Canyon may be very scorching. Bring sufficient water to your get together, as there aren’t many alternatives to refill. The Gunnison River working by way of the canyon makes for nice rafting experiences and an opportunity to chill off.
Getting right down to the water is a hike, and the river can slender to as small as 40 ft throughout in some spots. Summer is one of the best time to move down into the canyon, however due to how slender the canyon is, some spots obtain as little as 33 minutes of daylight through the day.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison Park within the Fall
In the autumn, the colours change, and the temperatures drop. The first snowfall is normally round mid-November, so that you get a protracted, temperate autumn on the Black Canyon. The summer time crowds are gone, and you’ll benefit from the park. If you thought it wasn’t crowded through the summer time, it’s virtually downright desolate within the fall.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison Park within the Winter
The North Rim Road closes within the winter. The south rim is barely open to autos as much as a sure half. However, when you park, you could have six miles (one-way) of snowshoeing or cross-country snowboarding entry alongside South Rim Road.
Where to Stay
There are two essential developed campgrounds conveniently positioned on both rim to offer basecamps for exploring your most popular park sections.
The South Rim Campground is open all 12 months, however Loops A and C shut through the winter. Loop B gives 20 and 30-amp electrical hookups. The campground gives potable water and pit bogs in the summertime, however no water is offered within the winter. Generator use is prohibited on this campground.
The North Rim Campground is small and seasonal, with solely 13 first-come, first-served websites, and no electrical hookups or dump stations. Pit bogs and potable water can be found in the summertime solely. You can carry a generator; the utmost RV size is 22 ft.
A 3rd possibility, the East Portal Campground, lies on the backside of the excessive canyon partitions. The street in solely permits RVs below 22 ft in size. There are 15 whole websites, 10 of which solely enable tent tenting. The campground shuts down within the winter when East Portal Road closes.
Hikers and kayakers are additionally permitted to camp in a single day within the Inner Canyon Wilderness Area. You should hearken to a Ranger Orientation and acquire a Wilderness Use Permit to take action, which is free however limits the variety of guests within the space every day.
Staying Outside the Park
If you’ll be able to’t discover a place to remain within the park, take a look at these close by choices.
- Cedar Creek RV Park: Located in Montrose, CO, lower than 20 minutes from the park.
- Uncompahgre River Adult RV Park: Located in Olathe, CO, about 35 minutes from the park.
- Silver Summit RV Park: Located in Silverton, CO, about 1.75 hours from the park.
- Palisade BaseCamp RV Resort: Located in Palisade, CO, about 1.5 hours from the park.
- Riverbend RV Park and Cabins: Located in Montrose, CO, lower than half-hour from the park.
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Tips to your Camping Stay
Whether staying in a park campground or close by, use the following pointers to enhance your go to.
- Reservations for South Rim Campground could be made by visiting Recreation.gov.
- There aren’t any customer facilities to seize facilities, so be sure your RV fridge is stocked with snacks and drinks.
- The most RV size within the park’s campgrounds is 35 ft.
- Dogs should stay inside RVs from June 1st to August tenth to guard the park’s deer inhabitants (and your canines from mom deer nursing fawns).
- Black bears are identified to go to campgrounds looking for meals. Utilize the bear-proof meals storage lockers or retailer meals in a locked automobile with the home windows up (if lockers are unavailable).
- Avoid leaving scented hygiene merchandise in your tenting tent or pop-up camper in a single day.
- Clean your camp desk instantly after consuming, and by no means go away meals unattended.
How to Get Around Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Montrose, CO, is the final city cease earlier than accessing the South Rim. From Montrose, take US Highway 50 east earlier than turning onto CO 347 north and following indicators into the park. Accessing the North Rim is a little more difficult, so we suggest heading to the South Rim customer middle first for detailed instructions and security suggestions from park rangers.
The two essential thoroughfares contained in the park are the South Rim and North Rim Roads. The South Rim Road is properly maintained and paved, however the North Rim Road is gravel and rougher. Only RVs 22 ft or shorter are allowed on these roads. The pace restrict is gradual, so going from the North Rim to the South Rim takes a number of hours.
If you intend on rafting within the river, you’ll be able to entry the water by way of the East Portal Road, which can also be restricted to autos 22 ft or shorter. It’s a meandering scenic drive with a steep descent and hairpin turns that carry you to the water’s edge.
Places to Go
If coming into the park by way of the South Rim Road, cease on the ranger station for fast historical past and a few nice, brief walks to superb overlooks. From there, take a look at these essential park points of interest throughout your go to.
The North and South Rims
Like Grand Canyon National Park, the South Rim is the extra visited facet of the park, whereas the North Rim gives a quieter, primitive park expertise. If it’s your first go to, begin on the South Rim Visitor Center, which gives a bookstore and loads of accessible RV parking.
The North Rim is roughly 11 miles southwest of Crawford, CO, and there’s a ranger station open intermittently all through the summer time. The closing seven miles of the park entry street and the complete North Rim Road are unpaved gravel however accessible to most autos in the summertime.
Painted Wall
The tallest vertical wall in Colorado and the third-tallest within the decrease 48 states at 2,250 ft excessive, Painted Wall is among the park’s hottest climbing areas. Luckily, you don’t need to don a harness and climbing footwear to get pleasure from its splendor. You can entry this chasm view by way of South Rim Road.
East Portal
You can get to the East Portal from the South Rim, though it technically sits contained in the neighboring Curecanti National Recreation Area. Named for a city that after developed on the backside of the canyon, it’s an attention-grabbing web site to review park historical past and revel in water-based recreation.
Things To Do in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
There’s lots to do in Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Just know that some actions require extra technical gear than others, and also you’ll need to carry your personal when visiting this distant park.
Hiking
Most of the simpler mountaineering trails within the park are alongside the North and South Rims. For skilled hikers and backpackers, there are routes to discover the inside canyon. Here are a number of to take a look at throughout your go to:
- Rim Rock Nature Trail: A reasonably flat 2-mile path with glorious views right down to the Gunnison River.
- The Gunnison Route: The really helpful route on the South Rim if it’s your first time exploring the inside canyon. It’s a difficult hike with a 1,800-foot elevation drop.
- Uplands Trail: An straightforward one-mile stroll with wildlife watching and views of the West Elk Mountains.
- Warner Point Nature Trail: A average, 1.5-mile spherical journey by way of a forest of mountain mahogany, juniper, serviceberry, and pinyon pine. Pick up your path map on the High Point Overlook.
Climbing
For professional rock climbers, Black Canyon is a paradise – and never solely as a result of it’s house to one of many tallest vertical partitions in North America. Most climbers flock to the North and South Chasm Walls, however there are many locations for mountain climbing in less-frequented components of the park.
Fishing
If you make it right down to East Portal, carry your fishing gear. The part of the Gunnison River that runs by way of the park is designated as Gold Medal Water & Wild Trout Water, that means it’s a wonderful place to catch massive trout – with a fishing license, in fact.
Astronomy Festivals
The park hosts an annual astronomy competition within the fall so that you can expertise why defending this Dark Sky Sanctuary is so vital. Events happen through the day and evening, with rangers, volunteers, and members of the Black Canyon Astronomical Society (BCAS) there to reply all of your astronomical questions.
Winter Activities
The hottest winter actions within the park are snowshoeing and cross-country snowboarding. The South Rim Ski and Snowshoe Trail is one of the best place for rookies to get used to snowshoes. Rangers groom South Rim Drive past Gunnison Point for cross-country snowboarding. Snowshoes and skis aren’t out there within the park, be could be bought or rented in close by Montrose.
What to Bring and How to Prepare
There are only a few facilities out there within the park. Carry no matter you want for so long as you intend on staying.
Put this stuff in your packing record for Black Canyon:
Brief History of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison is among the newer prices for the National Park Service. After acquiring its standing in 1999, it preserves the narrowest and deepest part of the Gunnison Gorge.
The Black Canyon bought its identify from how little daylight penetrates between the edges, however in 2015, it earned designation as a Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association. Bring your digicam for hanging photographs of constellations and the milky approach as soon as the solar goes down.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed the North Rim Road within the Thirties, which is now listed on the US Register of Historic Places. If you want canyons, however don’t need to take care of the summer time crowds of the Grand Canyon, then Black Canyon of the Gunnison ought to be in your record!
Plan your subsequent journey to the nationwide parks in an RV. Rent an RV, trade-in your RV, or purchase a brand new or used RV and begin touring for lower than $5 a day.
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Laryssa Rote is an outside content material author at the moment dwelling in Montana. With a particular curiosity in connecting individuals with the outside, her focus lays in inclusivity in out of doors recreation, in addition to ensuring everybody is aware of one of the best methods to get low-cost, good gear. Her motto: “The more people who experience nature, the more people who love nature, the more people who want to protect nature.” On her days off, yow will discover her biking, mountaineering, shot gunning Lord of the Rings, or rising potatoes.