Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Black Canyon of the Gunnison showcases some of North America's steepest and most dramatic canyon walls, where ancient Precambrian rock tells a two-billion-year geological story. The canyon's namesake darkness comes from shadows cast by narrow walls plunging 2,700 feet to the roaring Gunnison River below, creating an environment of perpetual twilight. This geological marvel formed through patient erosion as the Gunnison River carved through incredibly hard rock at a rate of just one inch per century. The result defies comprehension - sheer walls of black schist and pink pegmatite so close that in places you could almost touch both sides simultaneously. Peregrine falcons nest on precipitous ledges while golden eagles soar on canyon updrafts. For adventurous souls, the park offers world-class rock climbing and challenging wilderness routes to the inner canyon. Most visitors marvel from the rim, where the Painted Wall - Colorado's highest cliff face - rises 2,250 feet in banded grandeur. Dark skies make for exceptional stargazing, the Milky Way reflecting the river's ancient path through stone.

Water Features

Gunnison River, seasonal waterfalls

Ecosystem

This destination features a mixed ecosystem ecosystem.