Be sure to check out our Southern Colorado 10 day itinerary (coming soon). It includes all of the best things to do in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Southern Colorado!
*Last updated July 8, 2024
Best Things to Do in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Table of Contents
- How Long to Spend at Black Canyon of the Gunnison
- The Best Month to Visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
- Black Canyon’s South Rim vs North Rim
- Tomichi Point
- South Rim Visitor Center
- Gunnison Point
- Additional Overlooks
- Sunset View
- Warner Point
- Wildlife and Geology
- Nearby Areas
- Next Time
How Long to Spend at Black Canyon of the Gunnison
We were driving from Ouray to Colorado Springs, so we had only a few hours in the National Park. I would plan for 3 hours to stop at the South Rim Visitor Center and drive the South Rim Road to either Sunset View (farthest you can drive with an RV or trailer) or Warner Point. However, if you would like to hike some of the trails, I’d plan to spend a day there. If you want to visit the North Rim as well, plan for two days.
The Best Month to visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Summer is a great time to visit, so I’d recommend May through June when the weather is warmer and avoid snow. September would avoid the crowds and still have nice weather. However, we visited in June and the weather was great while we were there. Additionally, remember that the elevation of the canyon rim is around 8000 feet (2700 meters) above sea level. Be sure to bring water, stay safe and be aware of altitude sickness.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison became a national park in 1999 and was previously designated as a national monument beginning in 1933. The canyon itself is 48 miles long and has canyon walls dropping over 2700 feet (from the NPS site). That is not quite half the size of the Grand Canyon, but it is still an impressive sight.
Black Canyon’s South Rim vs North Rim
The South Rim is more easily accessible by car, so most visitors visit the South Rim only. On our trip we visited a lot of sights in Colorado, so we only had a limited few hours in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, but I thought it was definitely worth it to take the time driving over to the south rim.
I can not fully compare the north rim since we did not visit it. However, if you are interested in hiking remote trails with no one else in sight, then you will probably love the north rim! The north rim campground is on a dirt road, has 13 primitive sits and only has water during the summer. Be sure to check the North Rim NPS site for more information on hiking trails and camping.
Tomichi Point
Tomichi Point is the first overlook that you come to and it is just before you arrive at the visitors center, so it is a popular stop. I thought it was interesting to see the canyon from different viewpoints to compare the differences in geology.
South Rim Visitor Center
The South Rim Visitor Center is the main visitor center for Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Be sure to stop in to learn more about the canyon and its geology. Also, if you have kids, they offer the junior ranger program, which our kids always enjoy. Additionally, there is the Oak Flat Trail from the visitor center, which is a 1.6 mile loop with some elevation change. Connecting to Oak Flat is the the Uplands Trail, which is an easy 1 mile trail (one way). Uplands also connects to Rim Rock Trail, a more moderate trail that is also 1 mile (one way).
Gunnison Point
Gunnison Point is a wonderful overlook and it is a common stop since it is only a minute or two walk from the South Rim Visitor Center. There are overlooks into the canyon and river below, which make a great spot to get a family photo.
Additional Overlooks
Pulpit Rock, Rock Point, Devil’s Lookout, Chasm View, Painted Wall View, Cedar Point and Dragon Point are all overlooks that you will pass on the way from the South Rim Visitor Center to Sunset View and Warner Point.
We tried to stop at Pulpit Rock as there was a ranger program starting. Unfortunately, we were towing our camper and the car in front of us took one of the spaces in the last double spot so we had to keep going on. I definitely recommend taking the south rim road. However, stop at as many or few stops as you like depending on your time availability.
Sunset View
Sunset View is the second to last stop on the South Rim Road. Additionally, it is the final turnaround for longer vehicles like RVs and towing campers. Since we were towing, we turned around after getting out to enjoy the views. Although we weren’t there for sunset, it was still a great view with different overall geology than the earlier parts of the drive.
Warner Point
Warner Point and the Warner Point Nature Trail are the last stop on the South Rim Road drive. However, if you are in a RV or towing a travel trailer, the signs limit you from going here and have you turn around at Sunset View due so that there is room to turn around. Unfortunately, because we were towing a camper, we were not able to make it to Warner Point. However, I have read the the Warner Point Nature Trail is a nice hike. Warner Point Trail is a short 1.5 mile round trip trail. Be sure to visit this NPS link that includes an overview of the stops on the trail.
Wildlife and Geology
Nearby Areas
We stopped at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park on our drive from Ouray to Colorado Springs. It is a longer story, but route 50 was closed between Black Canyon and Colorado Springs, so we rerouted up I-70 through Denver. Since we were coming back Sunday evening, the traffic on 70 was insane, so we decided to stay in Silverthorne (near Dillon and Frisco).
Also, be sure to check out these other sights in the Rocky Mountain Region!
Next Time
Since we didn’t have a lot of time, I would definitely plan to do more hiking and visit the north rim next time! Have a great trip and good luck planning your vacation!