Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, 3 Days Exploring This Underrated Colorado National Park

Today we're taking you to South Western Colorado to spend three days exploring Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park!

Download our ⁠Itinerary to follow our same route in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park⁠

It is one of Colorado’s four National Parks and is Colorado’s least visited national park. It is in western Colorado, not far from the Utah Border. The Canyon is a deep, steep-walled gorge carved through Precambrian rock by the Gunnison River.

There are two main sections of the park, the more remote North Rim and the more popular South Rim, both have views of the canyon's dramatic drops and the striated Painted Wall cliff. There is another section called East Portal, which is a steep road that descends to the river. The park was named for its cliffs that are often darkened by shadows, making the walls appear black. The canyon itself is so vertical that the Gunnison River drops an average of 43 feet per mile, and 240 feet per mile at its steepest point at Chasm View, making some of the steepest mountain descents in North America.

Episode Highlights:

• Tips for visiting Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
• Best hikes and view points on the North Rim
• Best hikes and view points on the South Rim
• Driving down the East Portal
• Where to stay in Crawford (⁠The Hitching Post Hotel and Farm Store⁠ or ⁠The Stone House Inn⁠)
• Where to stay in Montrose (⁠The Rathbone Hotel ⁠or ⁠Fairfield by Marriott⁠)
• Items to pack: ⁠reusable utensils⁠, ⁠tripod⁠, and ⁠mini travel umbrella ⁠

When is the best time to visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park?

This national park is best seen from May- September. During the winter the north rim shuts down completely and the south rim is only open to the visitor center.

If you are going to visit this park, you'll also want to ⁠visit Mesa Verde National Park⁠. Listen to our episode for details before you go!

Find a great flight deal to Black Canyon, or anywhere else, by signing up for ⁠Thrifty Traveler Premium⁠ and get flight deals sent straight to your inbox. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription!

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