Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO Travel Guide
Your guide to exploring Bozeman like a local.
Timeless beauty, rich history, and wide-open adventure.
FOUNDED
1883
BEST TIME TO VISIT
May – Oct
TIME ZONE
MST
WALK SCORE
78
Overview
Things to Do
Itineraries
Free Things
Where to Stay
FAQs
OVERVIEW
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO Travel Guide
Planning black canyon of the gunnison national park activities for your Colorado trip?
South Rim Drive packs eleven overlooks, a two-million-year-old canyon, and some of the most dramatic cliff views in the country into a single, easy-to-drive route—no permits or advance planning required beyond the park entrance fee.
PLAN YOUR VISIT:
1. Advance tickets—Not required. There's no timed entry; just pay the entrance fee at the station.
2. Where to park—Free pull-off parking is available at every overlook along South Rim Drive.
3. What to bring—A full tank of gas (no gas stations inside the park), water, and a jacket even in summer—the rim sits over eight thousand feet.
4. Pro tip—Visit the South Rim Visitor Center early for restrooms and trail maps before the midday crowds arrive.
5. Road safety—South Rim Road is narrow with unfenced overlooks and no guardrails at most pull-offs. Drive the posted speed limit, and check current conditions in winter, when sections of the road close.
THINGS TO DO
TOP THINGS TO DO:
1. Take the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Driving Tour—Hear the full story of the canyon's founding, its Ute history, and the men who mapped it, self-guided at your own pace.
2. Walk the Oak Flat Loop Trail—A moderate-to-strenuous 1.5 to 2 mile loop that actually drops below the rim.
3. Hike to Warner Point—An 0.8 mile trail one way to the canyon's deepest point, over twenty-seven hundred feet down.
4. Photograph Painted Wall—The tallest cliff in the canyon at roughly 2,250 feet, streaked with 1.4-billion-year-old pegmatite.
5. Visit the South Rim Visitor Center—Exhibits, trail maps, and rangers who can answer questions about current conditions.
6. Explore nearby Curecanti National Recreation Area—Free to enter, and administratively linked to Black Canyon.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Morning: Take the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Driving Tour, starting at the park entrance sign.
Afternoon: Hike the Oak Flat Loop or walk out to Warner Point, then grab lunch in Montrose.
Evening: Return for Sunset View near golden hour, then dinner at Ted Nelson's Steakhouse or Colorado Boy.
2-DAY ITINERARY:
Add a second day for Curecanti National Recreation Area, or the drive to nearby Ouray and its hot springs.
Food
Camp Robber
A longtime local favorite in Montrose known for hearty Southwestern-style breakfasts and lunches.
Ted Nelson's Steakhouse
A Montrose steakhouse serving sirloin, prime rib, and baby back ribs in a casual dinner setting.
Colorado Boy Pizzeria & Brewery
A downtown Montrose brewpub known for wood-fired pizza and house-brewed ales.
Free Things To Do
1. Every overlook on South Rim Drive is included in your one-time park entrance fee—no separate admission anywhere on the route.
2. Curecanti National Recreation Area, just upstream, has no entrance fee.
STOPS WITH ADMISSION FEES:
3. None beyond the park's $30 per-vehicle entrance fee, which covers every overlook and trail on South Rim Drive for seven days.
Where To Stay?
