Park Services
Lodging is not available in the park, but a large variety is available in nearby Montrose. See our
Black Canyon of the Gunnison Lodging Page for all the details
There are two campgrounds, one on each rim. See our
Black Canyon of the Gunnison Camping Page for details.
There is no food of any sort available in the park. It is available in nearby Montrose.
Gasoline is not available in the park, but it is available in nearby Montrose.
There is a small book and gift store inside the South Rim Visitor Center.
There is no public transportation of any sort offered by the park. A private vehicle is necessary to get around the park roads.
The park has one visitor center, located on the south rim at Gunnison Point. It is 1.5 miles from the entrance sign. The current hours are 8:00AM to 6:00PM (late spring through early fall) and 8:30AM to 4:00PM (rest of year). It is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Years Day.
Visitation Seasons
The spring is a time of transition in the park. It starts off cold and snowy, with snows melting and temperatures rising throughout the spring. The
South Rim Drive opens in early spring, while the North Rim Drive is usually closed until at least May.
The summer is the main visitation season in the park. Temperatures are usually pleasantly warm, but not hot. It is the most crowded time, but this park is never overly crowded. All roads and trails are open.
The fall is still a good time to visit, through October. The North Rim usually closes by November, when the real snows can begin to arrive.
The winter sees most of the park's roads and trails closed, although snowshoe walking is offered. Things can get very cold in the park in the winter.
Visitation Time
A drive up and down the
South Rim Drive with a stop at major overlooks can be done in about two hours. However, at least one full day should be allowed for walks to some of the overlooks off the roadside. A second day is probably necessary to visit the North Rim, an 80 mile drive of almost two hours from the South Rim.
Park Q & A
How deep is the canyon? How long?
At the visitor center at Gunnison Point it is 1,840 feet deep. The deepest point is at Chasm View at 2,722 feet. It is 53 miles long, 14 miles of which are protected by the park.
Why is it called the Black Canyon?
The rock of the canyon walls is predominantly dark colored, but not black. The canyon is so narrow that sun cannot penetrate its depths for much of the day, making the walls and the canyon itself appear black most of the time.
