September 9, 2009
We’ve gone past the Black Canyon of the Gunnison several times. The first time we really stopped, though, was after it became Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, having originally been established as a national monument. This time we visited most of the easily accessible parts of the park.
From Wikipedia:
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a United States National Park located in western Colorado, and managed by the National Park Service. There are two entrances to the park; the more-developed south rim entrance is located 15 miles (24 km) east of Montrose, while the north rim entrance is located 11 miles (18 km) south of Crawford and is closed in the winter. The park contains 12 miles (19 km) of the 48-mile (77 km) long canyon of the Gunnison river. The national park itself contains the deepest and most dramatic section of the canyon, but the canyon continues upstream into the Curecanti National Recreation Area and downstream into the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area.
Photos:
(click on any of the following photos to view a larger image.)
Black Canyon visitor center
The area was established as a U.S. National Monument on March 2, 1933 and made into a National Park on October 21, 1999.
Gunnison River
In the canyon
Kayakers run the river at their own risk. The Gunnison River through the National Park has claimed the lives of even the most experienced, respected kayakers. The river’s hydraulics can make self-rescue or rescue by others impossible.
Most visitors view the canyon from the south, where there are numerous overlooks, as well as a campground and trails.
a canyon overlook
Over the black canyon
The rapids within the national park are considered Class V and some sections are unrunnable. This is a very technical paddle and includes numerous long, difficult and dangerous portages. Poison ivy is nearly impossible to avoid, and can be found growing 5 feet tall along the river.
Eastern Portal - road into canyon
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{ 6 comments }
Nice photos. You don’t have Poison ivy do you?
.-= Rose DesRochers´s last blog ..Dressing as a woman for halloween =-.
“This is a very technical paddle and includes numerous long, difficult and dangerous portages. Poison ivy is nearly impossible to avoid, and can be found growing 5 feet tall along the river” I’m glad Mother Nature still has her ways of keeping humans from spoiling everything.
I never even knew the Black Canyon of the Gunnison existed until I drove through there a few years back.
In Ontario, you can spend 2 days driving through nothing but forest and lakes.
But in Colorado’s (relatively) small area, you have the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, huge canyons (like the one here), and the Red-Rock Desert and empty areas like the Four Corners.
What an amazing State. If I ever moved to the U.S., it would be among my top choices. Even if just for the skiing alone.
Rose – Thanks. No, if I wanted that I wouldn’t have to go to Colorado. We’ve got plenty in our woods.
Dot – This could have easily been spoiled if it hadn’t been turned into a national monument in the 1930s. Just imagine a lake here.
Friar – We enjoy visiting Colorado. Even with our short travel days, we can be there in 2 days drive — 3 days drive to any point we want to visit.
Hi Mike – That looks awesome. It seems that the Grand Canyon isn’t the only interesting place to see in the US. And thanks for the warning on the kayaking there. We hope to do kayaking and white water rafting when we come to the US but I will definitely be checking out the safety in some of these places first.
.-= Cath Lawson´s last blog ..Be Smart Like An Animal =-.
Cath – sorry for taking so long to reply. We’re not into anything related to water sports. As understand it, though, Black Canyon can be very, very difficult.
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