Gallery: South Rim – September 9, 2009, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado
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Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Gallery: South Rim – September 9, 2009, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado
See more of our Image Galleries at Haw Creek.
Gallery: South Rim – Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado, September 9, 2009
(click on image for larger version)
Gunnison Point is located just below the park visitor center. This was our second time to visit the park.
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.The Gunnison River drops an average of 43 feet per mile (8 m/km) through the entire canyon, making it one of the steepest mountain descents in North America. In comparison, the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon drops an average of 7.5 feet per mile (1.4 m/km). The greatest descent of the Gunnison River occurs in the park at Chasm View dropping 240 feet per mile (45 m/km). The Black Canyon is so named on account of its steepness which makes it difficult for sunlight to penetrate very far down the canyon. As a result, the canyon walls are most often in shadow, causing the rocky walls to appear black. At its narrowest point the canyon is only 40 feet (12 m) across at the river.
The extreme steepness and depth of the Black Canyon formed as the result of several geologic processes acting together. The Gunnison River is primarily responsible for carving the canyon, though several other geologic events had to occur in order to form the canyon as it is seen today. (Wikipedia)
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Gallery: North Rim – September 11, 2009, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado
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The Island Peaks are towers of rock that have been separated by erosion from the canyon wall.
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.
The Gunnison River drops an average of 43 feet per mile (8 m/km) through the entire canyon, making it one of the steepest mountain descents in North America. In comparison, the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon drops an average of 7.5 feet per mile (1.4 m/km). The greatest descent of the Gunnison River occurs in the park at Chasm View dropping 240 feet per mile (45 m/km). The Black Canyon is so named on account of its steepness which makes it difficult for sunlight to penetrate very far down the canyon. As a result, the canyon walls are most often in shadow, causing the rocky walls to appear black. At its narrowest point the canyon is only 40 feet (12 m) across at the river.
The extreme steepness and depth of the Black Canyon formed as the result of several geologic processes acting together. The Gunnison River is primarily responsible for carving the canyon, though several other geologic events had to occur in order to form the canyon as it is seen today. (Wikipedia)
See more of our Image Galleries at Haw Creek.
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Ouray, Colorado — September 11, 2009
We decided to get away from the almost daily mountain showers and take a day trip to the less visited northern rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, one of the newest of our national parks.
(click on any of the following photos to view a larger image.)
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is very deep and narrow.
The fast flowing Gunnison River loses more elevation in 48 miles than the 1500 mile Mississippi River does from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.
For a sense of the scale of this canyon, the arrow in the image above is pointing to the national park visitor center across the canyon on the south rim. The inset image is a blow-up of the building from the original of this image.
Needle Rock from across Crawford Reservoir on the way to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Just as on the south rim, there are a number of overlooks, as well as a campground, though the campground on the north side of the park is significantly more primitive.
The sky over the canyon was awesome.
It was a 227 mile day trip, much of it over twisting and turning mountain roads. While the road inside the park is a good paved road, the county Black Canyon road between the state highway and the park is graded and graveled.
After a long day of driving and sightseeing, we stopped for pizza in Montrose.
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Commentary and images from the road
image and information from September 11, 2009
This post is being simultaneously published
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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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Commentary and images from the road
image and information from September 9, 2009
This post is being simultaneously published
on Exit78 and Haw Creek Out ‘n About
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