Peaks
Grizzly Ridge
2,631 m
Park geography
Structured map data including boundary dimensions, terrain features, and regional coordinates.
Geographic Profile of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Montrose County
This geographic profile provides an analysis of the terrain and spatial metrics for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Discover documented boundary dimensions, regional placement within Montrose County, and a record of natural features such as the Painted Wall, Grizzly Ridge, and various designated canyon overlooks.
Related tags
Canyon LandscapeRock ClimbingTrout FishingGeological WonderWilderness Area
A deep, shadow-filled canyon carved by the Gunnison River through ancient Precambrian rock
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park protects a dramatic section of the Gunnison River gorge in western Colorado. The canyon earns its name from the way its extreme steepness and depth prevent sunlight from penetrating more than 33 minutes per day in some places, leaving the walls perpetually shrouded in shadow and appearing black. The park encompasses 12 miles of the Gunnison River as it drops through metamorphic rock that formed 1.7 billion years ago, creating one of the steepest river descents in North America. Established as a national monument in 1933 and redesignated as a national park in 1999, the area preserves both a wilderness landscape of national significance and a rich human history spanning Ute knowledge, 19th-century railroad engineering, and early 20th-century tunnel construction.
- Location
- United States of America
- Park type
- National park
- Established
- 1999
- Area
- 124.4 km²
- Highest point
- 690 m
Location overview
Regional placement in Montrose County, Colorado, United States
Geographic Location of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is located within Montrose County, Colorado, in the United States of America. Protected status is maintained entirely inland under a single, non-transboundary national jurisdiction.
- Countries
- United States of America
- Regions
- Colorado, Montrose County
- Primary location
- Montrose County
- Geographic setting
- Inland
Boundary and coordinates
Spatial dimensions and coordinate limits covering 124.4 square kilometers
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Boundary Map and Geographic Limits
Detailed geographic outlines trace the spatial layout of the park to provide essential context on its physical positioning. Accompanying dataset records highlight approximate area measurements, center coordinates, and spatial spans.
- Boundary area
- 126.9 km²
- Boundary perimeter
- 86 km
- Northernmost point
- 38.6412° N
- Southernmost point
- 38.503° N
- Easternmost point
- 107.6184° W
- Westernmost point
- 107.8295° W
- Geographic centre
- 38.5778° N, 107.7243° W
- North–south span
- 15.3 km
- East–west span
- 18.4 km
Elevation and terrain
Mountain relief classifications and recorded natural features
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Terrain and Elevation Geography
Recorded elevation data establishes the mountain terrain profile and highest points across the protected area. Linked feature cards supply official names, types, and spatial relationships for identified local landmarks.
- Highest point
- 690 m
Selected named natural features
Viewpoints
Gunnison Point
2,433 m
Peaks
Point 7787
2,373.6 m
Viewpoints
Island Peaks View
2,421 m
Viewpoints
Kneeling Camel View
2,444 m
Viewpoints
Chasm View
2,369 m
Environmental setting
Temperate mountain relief, canyon networks, and riverine forest zones
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Environmental Classifications
Recorded landscape features, habitat types, and relief attributes serve as complementary ways to interpret the physical setting of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Stored classifications link directly to connected atlas destinations across major water systems and coniferous zones.
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Temperate
- Water
- Major water bodies
- Forest cover
- Partial forest
- Seasonality
- Year-round
Landscape features
Mountains · Cliffs · Canyon · Rivers
Habitat types
Temperate coniferous forest · Riverine habitat
Park atlas
Trace the regional park geography and discover protected landscapes adjacent to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Explore Other National Parks Near Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Surrounding Colorado Landscapes
After exploring Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, continue your geographic discovery by browsing a curated selection of other national parks and protected areas in the surrounding Colorado region. Compare diverse landscapes, trace regional park networks, and understand the broader conservation context of the western United States through detailed atlas views.
Protected areaColorado
About 27 km away#1 closest
East
Curecanti National Recreation Area: Mapped Geography and Protected Landscapes of Western Colorado
River-based recreation and volcanic canyon terrain
Curecanti National Recreation Area stretches across Gunnison and Montrose counties, serving as a primary water-based protected landscape in Colorado. The area preserves the geologic transitions from the broad expanse of Blue Mesa Reservoir to the granite-walled canyons of Morrow Point and Crystal, offering a deep look into the regional geography and historical infrastructure of the Gunnison basin.
- Area
- 174.4 km²
- Established
- 1965
- Visitors
- 807.1K annual
- Relief
- Mountain
Protected landscapeColorado
35 km away#2 closest
North
Grand Mesa National Forest: A Comprehensive Atlas of Colorado High-Plateau Geography
Mapping the basalt-capped flat-top mountain terrain
Grand Mesa National Forest stands as a primary protected landscape within the Colorado Rockies, characterized by its signature basalt-capped plateau. This forest unit serves as a vital geographic landmark, offering unique insights into high-altitude mountain terrain, subalpine water systems, and historical forest conservation. Learn about the boundaries and physical landscape features that define this massive elevated tableland above the surrounding dry valleys.
- Area
- 1,402.46 km²
- Established
- 1892
- Relief
- Highland
- Climate
- Alpine
Protected landscapeColorado
About 39 km away#3 closest
East
Gunnison National Forest: Atlas and Geographic Overview of a Colorado Protected Landscape
Mapping deep wilderness areas and high mountain watersheds
Spanning over one million acres in western Colorado, this protected landscape features dramatic glaciated valleys, subalpine meadows, and iconic volcanic features. The forest anchors the Gunnison River headwaters and offers significant insights into the ecological structure of the Southern Rocky Mountains and its dense concentration of wilderness zones.
- Area
- 6,766.89 km²
- Established
- 1905
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Alpine
Wildlife reserveColorado
39 km away#4 closest
West
Dominguez Canyon Wilderness: Protected Sandstone Canyons of the Uncompahgre Plateau
An expansive BLM wilderness area in western Colorado.
Dominguez Canyon Wilderness protects a diverse landscape of sandstone cliffs, benches, and deep drainage systems that descend from the Uncompahgre Plateau. The geography spans high-desert mesa tops and lush riparian canyons, offering a significant protected area within the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area framework.
- Area
- 268.2 km²
- Established
- 2009
- IUCN
- Ib
- Relief
- Upland
Protected areaColorado
48 km away#5 closest
Northeast
Raggeds Wilderness: Geographic Profile and Protected Area Mapping for the Elk Mountains
High altitude wilderness terrain in west-central Colorado
Raggeds Wilderness encompasses over 65,000 acres of protected high-country terrain in the Elk Mountains. This atlas record provides a detailed look at the park, covering its dramatic vertical transitions from deep forest drainages to jagged peaks and its function as a major node in the regional wilderness network.
- Area
- 264.64 km²
- Established
- 1980
- IUCN
- Ib
- Relief
- Mountain
Wildlife reserveColorado
49 km away#6 closest
Southeast
Powderhorn Wilderness: A High-Elevation Protected Landscape in the San Juan Mountains
Basaltic plateaus and vast alpine tundra in Colorado
Powderhorn Wilderness protects a distinct highland environment in southwestern Colorado. Characterized by dark basaltic caprocks and deep glacial cirques, this area serves as a critical headwaters system for the Gunnison River, supporting a complex transition from sagebrush steppe to subalpine forest and wind-swept tundra. The geography remains largely defined by its volcanic heritage and the primitive character of its remote plateau summits.
- Area
- 251.1 km²
- Established
- 1993
- IUCN
- Ib
- Relief
- Mountain
Protected areaColorado
54 km away#7 closest
South
Mount Sneffels Wilderness: Mapping the High Alpine Terrain of the San Juan Mountains
Protected mountain geography in southwestern Colorado
Mount Sneffels Wilderness protects a dramatic cluster of peaks in the San Juan range, characterized by glacial cirques, expansive talus fields, and sharp ridgelines. As a vital component of the Colorado backcountry, this area provides a window into high-altitude ecological transition zones, from dense conifer forests to exposed granite summits that define the character of the Uncompahgre National Forest.
- Area
- 67.04 km²
- Established
- 1980
- IUCN
- Ib
- Relief
- Mountain
Protected landscapeColorado
About 59 km away#8 closest
South
Uncompahgre National Forest: Protected Landscapes and Geographic Features in Colorado
Mapping the arid plateau and high-country San Juan wilderness zones.
Uncompahgre National Forest represents a vast protected area in the American West, spanning iconic landscapes from the dry, pinyon-juniper covered Uncompahgre Plateau to the dramatic, jagged ridges of the northern San Juan Mountains. This atlas entry provides essential context on its alpine wilderness designations, high-country topography, and the unique geological transitions that define its status as a critical Colorado resource for regional landscape analysis.
- Area
- 3,865.68 km²
- Established
- 1905
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Alpine
MoriAtlas Explorer
Continue Exploring Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park's Mapped Landscape and Geography
Deepen your understanding of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park by examining its precise geographic attributes and protected land status. This national park offers a unique study in regional geography and mapped terrain, allowing for structured discovery of its landscape context. Continue to explore how this protected area fits within the broader atlas, revealing its specific natural terrain and boundaries for detailed geographic study.
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