Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park: Official Guide and Exploration Resources

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 represents one of the Colorado Plateau's most compelling geological displays. The canyon formed as the Gunnison River, unable to change its course once established, cut through progressively harder metamorphic rock over millions of years. The river's descent of 34 feet per mile ranks as the fifth steepest mountain descent in North America, with the most dramatic drop occurring at Chasm View where the river falls 240 feet per mile. The canyon reaches just 40 feet in width at its narrowest point, creating an intimate, enclosed space where the walls rise thousands of feet above the river. Light-colored pegmatite dikes crosscut the dark ancient rock, most dramatically displayed on Painted Wall where they create geometric patterns against the 2,250-foot cliff face. The park protects the deepest and most dramatic section of a canyon that extends 48 miles total, with the upper portions managed as Curecanti National Recreation Area and the lower portions within Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area.