Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO

After family time in Parker it was time to check out some other park offerings in Colorado. Surprisingly, we did not go to Rocky Mtn NP, (we had been there before). We drove right by and headed for a new park, another one that I'd never heard of before, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.  The Gunnison is a river (named after the first white man to make it through the canyon which didn't until the mid 1800s), and it has carved a remarkably steep and narrow canyon over the past two million years leaving steep cliff faces, ancient exposed rock and craggy spires and outcroppings. So the Gunnison part makes sense, but what about “the black canyon” part? Granted there were some black rocks, but also gray and red and brown and pink and some were even tan. Here's the thing though, it is so deep and so narrow, that there are places in the canyon that only receive thirty three minutes of sunlight a day. 33 minutes! That's enough, or literally, not enough,  to make it ”black”. 

A couple other notable facts about this canyon. Gunnison was exploring the area scouting for a railroad route. He was successful and the railroad built a track along the lower, less wild portion of the canyon. Unlike the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, which drops at 7.5’ per mile, the Gunnison drops at 43’ per mile. And at it's most narrow point, it is a mere 44‘ across.

I have no fear of heights and hadn't experienced vertigo when looking out from heights, but I did at this park. I think it was because not only was it so far down but the gap across was narrow. All I know is that as the wall across the way was swirling about, I was grateful to have railing to hold onto!

We didn't hike down into the canyon at all, but we did ride our bikes around it and took several little rim hikes out to overlooks.

On to pics:

Crossing the divide. Still looks like winter here, even if it is mid- April.

The visitors center is perched up on the edge.

looking down into the canyon 

a close- up of the Gunnison 

many of the rocks had mica imbedded in them

crystals and mica

Chipmunk blending in with the rocks

This is a great park for geologists, budding, amateur and professional. It's not just sandstone here, although you all know how much I love sandstone formations. This is a much harder rock, and consists of schist, gneiss, pegmatite and granite with a bit of sandstone thrown in.


Perhaps this is one of the spots that only receives 33 minutes of sunshine a day.

I'm not certain, but I think this a type of arnica. I know how well arnica works with relieving pain, but I had no idea it's sorce was such a beautiful flower!

overlooking the canyon 

I do love lizards, especially when they are sunbathing across interesting rocks. Now, if I could only identifying them …

another pic of the Gunnison 

Some of the walls are gorgeous with these swirls and stripes. That is the pegmatite, a volcanic magma type of rock working it's way up through fissures and cracks in the metamorphic rock.  Whatever the names are behind it, I thought it was beautiful! We just so happened to be here on Martin's sister’s birthday. Her name is Peggy, so we sent her a pic of the wall with her “namesake rock”. Haha

Up on the plateau where it is hot and dry, this juniper offers respite to birds, animals and humans

Interesting formations 

the pulpit

Martin preparing to lead the choir from the pulpit

The painted wall

A few interesting facts about the painted wall, 

  • it is the tallest cliff in CO       

  • it is the 3rd tallest in the lower 48 (behind El Capitan and Notch Peak)

  • it is 2,250’ from river to rim

  • The Washington monument is 550’

  • The Eiffel Tower is 1,100’

  • The Empire State building is 1,400’

  • Taipei 101 is 1,700’

  • Burj Khalifa (in Dubai) is 2,700’

not super sure what this bird is, maybe a spotted tohee?

wasp nest

look at the number of juniper berries (actually the cones) on this tree

Hairy golden aster, I think

Paintbrush 

more arnica, I think, but maybe they're northern mule ears ??? I had a hard time differentiating all the yellow flowers, but they certainly were pretty 

As we were biking along, I glanced to the side and wow! Bighorn sheep! So we stopped so I could get more pics. I personally don't think one can ever have too many pics of wildlife. 😂

king cup cactus blossoms

so brilliant, so beautiful in the desert landscape


Next stop: more Colorado. Colorado National Monument 

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