the wandering chick

Just when I thought I had seen Colorado's most spectacular sight, along comes another that knocks my socks off.

There's a reason the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is named Black: it's so deep, so narrow and the walls so sheer that little sunlight finds the Gunnison River at the bottom. It's the shadow that gives the canyon such a dramatic - and dark - appearance.

The Black Canyon has a south rim and a north rim. There are overviews on both sides, many of them with short hikes to the overview platform. A visitor center at the south rim has an interesting video showing the exploration of the canyon in the early 1900s.

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is located 15 miles east of Montrose, Colorado. The south rim has paved roads and some 12 overlooks. The north rim, less developed, has about five overlooks, and the roads there are well-packed unpaved. The north rim can be reached by way of Crawford, on the Highway 92.

...the Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Tumichi Point
The first overlook as you enter the Black Canyon's south rim is Tumichi Point. The sun's position over the canyon at this point gave it a dramatic affect.
south rim's Tumichi Point
Tumichi Point
Tumichi Point
the Gunnison Overlook
A short walk out to Gunnison Overlook allows a look deep down to the canyon floor where flows the Gunnison River. The Visistor Center is also at this overlook.
Gunnison Overlook
Gunnison Overlook
East Portal River Access
the Gunnisoon Overlook
One can actually drive down to the Gunnison River from the south riim. The road is called the East Portal Road and shoots off to the right as soon as you pass through the entrance/ticket booth to the park. It's a beautiful drive of just two or three miles of curves and hairpins, and the grade is a 16% descent. (That's not a misprint!!) The views at river level are definitely worth the drive down.
The Gunnison River via East Portal Road
The Gunnison River via East Portal Road
the Gunnison River
East Portal Road to the Gunnison River
the Gunnison River
East Portal Road to the Gunnison River
the Gunnison River
Warner Point
The Warner Point Trail is about a mile-and-a-half round trip. The canyon views are on one side and this view outside the canyon on the other. Warner Point Trail is at the end of the south rim at the High Point Overlook.
Warner Point Trail
Warner Point Trail
Sunset View Overlook
Taken at the Sunset View Overlook. The Gunnison River is in view at just about every overlook.
Sunset View Overlook
a Utah Juniper tree
the Painted Wall
a Utah Juniper tree
I can always find trees - dead or alive - to snap a picture of. These two were taken at the Dragon Point Overlook.
the Painted Wall Overlook
This shot is of a cliff called the Painted Wall. I just wasn't able to capture by photo its enormity. At 2300 feet high, it's Colorado's highest cliff. In comparison, if the Empire State Building were to be placed on the canyon floor, it would only reach close to halfway up the cliff.
the Painted Wall
Cross Frissures Overlook
the road to the north rim
Taken at the South Rim's Cross Frissures View.
the countryside returning from the south rim to the Highway 347
The dirt road seen in this photo was taken from the south rim of the canyon, but the road is the north rim canyon road that leads into the park's north rim from the town of Crawford.
As you leave the canyon's south rim, you come into beautiful countryside on the Highway 347. This and the next couple of pictures were taken along that route.
the countryside returning from the south rim to the Highway 347
the countryside returning from the south rim to the Highway 347
the north rim's chasm view
the north rim's chasm view
The north rim hasn't has many overlooks as the south, but they're equally as impressive. This one, the one below and the one to the left were all taken at the Chasm View Overlook.
the north rim's chasm view
The Kneeling Camel
The Kneeling Camel overlook
The Kneeling Camel
One doesn't have to have much of an imagination to figure out what this rock formation is called: the Kneeling Camel.
The Kneeling Camel overlook
autumn colors at the north rim
Island Peaks overlook
Taken at the north rim's Island Peaks Overlook.
Big Island Overlook
Above and Below: Taken at the Big Island Overlook
the Narrows
Big Island Overlook
At this point in the canyon, the north rim and the south rim are only 40 feet apart. It's called the Narrows.
the Balanced Rock
deer in the brush
The Balanced Rock
A couple of mule deer were spotted in the brush on the north rim. We tried to give them their space, but it's hard to just walk past them wtihout trying to get a picture.
mule deer

If you're interested in seeing more areas of Colorado, please return to the Colorado home page.

Travel to the Black Canyon's north rim took us on Highway 92 which is a part of the West Elk Loop Scenic Byway. The scenery was absolutely spectacular with oranges, yellows and reds on every hillside. To see those pictures, click here.

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