The park's diverse ecosystems support abundant wildlife, including mule deer, elk, black bears, and mountain lions. The canyon's cliffs provide ideal nesting sites for peregrine falcons, golden eagles, and other raptors. The Gunnison River hosts brown and rainbow trout, while the rim areas are home to numerous small mammals like rock squirrels and yellow-bellied marmots. Recent surveys have identified over 168 bird species, making the park a premier destination for birdwatching.
Despite the challenging terrain, the park hosts a diverse array of plant life adapted to its various microclimates. The rim supports pinyon-juniper woodlands, while Douglas fir and aspen thrive in shadier areas. The canyon walls harbor unique plant communities in their crevices, including desert species in sun-exposed areas and moisture-loving ferns in shaded spots. Spring brings colorful wildflower displays, featuring Indian paintbrush, columbine, and lupine among the park's 500+ plant species.
The canyon's dramatic walls, carved by the Gunnison River over 2 million years, expose some of North America's oldest rock - Precambrian gneiss and schist dating back 1.7 billion years. The gorge deepens at a rate of about one inch per century, reaching depths of 2,722 feet at its deepest point. The canyon's distinctive narrow profile, with walls that plunge almost vertically, results from the exceptional hardness of the metamorphic rock and the river's remarkably steep gradient, dropping an average of 34 feet per mile.
The canyon's human history spans thousands of years, from early Native American Ute settlements to Spanish explorers and American expeditions. The area gained national monument status in 1933 and was elevated to national park status in 1999. Early attempts to survey the canyon in the 1880s deemed it 'impenetrable,' and the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad's construction along the canyon rim in the early 1900s marked a significant engineering achievement. The name 'Black Canyon' derives from the fact that parts of the gorge receive only 33 minutes of sunlight per day.
The park's most spectacular features include the Painted Wall, Colorado's highest cliff at 2,250 feet, displaying striking pink pegmatite veins across its dark face. The Gunnison River drops an average of 95 feet per mile through the canyon, making it one of North America's fastest-falling rivers. Notable viewpoints include Gunnison Point, Chasm View, and Dragon Point, offering breathtaking perspectives of the canyon's depth and dramatic geology. The park also features the Crystal Dam, historic narrow gauge railroad remnants, and numerous hiking trails ranging from easy rim walks to challenging inner canyon routes.
Black Canyon experiences dramatic seasonal variations typical of high-elevation Colorado. Summers are warm and pleasant with daytime highs in the 70s-80s°F, while winters bring cold temperatures and occasional snow, with lows frequently below freezing. Spring and fall are mild but can be unpredictable. The canyon's unique topography creates its own microclimate, with temperature differences of up to 10°F between rim and inner canyon. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer months, making morning the optimal time for outdoor activities.
USA
38.5830°, -107.7160°
October 21, 1999
124.6
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison features some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. The canyon's name comes from the fact that parts of the gorge only receive 33 minutes of sunlight a day. The Gunnison River drops an average of 34 feet per mile through the entire canyon, making it one of the fastest falling rivers in North America.