Colorado Vacations
Vacation Planning Guide for Visiting Colorado with the Kids
Vacation Planning Guide for Visiting Colorado with the Kids
When-You-Go Travel Information for Families at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
When-You-Go Travel Information for Families Vacationing in
Black Canyon
of the Gunnison National Park
Nitty gritty facts
make planning your trip easier.
Black Canyon
of the Gunnison National Park
Nitty gritty facts
make planning your trip easier.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Travel Guide for Families:
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
BEST FAMILY ATTRACTIONS AT BLACK CANYON
RANGER PROGRAMS
FOR KIDS
SLEEPING AND EATING AT BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON
TOWNS NEAR BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK
BLACK CANYON QUICK GEOLOGY GUIDE
BLACK CANYON QUICK WILDLIFE GUIDE
BLACK CANYON QUICK HISTORY GUIDE
TRAVEL INFORMATION FOR BLACK CANYON
OF THE GUNNISON
FAMILY SAFETY AT BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON
WHAT MAKES BLACK CANYON SPECIAL
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Travel Guide for Families:
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
BEST FAMILY ATTRACTIONS AT BLACK CANYON
RANGER PROGRAMS
FOR KIDS
SLEEPING AND EATING AT BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON
TOWNS NEAR BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK
BLACK CANYON QUICK GEOLOGY GUIDE
BLACK CANYON QUICK WILDLIFE GUIDE
BLACK CANYON QUICK HISTORY GUIDE
TRAVEL INFORMATION FOR BLACK CANYON
OF THE GUNNISON
FAMILY SAFETY AT BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON
WHAT MAKES BLACK CANYON SPECIAL
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did You Know? The tallest sheer cliff face in Colorado, Painted Wall in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, rises 2,250 feet above the river at its feet. |
Photo: The South Rim Visitor Center at
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
perches atop plunging cliff walls.
Location: On the western edge of the Rockies, between Gunnison and MontroseBlack Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
perches atop plunging cliff walls.
Address: 102 Elk Creek, Gunnison, CO 81230
Telephone: 970/249-1914 X-423
Website: www.nps.gov/blca
Acreage: 27,705
Altitude: from 5,500 feet above sea level to 9,040 feet above sea level
Major Activities: Sight seeing, photography, rock climbing, hiking, wildlife watching, camping.
Weather: Summer high temperatures vary between 60 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on where you are in the park (rim or canyon bottom). Winter highs range from 20 to 40 degrees. Brief afternoon thunderstorms are common in the summer months.
Best Seasons: Summer and fall
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the summer, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. the rest of the year
Closures: The visitor center is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. The North Rim Ranger Station is closed all winter, as is the East Portal Road.
Cost: Entrance fees are $8 per car, and good for 7 days. Camping is $10 - $15 per day.
Facilities:
The visitor center offers two different video presentations and exhibits describing canyon geology and life zones. Vault toilets are located at the visitor center, in both campgrounds, and at the Highpoint and Sunset View Picnic Grounds. On the North Rim, the Kneeling Camel Viewpoint turnaround area has a vault toilet, as does the ranger station. We could find no diaper decks at Black Canyon. Ranger stations are located on the North Rim, near the campground, and at the South Rim visitor center.
Accessibility: The visitor center and toilet facilities on the South Rim are all wheelchair accessible. The South Rim Campground has accessible campsites. Some of the overlooks are accessible there, as are the High Point and Sunset View Picnic Grounds. On the North Rim, the restroom is wheelchair accessible, and just one of the overlooks is.