Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Big enough to be overwhelming, still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time, Black Canyon of the Gunnison exposes you to some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. With two million years to work, the Gunnison River, along with the forces of weathering, has sculpted this vertical wilderness of rock, water, and sky. A number of short lookout trails exist along the main drive into the park, with a few options (permits required) for longer hikes down into the canyon itself.