Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

 

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

We crossed another national park off of our list when we visited Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The park covers 30,385 acres on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and is known for its deep, steep-walled canyons carved out over the ages by the Gunnison River. We lucked out by getting there midday when the sun was overhead and visibility into the dramatic canyon was at its best.

 

Hike Overview
  • • Location: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Montrose County, Colorado
    • Start/Finish: Cedar Point Trail trailhead to Painted Wall Overlook trailhead
    • Course Type: Two out-and-backs joined to make a point-to-point
    • Course Surface: Packed dirt and pavement
    • Distance: 1.05 miles
    • Time: 18:03
    • Average Pace: 17:09 minute/mile
    • Elevation Gain: 77 feet
    • Elevation Range: 7,727 to 7,891 feet
    • Start time: 1:35 PM
    • Weather: 81° and sunny
    • Date of Hike: June 22, 2025

 

Pulpit Rock Overlook

With less than half a day to tour the park we mostly stopped at overlooks to check out different angles for viewing the canyon and the Gunnison River far below. Our first stop was at Pulpit Rock Overlook where we wondered around and took the most pictures.

 

Deep-walled canyon and the Gunnison River…

 

Obligatory touristy pic…

 

Western wallflower…

 

Cedar Point Trail

From Pulpit Rock we drove to a few other overlooks before stopping at the Cedar Point trailhead. It was there that I decided to create a hike by combining the Cedar Point Trail and Painted Wall Overlook hikes together with the walk in between on South Rim Road.

 

The Cedar Point Trail was lined with signs identifying the local plants…

 

At the Cedar Point viewing spot we chatted with a gentleman for a while who offered to take our picture. He stood on his tippy toes and held my phone over his head to make sure he got the Gunnison River in the frame.

 

Painted Wall Overlook

By the time I got to the Painted Wall Overlook trailhead, my husband had arrived in our SUV, but my legs were happy to get extra movement after so much sitting in the car over the previous few days as we made our way to Colorado from Virginia.

 

At the Painted Wall Overlook we got a great view of the Gunnison River…

 

And viewed the huge rock face called Painted Wall…

 

To put the size of the Painted Wall, the tallest vertical cliff in Colorado at 2,250 feet into perspective, a sign compared its height to famous buildings from around the world:

  • • Eiffel Tower built in 1889 in Paris, France is 1,063 feet tall
  • • Empire State Building built in 1931 in New York, New York is 1,454 feet tall
  • • Taipei 101 built in 2004 in Taipai, Taiwn is 1,670 feet tall
  • • Burj Khalifa built in 2009 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is 2,722 is feet tall

 

Garmin Stats

Post-hike Garmin stats…

 

Garmin map and elevation graph…

 

Final Thoughts on My Short Hike in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Our visit to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park was short, but we made the most of our time by sticking to overlooks and not taking longer hikes. Glacier National Park was the focus of our road trip, and a stop by this park was a bonus. 

Sadly, at the time of this publication the park is closed due to wildfires. From the U.S. National Park Service, “On the morning of July 10, 2025, lightning strikes ignited wildfires on both the North Rim and South Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Visitors and staff were safely evacuated, and the park is closed until further notice.”

 

Questions
  • • Have you visited Colorado? ~ My husband and I lived there for a short time early in our marriage.
  • • Are you afraid of heights? ~ Yes, but I didn’t use to be…
  • • On hikes which do you prefer, a view of water or views for miles? ~ both