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Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park

»Contact Information
»Getting There
»Weather
»Activities
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison's unique and spectacular landscape was formed slowly by the action
of water and rock scouring down through hard Proterozoic crystalline rock. No other canyon in North
America combines the narrow opening, sheer walls, and startling depths offered by the Black Canyon
of the Gunnison.


Contact Information

Park Headquarters
102 Elk Creek
Gunnison, CO 81230
970-641-2337 - Headquarters
970-641-2337 x205 - Visitor Information


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Getting There

By Plane
Commercial airlines to Montrose, Gunnison, Grand Junction

By Car
The park is located approximately 250 miles SW of Denver.
South Rim: 15 miles east of Montrose, via U.S. Hwy 50 and CO Hwy 347
North Rim: 11 miles south of Crawford, via CO Hwy 92 and North Rim Road
(closed in winter)

By Plane
By bus: To Montrose, Gunnison, Grand Junction
By train: To Grand Junction

Getting Around
By car or on foot, no public transportation is available. Bicycles are not allowed on trails.

Weather

Weather can vary greatly between the canyon rim and canyon floor.
Summer daytime temperatures range between 60 to 100F (15 to 38C), nights 30 to 50F (-1 to 10C)
Winter daytime temperatures range between 20 to 40F (-6 to 4C), nights -10 to 20F (-23 to -6C)
Precipitation is minimal, brief afternoon thunderstorms can occur during the summer.
Layered clothing appropriate for the season is recommended.
Current Elk Creek Weather can be monitored at http://www.nps.gov/cure/weather.htm


Activities

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.
thebackpacker.com If you want more information about backpacking and hiking, give thebackpacker.com a try. From backpacking gear reviews, hiking trail reviews and much more, it covers all aspects of wilderness travel.
  • Auto Touring
  • Camping
  • Climbing
  • Educational Programs
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Horseback Riding
  • Wilderness Area
  • Wildlife Viewing
  • Backpacking
  • Bird Watching
  • Nature Walks
  • Stargazing
  • Kayaking
  • Cross Country Skiing
  • Snowshoeing

Recommended Activities
Prepare yourself for 2,000 ft, narrow canyon walls dropping almost vertically to the Gunnison River. Many of the overlooks are easily
accessed by car and very short walks.
Interpretive programs are offered all summer. Evening programs are presented at the South Rim campground, seven nights per week.
Nature walks are available daily.


 
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Find Hiking and Biking Trails
If you like to go hiking or biking, then don't forget to get a map and guidebook. Trails.com offers a great service that allows unlimited downloads of trail guides for a small monthly fee. They even have a 14 day free trial. Whether you are looking for day hikes, backpacking trails, mountain bike routes or just short nature stroll, they cover it all. So let Trails.com help plan your next outing.
RV Information
Are you planning on traveling with your RV? If you are, you should check out the Good Sam Club. The Good Sam Club offers discounts on camping, a free magazine subscription and great tips on traveling with your RV. You can also get a free no-obligation RV Insurance quote . Give them a look and enjoy your trip.
Gear Up For Your Trip
Once you have finished deciding where to go, it will be time to gear up. A great place for adventure travel gear is The National Geographic Store. They have all types of maps and guides to help finalize your vacation plans.