Like us, you may have never heard of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Named after a 2,200-foot-deep Gunnison River chasm, the park quickly earned our respect as one of the rawest, most scenic places we’ve ever been.
![Black Canyon of the Gunnison exclamation point](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2018/06/IMG_3790-700x525.jpg)
Editor’s note: This article is part of our #NationalParksFieldTrip series, written by GearJunkie editor Kyle Nossaman as he and his wife visit national parks during a full year on the road.
Not for the fainthearted, the Black Canyon is home to Colorado’s tallest cliff, nearly twice the height of the Empire State Building. Early explorers declared the vertical canyon impassable until a fearless duo (Abraham Lincoln Fellows and William Torrence) ran its 48-mile length atop rubber mattresses over nine grueling days.
For over 66 years, it was preserved as a national monument, known mostly by core climbers and kayakers. In 1999, it became the 55th national park, a move that put it on the map for intrigued travelers.
National park status protects the deepest 12 miles of the Black Canyon. But the Park Service only maintains a few trails and scenic overlooks along the canyon rim.
Everywhere else — the canyon walls, the rushing river, and the precarious cliff-hanging routes to the water — is designated wilderness and left intentionally untamed. Park rangers strongly warn against climbing or kayaking if you’re not a professional. And they encourage day hikers to bring overnight equipment just in case.
Visitors can play it safe by driving the 7-mile South Rim Road and stopping at overlooks. But to really experience the canyon, you’ll want to get from its rim to the river.
Our Preparation
With plans to visit the canyon in mid-May in a 38-foot school bus-RV, we opted to reserve a campsite in advance on recreation.gov. South Rim Campground is an 88-site campground in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Loops A and B are reservable, while Loop C is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
![Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2018/06/IMG_3837-700x525.jpg)
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park: Best Adventures
1. Backcountry Camping on the Canyon Floor (S.O.B. Draw Route From the North Rim)
![sipping coffee](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2018/06/IMG_3935-700x525.jpg)
![descending the S.O.B. Draw route](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2018/06/IMG_3816-700x525.jpg)
![at the base of the Painted Wall](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2018/06/IMG_3970-700x524.jpg)
2. Scenic Overlooks (South and North Rim Roads)
![swimming in the Gunnison River](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2018/06/IMG_4579-700x467.jpg)
![sunset at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2018/06/IMG_3729-700x525.jpg)