Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Year Established: 1999
Annual Visitors: 309,000
Size: 30,750 Acres
State: Colorado

Best Time to Visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

May to October

If you are planning to visit more national parks, check out our complete list of all US National Parks here.

Best Experiences in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

• Warner Point
• Gunnison Point
• Drive East Portal Road

A Brief History

The dramatic Black Canyon of the Gunnison has been a national park since 1999, but the Gunnison River has been carving out the canyon for millions of years. The Black Canyon got its name because its walls are often covered in shadows, which makes them look black. It has some of the oldest exposed rocks in the world, including Precambrian or “basement” rocks that are nearly 2 billion years old.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison RV Camping

If you are looking for nearby RV camping options for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park or Colorado in general, consider checking out our other post:

• Best RV Parks in Colorado
• Best RV Resorts in Colorado

Visitor Information

Fees

Individuals 15 years old and younger are admitted free of charge.

Weekly Park Passes

$15.00 per person

$30.00 per vehicle

$25.00 per motorcycle

All passes are valid for up to 7 days.

Annual Park Passes

Black Canyon National Park Annual Pass – $55

Contacting Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Visitor Centers

South Rim Visitor Center

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park’s South Rim Visitor’s Center is a really cool place to go. They have a great selection of books about the area, including books about history, geology, wildlife, water, recreation, and a lot more. They also sell things for tourists, like stuffed animals and the like. There are many interesting environmental exhibits and a theater where you can see a movie about the Park and its resources. There are typically several National Park Service workers at the Visitor’s Center friendly and willing to help.