black canyon of the gunnison national
park
what is America America is canyons a
great expanse of monumental canyons
most are known for their sunlit color
and one is known for its lack of it
known darkly for its shadows life canyon
of the gunnison National Park here in
west central Colorado the parks main
feature is a steep almost vertical
canyon located among 30 thousand acres
of rugged and challenging wilderness
within its boundaries spread 14 miles of
spectacular Canyon gouged and shaped and
reshaped by the waters of the Gunnison
River
more than any other Canyon in North
America the Black Canyon combines the
narrowest of chasms with sheer rock
walls and almost fathomless depths so
steep is the scourge and so narrow that
through most of the daylight hours
it is shrouded in seemingly midnight
darkness hence its name Black Canyon
of the canyons - rims the north rim is
the more remote
it must be negotiated by gravel road
water is scarce yet it offers campsites
and the chasm view nature trail with
stunning views the South Rim boasts
campsites - a visitor center and a seven
mile paved road with several scenic
overlooks one memorable site from the
South Rim is the painted wall 2,250 feet
of vertical rock laced with pink and
white veins of granite and pegmatite
wildlife thrives among these shadows
mule deer the great horned owl and a
large frisky rodent living along the
rocky outcrops the yellow-bellied Marmot
Black Canyon Black Knight
stargazing through a telescope
astronomers and visitors revell and
exploring the night sky
far from city lights these are some of
the only clear skies left with a
spectacular landscape black canyon of
the gunnison offers incredible views of
dark breathtaking narrows sheer rock
walls and startling depths making it one
of Colorado's most dramatic parks