Located in western Colorado, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is home to some spectacular scenery. With just one day, you have enough time to cover most of the activities on the south rim. Yes, there is more to do than what is just listed in this one day itinerary, but I believe that for the vast majority of visitors, myself included, one day at Black Canyon of the Gunnison is really all you need.
One Day at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Depending on whether or not you’re a morning person, this itinerary starts early. I recommend starting no later than 8:00 am. However, if it’s a hot day, you may want to consider starting even earlier. When I visited, temperatures reached the low 90s so avoiding hikes in the heat of the day was a must.
Also note that this itinerary has you entering Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park at 8:00 am. From the nearby city of Montrose, this can take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes to reach. Make sure to plan your morning accordingly.
Finally, this itinerary will focus strictly on the South Rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Yes, you can visit the North Rim (except in winter), but as the South Rim is more popular (and more accessible in my opinion), this is where I recommend focusing your time for your first visit. That said, if you’re interested in visiting the North Rim, you can check out my guide to the North Rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
8:00 – Arrive at Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Plan to arrive at the entrance station at about 8:00 am to get your day started. From the entrance station, you’ll want to head to the Visitor Center. It’s a short five minute drive between the two. Once at the Visitor Center, you’ll look for your first trailhead and then the day can officially begin.
8:15 – Hike Oak Flat Loop Trail
The first hike of the day is the Oak Flat Loop Trail, although I have to admit that it’s my least favorite of the hikes today. Still, for those wanting to venture inside the canyon but don’t want to hike the difficult Gunnison Route, the Oak Flat Loop Trail provides an excellent alternative.
The trail starts just behind the Visitor Center and takes you on a mile and a half loop down and back out of the canyon. You will not go all the way to the bottom of the canyon (as this trail as a total elevation gain of 335 feet), but you do get a few unique glimpses of the canyon. Unfortunately you won’t have direct views of the canyon the entire time you are on trail, but the few glimpses you do get give a nice taste and should help to get you excited for the rest of the day (because the views will get dramatically better).
Most hikes into the canyon require a backcountry permit. In fact, as you hike this trail, you’ll probably pass signs stating that a backcountry permit is required. This is true for people who plan to hike all the way to the bottom of the canyon. If you just want to hike the Oak Flat Loop Trail, you do not need a backcountry permit.
9:15 – Finish Oak Flat Loop and Drive to Warner Point
After you finish your hike, it’s time to get in your car and drive all the way to the end of the scenic drive. You’ll pass signs for all of the scenic overlooks along the way, but skip these for now. We’ll do them on the way back.
The road ends at the parking lot for Warner Point, which is coincidentally your next stop.
9:30 – Start Warner Point Trail
Technically, Warner Point is one of the viewpoints along the scenic drive. However, it 1.6 miles round trip (and a total elevation gain of 472 feet) to get to the viewpoint so I think it should count as a hike.
From the trailhead, you’ll work your way closer and closer to the canyon. After about three-quarters of a mile, you’ll arrive at Warner Point. Wow! This view is my favorite on the South Rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison (my favorite view of the entire canyon is on the North Rim). Hopefully by getting an earlier start to the day, you’ll be able to enjoy the view with only a few other people. On my hike, I arrived just before 10:00 am and had the entire view to myself for a full ten minutes.
Once you’ve soaked in the view, retrace your steps and head back to your car.
10:30 – Viewpoints Along the Scenic Drive
You’ve driven as far as you can, so it’s time to start working your way back toward the Visitor Center. Now it’s time to visit all of those viewpoints that you skipped along the way.
All of the views are good and since you have the time, I think it’s worth stopping at all of them. That said, I firmly believe that some are better than others. Personally, Warner Point (which you will have just hiked), Dragon Point, and Pulpit Rock were my top three favorites of the day.
I have to give an important note about visiting the viewpoints. At many national parks, you can park your vehicle and the viewpoint is right there. That’s not the case at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. At most viewpoints, you’ll have to walk a bit to get to the actual view. Here’s what to expect
Walks around a quarter mile or less – Tomichi Point, Gunnison Point, Pulpit Rock, Cross Fissures View, Painted Wall View, Sunset Point, High Point
Walks around a half mile – Rock Point, Cedar Point, Dragon Point
Walks around 3/4 of a mile – Devil’s Lookout, Chasm View
I didn’t think that any of these walks were particularly bad, but I think it’s important to mention simply because you usually expect a viewpoint to be right there. And if you’re here on a very hot day like I was, it’s a good idea to carry water, even on some of these seemingly short walks.
1:30 – Drive East Portal Road
After you finish your last view point, it’s time to do one of my favorite activities at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. During the summer moths, East Portal Road is open and visitors can drive all the way to the bottom of the canyon.
During my visit, this wasn’t on my radar but since I had visited all of the viewpoints, but wasn’t quite ready to leave the park, I drove East Portal Road. Wow the views are incredible.
This windy road leads all the way to the river at the bottom of the canyon and the views along the way are just outstanding. Drive carefully and take your time as the road can be a bit nerve wracking if you aren’t used to driving these mountain roads, but it’s doable for most drivers and vehicles.
Expect the drive to take at least thirty minutes each way (longer if you stop at any overlooks), so budget at least an hour (longer if you want to linger at the bottom, which I highly recommend).
2:30 – Depart Black Canyon of the Gunnison
This one day itinerary is over. Either return to a viewpoint you really enjoyed or exit the park and head on to your next activity (since this itinerary skips lunch, I recommend heading for something to eat).
With More Time
There’s two big options for those who have more than one day at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Adventurous hikers may want to consider hiking the Gunnison Route which takes you on a hike deep into the canyon. This hike is quite steep and requires a backcountry permit.
Another great option is to head to the lesser visited North Rim. You’ll have an hour and a half drive from Montrose to reach the North Rim, but there are benefits. First, significantly fewer visitors make it to the North Rim. While I didn’t find the South Rim to be terribly crowded on my visit, I can confidently say there were significantly fewer visitors to the North Rim. Second, the North Rim is home to my favorite view at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Don’t get me wrong, there are some excellent viewpoints on the South Rim, but Exclamation Point on the North Rim is my favorite by far.
Can You Visit the South Rim and North Rim in One Day?
Technically yes, but I’d caution against it. If you do everything on this itinerary, you’ll finish at about 2:30 pm (earlier if you don’t linger and are a fast hiker). From the South Rim Visitor Center to the North Rim Ranger Station (the North Rim doesn’t have a visitor center), it’s a 1 hour and 45 minute drive. So you’d first be arriving after 4:00 pm. Then, you’d finally be able to start exploring.
Again, this isn’t to say that you can’t, but I believe with just one day at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, you should focus on just one rim. If you’re insistent on visiting both sides of the canyon, I’d highly suggest skipping some activities on either side of the rim (I would skip the Oak Flat Loop Trail and a handful of viewpoints) as well as moving quickly and not lingering at viewpoints.
Entrance Fees for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Entrance to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is $30 per vehicle for a 7 day pass. The America the Beautiful Pass is also accepted.
What to Bring to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
If you’re traveling during the warm summer months, make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen. It’s hot and the sun is strong. Additionally, make sure to carry plenty of water. While you’ll find places to fill up your water bottle at the Visitor Center, many of the viewpoints don’t have water or a bathroom. On hot days, this is extra important.
When to Visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Summer is peak season and is when it’s the busiest. Roads will be closed to vehicles in winter and won’t reopen until mid-April. I visited in the first week of September. Crowds were not overwhelming, but it was incredibly hot during my visit with temperatures reaching into the low 90s.
Where to Stay at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
There’s no lodging in the park except for camping. The most convenient nearby town is Montrose. From Montrose, it’s a 25 minute drive to the South Rim Visitor Center.
Final Thoughts
With just one day at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, you can see all of the viewpoints along the south rim of the canyon. While the park is certainly larger than just this one area, exploring the south rim is a great way to spend a day.
Continue Your Adventure
Black Canyon of the Gunnison: The South Rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison is the most popular because its the easiest to visit. To escape any crowds, consider a visit to the less traveled North Rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Colorado National Parks: Beyond Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado is home to three other national parks. Try your hand at sandboarding at Great Sand Dunes, tour the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde, and don’t miss all of the epic views and hikes at Rocky Mountain.
Colorado Itineraries: For an epic road trip through Colorado, check out this 10 day itinerary. Or if you don’t have ten days, try one of these 5 day Colorado itineraries.
For More Epic Canyons: If you want to see more spectacular canyons, consider Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, or New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia.
US National Parks: Start planning your national park vacation with my US National Park Travel Guide. You’ll find information about each park, photos, itineraries, budget tips, advice for non-hikers, and more. Plus, don’t forget to book your timed entry reservations in advance!