RVing southwest Colorado; The Gunnison Uplift &
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
09/29/2003 - 10/01/2003
The deep and narrow Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
The Black Canyon
Over two million years ago when the Gunnison river started its course through the soft volcanic roc of the ancient Colorado landscape, the carving was easy. At about 2 million years ago, the land began to uplift just as the river encountered hard crystalline rock. With nowhere else to go, the river began gorging through the hard earth.
Before the river was flood-controlled by upriver dams, the frequent 12,000 cubic foot/second flood waters provided an awesome carving force -- creating one of the deepest, narrowest, sheer-walled canyons in North America -- the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
The canyon's sheer walls are a favorite for rock climbers. Recently, two climbers took 4 days to go up only 1000 feet (until they gave up and headed back down).
Robin reads aloud the points of interest along one of the self-guided hiking trails.
Fun Facts:
The Gunnison River drops an average of almost 100 feet every mile.
In one two-mile stretch it drops 480 feet. This awesome carving power dug a gorge 2,772 feet deep at its deepest point -- and only 1500 feet from rim-to-rim at its narrowest point.
In the 48 mile length of the canyon, the Gunnison river drops more in elevation than the entire 1500 miles of the Mississippi River.
In 1905-09, a 5.8 mile "diversion tunnel" blasted through the canyon wall provides irrigation water to the dry Uncompaghre Valley.
The "Painted Wall" an area where veins of pink crystalline quartz streak the darker surrounding rock.
This view across to the north rim and the painted wall gives a feel for the canyon depth and closeness of the rim across the gorge.
Down into the river gorge, the bottom, mostly engulfed by shadows -- give the Black Canyon its name.
A quick morning hike out Warner Point nature trail provides a view to the north where the Gunnison uplift descends.
The view to the south -- across the now irrigated Uncompaghre Valley -- from the Warner Point nature trail. The majestic San Juan range is visible on the horizon -- about 40 miles to the south.
Ex-ranger-now-maintenance guy. He's been in the park for 24 years and is VERY familiar with the park, the flora and fauna, the climbing challenges, and the canyon itself.
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park was a National Monument until Clinton upgraded it to a National Park in 1999. Although still not a well known park, it is worth a quick visit for sight seer's and RVer's. For anyone into whitewater kayaking, rugged back-country hiking/camping, or climbing -- it should be a vacation destination.
After only two nights in the campground, a driving tour of the park, and two hikes, we were ready (and excited) to move on to the deserts of southeast Utah -- so off we go!