The Black Canyon of the Gunnison

The Black Canyon National Park is one of the “youngest” of America’s National Parks, which belies the fact that the main feature of the park is two billion years in the making. That’s billion with a B. The Gunnison River, which descends at a rate of 95 feet per mile has worn the sheer Precambrian rock canyon to depths ranging between 1.250 and 2,250 feet. It is called the Black Canyon because parts of it are so steep that the sun reaches the bottom for just 30 minutes each day.

The Painted Wall is an edifice notable for its height, steepness and beauty. At multiple points in its development, hot magma rose within the earth, filling cracks and crevices. As it was worn away, it left designs that almost appear like they were created with an artist’s brush. I stayed overnight at the East Portal Campground. The road winds down. And down. Around. And down. All the way down to the river. The view looking up was as spectacular as the views looking down from the top.