| Black Canyon of the Gunnison | |
| Designation | National Park |
| Location | West Central Colorado, United States |
| Nearest Cities | Montrose, Colorado, Crawford, Colorado |
| Latitude | 39° 00' N |
| Longitude | 107° 00' W |
| Area | 30,045 acres |
| Date of Establishment | 1933 (National Monument), October, 1999 (National Park) |
| Visitation | 174,346 (2002) |
| Governing Body | National Park Service |
| IUCN category | III (Natural Monument) |
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is located in western Colorado. There are two entrances to the park. The more developed south rim entrance is located 15 miles east of Montrose. The north rim entrance is located 11 miles south of Crawford and is closed in the winter.
| Table of contents |
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2 Biology 3 Attractions 4 History 5 Music |
In the canyon, Gunnison river drops an average of 96 feet per mile. In one
two mile stretch it drops 480 feet. From the top of the canyon you can hear
the river as it crashes through the canyon.
The birds that live in the park are: Great Horned Owl (resident),
Mountain Bluebird (migratory), Steller's jay (resident), Peregrine falcon (migratory), White-throated Swift (migratory), Canyon Wren
(migratory), American Dipper (resident).
Geology
Black canyon is a deep gorge which the Gunnison River flows through. It is so
deep and narrow that little sunlight reaches the into it, making the walls
look black.Biology
Plants native to the park include: Aspen, Ponderosa pine, Sagebrush,
desert mahogany, Utah Juniper, Gambel oak (scrub oak), and Singleleaf Ash.
Black Canyon from Tomichi Point
Attractions
The main attraction of the park is the scenic drive along the south rim. There
is also a campground and several miles of hiking and nature trails.
The river can be accessed by a steep, unmaintained trail that takes about
4 hours to hike down and 6 to hike back.History
The area was established as a National Monument March 2, 1933 and made into a
National Park October 21, 1999.