Copyright 2004 by Joseph A. Mootz. All Rights Reserved.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a 2500 foot deep natural
gorge located in Central Colorado between the towns of Montrose and Gunnison. The
canyon was named "Black" because it is so sheer, deep and narrow that
very little sunlight reaches the canyon floor. The canyon was featured in the
novel Black
Canyon Mystery by Joseph A. Mootz as the
backdrop for a mystery involving the search for the father of a lost boy.
The canyon and surrounding area was declared a National Monument in 1933 and made a National Park in 1999. A log-pole building houses a visitor center on the edge of canyon rim with a short trail down to the cliff's edge. The Visitor Center houses a gift shop, and museum with exhibits and films on the history of the canyon.
The eight mile long South Rim Road follows the outline of the rim of the canyon providing a dozen overlooks to take in the breathtaking views of the painted canyon walls and glimpses of the canyon floor and the Gunnison River at the bottom. It also provides access to the South Rim Campground and half a dozen trails, three of which lead to backcountry campgrounds on the canyon floor.
Rim Rock Nature Trail, Oak Flat Loop Trail, Cedar Point Nature Trail, Warner Point Nature Trail, all stay long the rim of the canyon traveling through thickets of oak scrub, sagebrush, pinyon pine, juniper, serviceberry bushes, and mountain mahogany filled with deer and various species of birds and small animals. Gunnison Route, Tomichi Route, and Warner Route run down the sides of the steep canyon walls to the river below and backcountry camping areas. Gunnison Route which requires the hiker to drop down the side of the canyon using an 80 foot long steel cable was featured in the novel Black Canyon Mystery .