Black Canyon of the Gunnison is the least visited National Park in Colorado, however I predict that will soon change, so go visit before all the crowds! There are two entrances to the park: the South Rim and the North Rim. See below on how to get from one rim to the other as there is not connection between the two rims. As of August 2020, there are no reservations or shuttle passes required prior to entering the National Park, there is a $35 National Park Pass fee per vehicle (it is well worth the $80 if you are going to visit more than 2 parks in a year, as this pass is good for all National Parks).
South Rim is the more popular entrance with a Visitor Center, Scenic drive and 12 overlooks. There is a campground one mile from the visitor center and in close proximity to the amphitheater. There are 88 sites total, reservations are required for Loop A and B in the summer (56 sites), however Spring, Fall and Winter are first-come first-served. Loop C is always first-come, first-served (32 sites). There are also several hotels/lodges in the area if you are not the camping sort. If you are traveling with children, I would choose the South Rim entrance due to the ranger programs and more amenities. I believe the campsites are $16/night.
The North Rim Entrance is not as easily accessible, and is considered the rugged, quieter side of the park. The campground is located at the end of a 7 mile unpaved road. The North Rim is closed in the winter. There is one campground, The North Rim Campground, with 13 first-come, first-served campsites (maximum length is 22ft of RV, car or trailer). No cell reception, no showers, no camp store. Vault toilets only (which were horrible, we preferred to use the woods – pack it in pack it out). The nightly camping fee was $16.00. We chose the North Rim Campground because it was less crowded. The canyon walls are vertical, and this area is more commonly used by rock climbers or very experienced hikers. We used campground #12 which is right across the road to the Chasm View. There are 5 overlooks here. We did not see a single person at any of these overlooks.
How to get from North Rim to South Rim:
The North Rim to South Rim is not a loop. There is no bridge connecting the two rims. We arrived in North Rim, camped, and then explored the view points. We then left North Rim, drove 1.5 hours through several towns and then entered the South Rim after going through Montrose CO. The South Rim then takes another hour or so to see the viewpoints. You can easily spend one and a half days at the North and South Rims. The South Rim has nature programs, and shorter, easier hikes. You can even drive down a steep, windy road to the river and fish/picnic. South Rim entrance is more populated with hotels and museums nearby.
Warning: Some of the view points have guardrails, but most do not. This is not a good place for children to play on the rocks. Personally, heights do not bother me until I see my child go near the edge-then I freak out 🙂
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is like the oatmeal raisin cookie of Colorado’s National Parks. Still good, but not as popular as the chocolate chip choices of The Great Sand Dunes, Rocky Mountain National Park and Mesa Verde. Limited lodging and 5.5 hours drive from DIA are probably reasons this is not a frequented park, however, if you are driving past, it is certainly worth it to stop in. If you are a Colorado native, you should put this on your list for a weekend camping trip.
Happy Exploring 🙂
