For a few years I looked on the map and wondered what the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in western Colorado was all about. Finally one Memorial Day a few years ago my sister and I met my friend there to check it out. As you see from the picture above, it is a canyon that you just come upon after driving through the green fields.
The south rim campground was quiet and nice considering it was Memorial Day weekend. The hiking on the south side of the canyon is limited-----only one steep trail does go down to the river. There are a few hikes right below the rim----and a nice rim drive with many turn-offs.
If you want you can drive down to the river by a VERY steep road. At the river there is another campground and a lot of fishing opportunities----and this is where the dams start that create reservoirs that are a part of the Curucanti National Recreation Area. We went on a boat ride in this higher part of the canyon.For more information (including north side of the rim and backcountry parts) from the National Park Service: Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP
