Awe-Inspiring Facts About the Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Here are seven things you probably didn’t know about the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. I didn't know any of these, and I was born and raised in Western Colorado. Test your Black Canyon trivia knowledge.
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a United States National Park found in Western Colorado. It is managed by the National Park Service. There are two main entrances to the canyon, one roughly 15 miles east of Montrose, and the other about 11 miles south of Crawford. You probably knew that.
So, why is it called the "Black" Canyon? It may have something to do with the fact parts of the gorge receive a whopping total of 33 minutes of sunlight per day.
Here are a few more things you might not have known.
The Gunnison River drops an average of 43 feet per mile with the greatest descent at Chasm View of 240 feet per mile. For reference, the Colorado River only drops 7.5 feet per mile in the Grand Canyon.
The Ute Indians called the Gunnison River that flowed through the canyon “much rocks big water”. They avoided the area due to superstition.
The narrowest point of the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is 40 feet wide at the Narrows.
The deepest point is at Warner Point at 2,722 feet deep.
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison attracts 190,000 visitors per year.
Colorado’s highest cliff is the Black Canyon of the Gunnison’s Painted Wall which is a sheer 2,250 feet.
Have you visited the Black Canyon of the Gunnison lately? I have to admit, I haven't, not in some time. It's just a hop, skip and a jump down the road. The number of 190,000 visitors a year may seem like a bunch, but it really isn't. Set your course for the Black Canyon.