We made our way across the San Juan Skyway through aspen speckled mountains towards the Black Canyon.

We arrived in time for a nice game of golf at our campground after dinner –

Unfortunately the rain moved in the next day, but that didn’t stop us from exploring the park as planned.

This impassable canyon has a rich history as a source of frustration for westward expansion, and an intense recreational challenge for those brave enough to enter its jagged steep cliffs or ragging waters. Its 2,200 foot walls of gray gneiss and schist rise from the waters of the Gunnison River; walls so deep and narrow sunlight only penetrates their depths at midday, leaving the canyon constantly enveloped in its own shadow. It’s an ominous setting, accentuated by the angry river carving through the canyon’s floor at a rate of one inch every 100 years. When the river is running, it tears through the canyon with reckless abandon, dropping 34 feet every mile. The Gunnison River loses more elevation in 48 miles than the Mississippi River does in more than 2,000!

After first views of the canyon & a stop at the visitors center, we headed down the South Rim road towards the Warner Point Trail. We waited for the rain to lighten up then re-purposed our ponchos from our Niagara Falls visit 🙂

We then stopped at the Painted Wall – the highest cliff in CO.

Then drove into the canyon to see the intake point for the very challenging irrigation tunnel & diversion dam.

And finish up w/ Jr Ranger badges –