Do It Before You Die: Visit Black Canyon, Colorado
Do you have a favourite place on Earth? I think I just found mine. Situated in western Colorado, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a hidden treasure of North America.
The Canyon got its name because some parts of the gorge only receive 33 minutes of sunlight a day. It's incredibly steep, it’s more than 2000 feet tall and probably one of the deepest and narrowest canyons I have ever seen in my life.
You can access the park from the South or North Rim. The South Rim has more to offer, like a visitors centre and picnic areas. We had no time to see both sides, so we only explored the North Rim, which is reachable only by an unpaved road (closed during the winter) but has many breathtaking view spots.
This park is less popular than Grand Canyon (and very different), so you won’t see many tourists - great for getting a deeper connection to the magical nature around.
Take a moment and listen to the sound of Gunnison’s rushing waters. Feel the magnitude of this place and think about how small and humble we are compare to these unique rock formations. It is hard to imagine the age of Black Canyon rock is 1.7 billion years!
This is a park I’d like to camp at and spend a few days to a week exploring. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is just a must see if you are in this part of Colorado.
Written by Julia Pelio. Photos by Arthur Pelio.
Julia is a THISWORLDEXISTS Adventure Ambassador. You can see more of her adventures on Instagram: @juliapelio or @THISWORLDEXISTS
