Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

After several great days of fishing in a row, I had to drop Scott off at the Montrose airport for his flight back to Texas.  On my way back to Lake City, I stopped by Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

All visitor centers should have marmots on display

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

The Gunnison River descends 34 feet per mile through the Black Canyon.  The Colorado River, by comparison, only drops 7.5 feet per mile through the Grand Canyon.

The Gunnison River churning through the bottom of the canyon, approximately 2,000 feet below.

The Black Canyon is only 40 feet wide in places, meaning little sunlight reaches the base of the canyon walls.  In that darkness, the canyon walls can appear black--thus the name "Black Canyon."

Another speck of the river showing at the base of the canyon

Straight down to the river bed

The "Painted Wall" (right side of the river).  Towering 2,300 feet above the river below, the Painted Wall is the tallest cliff in Colorado.

A lone juniper tree atop the canyon wall

You can see Uncompahgre in the distance on the left and the Sneffels Range (by Telluride and Ouray) on the  right.

The Gunnison River is dammed into a series of lakes, including Blue Mesa Reservoir (pictured)

 

Headed home