Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Are you wondering where this spot gets its fearsome name? Well, some say the pegmatite on this part of the Painted Wall looks like a dragon!

Note: The tour is over 12 miles long, with more than 34 audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours per tour to complete.

Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

The park's Entrance Station is just ahead. Once you’re through, continue driving straight along the Rim Drive.

Once you’ve parked, walk over to the overlook and enjoy the view. Listen to the stories in the Learn More to hear more about the view you’re seeing and how it came to be.

Into the parking area ahead and follow the trail to the overlook. This easy trail takes only two minutes and offers a great view of the Gunnison River.

At over 8,000 feet high, it’s the highest elevation on the park’s south rim. So get those cameras ready!

This half-mile loop is directly across from the infamous Narrows that spelled the end for Kolb and Pelton and many others. Be sure to make the easy 15-minute over to the edge if you want to see the spot where they met with disaster.

Our next story is actually behind the Visitor Center. When you’re ready, exit the car and walk through the building.

Gunnison and his troops came here to secure a railroad route in the 1850s. Everything was going swimmingly—until Gunnison got to the canyon we’ll soon see.

This easy, half-mile trail ends at an overlook straight over the raging whitewater of the Gunnison.

Here, we can access two vistas. The first is right next to the turnout: Chasm View. The trail to Chasm View is only a couple hundred feet, but it’s steep! I’d definitely recommend trying it. It’s also a great spot for watching rock climbers hang on the north wall of the canyon.

Igneous intrusions happen when hot magma is injected into rock, but doesn’t form enough pressure to burst out. Instead, it gets stuck in the crevices and hardens. These intrusions formed over a billion years ago.

The trail to this overlook is an easy one - is just under half a mile and takes about 15 minutes to complete. Along the way, you’ll see plenty of Gambel oaks, which hang out on the canyon rim. It’s also a great place to spot wildflowers in the spring! If you decide to visit, keep an eye out for those lignotubers I mentioned earlier.

Sunset View is just ahead. Turn into the parking lot on our right and follow the very short path to the overlook. This is a must-see, even if it’s not sunset time yet!