Caution
No Water Available in Park
Water systems throughout the park have been shut off for the winter season, October to April. Please plan ahead and bring your own drinking water.
Posted or updated Oct 12, 2026 ·Park conditions on nps.gov
National Park
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park is a National Park in Colorado. The NPS currently lists 2 active alerts, 3 campgrounds and 2 visitor centers; entrance fees start at $15.
Colorado National Park America the Beautiful pass accepted
Updated · NPS Data API
About the park
“Big enough to be overwhelming, yet still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time. Come see some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. Forces of nature and the Gunnison River sculpted this canyon over two million years. The result is a vertical wilderness of rock, water, and sky.”
Active alerts
2
Closures
0
Campgrounds
3
Visitor centers
2
Current alerts and closures
2 active NPS alerts as of Oct 28, 2026: 0 closures, 0 danger, 1 caution and 1 information.
Information
Cashless Operations
Black Canyon's operations are now cashless. South Rim Campground is by reservation only via Recreation.gov. East Portal & North Rim campground sites are first-come first-served and accept payment using Scan & Pay through Recreation.gov's mobile app.
Posted or updated Apr 14, 2026 ·Details on nps.gov
Entrance fees and passes
| Fee | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $30 | 7-Day Vehicle Pass. Entrance fees cover all persons in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle. Buy online |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $25 | Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. Buy online |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15 | 7-Day Individual Pass (pedestrian or bicycle) Buy online |
| Commercial Entrance - Sedan | $25 | Commercial tour fee for vehicle/bus with seating capacity of 1-6 persons. Fee is $25.00 per vehicle plus $7.00 per passenger. |
| Commercial Entrance - Van | $40 | Commercial tour fee for vehicle/bus with seating capacity of 7-25. Fee is $40.00 per vehicle. |
| Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus | $40 | Commercial tour fee for vehicle/bus with seating capacity of 7-25. Fee is $40.00 per vehicle. |
| Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach | $100 | Commercial tour fee for vehicle/bus with seating capacity of 26 or more. Fee is $100.00 per vehicle. |
| Entrance - Non-commercial Groups | $30 | Non-commercial vehicles with a vehicle capacity of 15 or fewer: $30.00 per vehicle, regardless of the number of passengers. |
| Entrance - Non-commercial Groups | $15 | Non-commercial vehicles with a vehicle capacity of 15 or fewer: $30.00 per vehicle, regardless of the number of passengers. |
| Pass | Cost | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Entrance - Park | $55 | Recreation.gov |
The interagency America the Beautiful pass is accepted here.
Things to do
Cross-country Skiing at Black Canyon
In winter, South Rim Drive is closed to vehicles beyond the visitor center at Gunnison Point. As staffing and snow conditions allow, rangers groom the remainder of the road for cross-country skiing (skate and classic) and snowshoeing.
Winter
Drive East Portal Road
East Portal Road is a windy, steep scenic road down to the Gunnison River. East Portal is within Curecanti National Recreation Area, but only accessible from within Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
1-2 Hours Spring, Summer, Fall Pets allowed
Hike Cedar Point Nature Trail - South Rim
This short, moderately sloped trail offers visitors a chance to brush up on local flora with guideposts describing the various plants along the way.
Pets allowed
See all 16 things to do in Black Canyon Of The Gunnison →
Activities the NPS lists for Black Canyon Of The Gunnison.
AstronomyStargazingCampingBackcountry CampingCar or Front Country CampingRV CampingClimbingRock ClimbingFishingFly FishingHikingBackcountry HikingFront-Country HikingHorse TrekkingHorseback RidingPaddlingKayakingJunior Ranger ProgramSkiingCross-Country SkiingSnowshoeingWildlife WatchingBirdwatchingPark FilmShoppingBookstore and Park Store
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Operating hours
The South Rim is open 24 hours a day.
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | All Day |
| Tuesday | All Day |
| Wednesday | All Day |
| Thursday | All Day |
| Friday | All Day |
| Saturday | All Day |
| Sunday | All Day |
Weather: Today's Weather: http://www.weather.com/weather/today/l/NPBLCA:13:US CLIMATE Weather can vary greatly throughout the day. Summer daytime temperatures range between 55 to 90F (13 to 32C), nights 45 to 60F (7 to 16C).
Contact and directions
- Phone
- 970-641-2337
- [email protected]
- Address
- South Rim Visitor Center, Montrose, CO 81401
- Coordinates
- 38.5778, -107.7243· View on OpenStreetMap
Visitor centers
| Visitor center | Standard hours | Phone | Passport stamp |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Rim Ranger Station | Daily: Closed | 970-641-2337 | Yes |
| South Rim Visitor Center | Daily: 8:00AM - 5:00PM | 970 641-2337 ext. 205 | Yes |
Campgrounds
| Campground | Total sites | Reservable | First-come | RVs | Fee | Reserve |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Portal Campground | 15 | 0 | 15 | Yes, up to 22 ft | $20 | — |
| North Rim Campground | 13 | 0 | 13 | Yes, up to 22 ft | $20 | — |
| South Rim Campground | 88 | 74 | 14 | Yes, up to 55 ft | $20 | Recreation.gov |
Site counts and fees are from the NPS campground data. Fees show the first listed rate; availability is not shown here — check the reservation site.
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More parks in Colorado
Amache National Historic SiteBent's Old Fort National Historic SiteCalifornia National Historic TrailColorado National MonumentCurecanti National Recreation AreaDinosaur National MonumentFlorissant Fossil Beds National MonumentGreat Sand Dunes National Park & PreserveHovenweep National MonumentMesa Verde National ParkOld Spanish National Historic TrailPony Express National Historic TrailAll in Colorado
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Nearest other NPS sites
Sources
- Park details, alerts, fees and passes, visitor centers and campgrounds: National Park Service Data API, snapshot of Oct 28, 2026.
- Official park page: https://www.nps.gov/blca/index.htm
- Data: National Park Service (NPS) Data API, U.S. Department of the Interior (developer.nps.gov). This product uses the NPS Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the National Park Service. The National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior do not endorse OpenParks. Photos are NPS images shown with their original credits; park descriptions are short excerpts credited to the NPS. Always confirm current conditions on nps.gov before you travel.