Black Canyon of the Gunnison is impressive. There is just something about canyons. By this point in my trip – about 3 months in – I had seen a few. Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a straight up stunner. “…no other canyon in North America combines the depth, narrowness, sheerness and somber countenance of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison,” says geologist William Hansen. This guy knows what he’s taking about. Early travelers called it Black Canyon because of that sheerness and narrowness – sunlight didn’t put a dent in the shadows. Its a wild canyon.

I walked the Rim Rock Trail on my second day in the park. I was staying at the South Rim Campground, where the trail begins. It’s an easy walk with tons of views.  Like canyons of the southwest, the Black Canyon shows off it’s fins.

The Gunnison River has been cutting through the canyon for 2 million years.