So you’re planning a trip to the western side of Colorado, also known as the western slope, and your brain immediately jumps to Aspen or Telluride which honestly, fair. They’re beautiful, but Black Canyon of the Gunnison, is something else entirely.
Before you do all that, I really want you to think about spending at least a day or two in Montrose and visiting Black Canyon of the Gunnison. I do not think enough people talk about how incredible this place is.
And if you have never heard of Black Canyon before, the best way I can explain it is it feels like if the Grand Canyon and a mountain forest had a baby.
It is absolutely stunning.
You walk up to the rim thinking you understand what a canyon is and then your brain quietly refuses the information for a few seconds because the scale does not make sense at first. Some parts of the canyon are nearly as deep as the Empire State Building is tall, which feels insane when you are standing there looking down into it.
The canyon feels darker and steeper than a lot of other places too. Less carved out and more split open somehow.
One of the best parts is that Black Canyon is still one of the lesser visited national parks in the country right now. Which means you are not usually dealing with the massive crowds you see at places like Yosemite or Yellowstone. You are not waiting hours to get in or fighting hundreds of people for parking spots at every overlook.
It still feels quieter. A little wilder. A little more like itself.
South Rim vs North Rim
The park has two rims, the South Rim and the North Rim. The South Rim is the easier and more popular side to access from Montrose and sits right off Highway 50. The North Rim is more remote and takes longer to reach, but both have incredible views and overlooks all along the drive.
One thing that surprises a lot of people though is you cannot cut across the canyon from one rim to the other. If you want to switch sides, you actually have to drive all the way back around the outside of the canyon.
And the drive itself is part of the experience.
Heading up toward the South Rim from Highway 50, you start climbing and then all these little ranches and farms start appearing on this huge green plateau. Then you look south and can see clear across toward the San Juans with Montrose spread out below you.
It is one of those drives where you keep wanting to pull over every five minutes.
Hiking, Overlooks, and Things To Do
Once you are inside the park there are tons of overlooks, hiking trails, and pull offs where you can stop and take everything in. Some people spend the day hiking while others drive and stop at viewpoints, and both are great options.
There is an incredible moderate level trail near the South Rim visitor area. This trail drops down toward the Gunnison River and feels like entering a completely different world compared to standing up on the rim above.
But even if hiking is not your thing, you can still have an amazing experience here driving through the park, stopping at overlooks, reading about the geology, and watching climbers way down in the canyon.
Dark Sky Programs and Night Skies
And if you happen to visit during one of the astronomy or dark sky programs in the summer, make it a must go.
Montrose is an International Dark Sky Community. Which means they work to reduce light pollution, and the night skies out here are unreal especially if you are used to living in bigger cities. You can see thousands and thousands of stars overhead and it makes you realize how much most of us do not see any more living around constant light.
The visitor center and ranger station are also worth stopping at. They have maps, books, hiking recommendations, and some really good t-shirt designs every time I go in there. I somehow always end up wanting another one.
Why You Should Spend Time in Montrose Too
After spending the day at Black Canyon, I recommend actually spending time in Montrose too instead of immediately driving off to the next famous stop.
Grab coffee downtown. Walk through some of the local shops. Stop by Curiouser Books or bite at Ms So or go wander around one of the antique shops for a bit.
One of my favorite ways to end the day is grabbing a book and heading down to Riverbottom Park for a quieter evening after being up at the canyon all day.
Black Canyon feels like one of those places that still surprises people because so many travelers have not put it on their radar yet.
And honestly? That is part of what makes it so special.
If you want to read more about what I recommend in Montrose, check out one of my other blog posts below. Or check out https://visitmontrose.com/
I will see you on the next Wild Crossing!
- How to Plan a Colorado Ski Trip for 2026–27: What to Book First
- 15 Things to Do in Montrose, Colorado Beyond Black Canyon
- Ouray from Montrose: The Mountain Town Day Trip That Actually Works
- A Day Trip from Montrose Colorado: Cedaredge, Hotchkiss, Paonia, and Big B’s
- Best Day Trips from Montrose Colorado: Black Canyon, Ouray, Telluride and More
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