Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a national park of the United States located in western Colorado and managed by the National Park Service.
A national park, 11 mi northeast of Montrose
Visits fell 26% in 2025
The National Park Service counted 250,086 visitors in 2025, down from 335,862 the year before. Visitors ↓
You can sleep inside the park
1 place to stay are inside the park: North Rim Campground. The nearest town with more is Montrose. Where to stay ↓
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 15°. When to go ↓
Best months: May and Sep
May and September are the mild months, with highs of 74–79°. When to go ↓
An airport 12 miles away
Montrose Regional (MTJ) has airline service, about 12 miles from Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Written from National Park Service visitor counts, NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia. Updated when the Park Service posts a new month.
Crowds and weather, month by month
Bars: average monthly visitors, 2022–2025. Line: the typical afternoon high. Green months are mild and quieter than average.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a national park of the United States located in western Colorado and managed by the National Park Service. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison was established as a national monument on March 2, 1933. It was redesignated a national park on October 21, 1999, and incorporated 4,000 acres owned by the Bureau of Land Management. The Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area was created at the same time. There are two primary entrances to the park: the south rim entrance is located 15 miles (24 km) east of Montrose, while the north rim entrance is 11 miles (18 km) south of Crawford and is closed in the winter. The park contains 12 miles (19 km) of the 48-mile-long (77 km) Gunnison River.
- Type
- National Park
- Established
- 1933
- Area
- 48 square miles
- Run by
- National Park Service
- Listed
- International Dark Sky Park (2015)
- Wikipedia readers
- 55K a year
- Official site
- nps.gov/blca
Before you go
- Private Vehicle$30
- Motorcycle$25
- Per Person$15
- Commercial Entrance - Sedan$25
Where to stay near Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
You can sleep inside the park (1 place). The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Montrose (27) and Crawford (5).
Stay in the park
- North Rim Campground campground
Montrose
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
21,583 people
11 mi southwest of South Rim Visitor Center · 7 mi to the park
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From the visitor center | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montrose | 11 mi southwest | 15 min | 27 14 hotels · 2 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 4 lodges & cabins · 4 campgrounds · 2 RV parks | 21,583 | $388K | C |
| Crawford | 11 mi north | 15 min | 5 2 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins | 411 | $208K | — |
| Colona | 17 mi south | 25 min | 4 2 campgrounds · 2 RV parks | 108 | — | — |
| Paonia | 22 mi north | 35 min | 8 1 hotel · 2 motels · 3 inns & B&Bs · 1 hostel · 1 RV park | 1,477 | $344K | — |
| Delta | 26 mi northwest | 40 min | 9 4 hotels · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 RV park | 9,802 | $283K | C− |
| Ridgway | 28 mi south | 40 min | 7 4 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground | 1,324 | $710K | — |
| Cedaredge | 27 mi northwest | 40 min | 5 1 hotel · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 RV park | 2,448 | $277K | — |
| Olathe | 16 mi west | 25 min | 1 1 RV park | 1,927 | $246K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service, from the visitor center
Also near Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Other well-known places within 64 miles.
52 mi MountainMaroon Bells
40 mi MountainGrand Mesa
63 mi Ski areaAspen Mountain138 runs · 3,299 ft vertical
61 mi National MonumentColorado National Monument483K visitors a year
47 mi Ski areaCrested Butte Mountain Resort93 runs · 2,315 ft vertical60 mi Ski areaAspen Snowmass107 runs · 4,403 ft vertical46 mi Ski areaTelluride Ski Area161 runs · 3,803 ft vertical
41 mi National forestUncompahgre National ForestPhoto credits
Maroon Bells: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Grand Mesa: DrunkDriver, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Aspen Mountain: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Colorado National Monument: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Crested Butte Mountain Resort: Draconrex, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Uncompahgre National Forest: Unknown authorUnknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
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250,086 visitors in 2025
Every full year the Park Service has counted. 2020 (gold) was the pandemic year. Green is the record (2019).
Visiting Black Canyon of the Gunnison
What town is Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park near?
Montrose, CO, about 11 miles southwest.
When is the best time to visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park?
May and September, with highs of 74–79°. June is the busiest month (about 48,658 visitors).
How many people visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park each year?
250,086 in 2025, according to the National Park Service. The record is 432,818, set in 2019.
What is the closest airport to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park?
Montrose Regional (MTJ), about 12 miles away. The nearest big hub is City of Colorado Springs Municipal (COS), about 162 miles.
Where should I stay near Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park?
Inside the park: North Rim Campground. Nearby: Montrose (11 mi, 27 places to stay), Crawford (11 mi, 5 places to stay) and Colona (17 mi, 4 places to stay).
Tips from people in Montrose
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Montrose’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · National Park Service visitor use statistics · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.