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Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO

In Travel, US National Parks • 2 Comments

My expectations were low. I mean, we’ve been to the Grand Canyon. How can this not-so-known canyon beat that? Well, I was wowed for sure. Compared to the Grand Canyon, this one is very narrow, steep and deep. It’s about 550 m (1800 ft) deep, but only 330 m (1100 ft) from one edge to the other.
The north rim is not as popular, but the drive there is just gorgeous, especially in the fall.

North rim drive
North rim drive
All the fall colors
All the fall colors
Stopping at every curve to photograph these gorgeous fall colors
Stopping at every curve to photograph these gorgeous fall colors

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Because there are no direct roads or bridges across the canyon, it takes about 2 hours to get to the south rim from the north side.

On the way to the South rim, these guys posed very nicely for me
On the way to the South rim, these guys posed very nicely for me
Also on the way to the South rim
Also on the way to the South rim

It was cold over there. We had to wear extra layers and that helped us enjoy a few snow storms while exploring the rims.

It snowed a few times during the day
It snowed a few times during the day
Exploring the South rim. One minute the sun was shining, the next it was snowing
Exploring the South rim. One minute the sun was shining, the next it was snowing

The walls are solid rock going straight down.

More steep cliffs
More steep cliffs
Steep cliffs
Steep cliffs
That's a one person tent circled in the picture on the left. Have no idea how, why and where he/she is headed. That crazy!
That’s a one person tent circled in the picture on the left. Have no idea how, why and where he/she is headed. That crazy!

The sun reaches the bottom of the canyon only at midday.

The Painted Wall and the Gunnison river
The Painted Wall and the Gunnison river
The sun reached the river at the bottom of the canyon
The sun reached the river at the bottom of the canyon
Outside the park, on the way back to Durango
Outside the park, on the way back to Durango

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October 23, 2014

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