The Best Stops at Black Canyon of the Gunnison South Rim (& what to skip)
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is the Grand Canyon of Colorado. Not for the faint of heart, this incredible canyon lies a five-hour drive west of Denver where you’ll be both in awe and perhaps a little terrified by the steep and narrow landscape. Although the canyon is narrow, it takes several hours to drive from one side of the canyon to the other. Because of this, most visitors stick to exploring this park via the scenic South Rim Road to experience some of the best views of the canyon. This seven-mile scenic drive will be your gateway to 12 overlooks along the south rim of the canyon. Jaw-dropping views await you here, but some viewpoints can get repetitive, so it’s not necessary to stop at all of them. This guide will break down each viewpoint on the south rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison so you know which ones are the best stops and which ones you can skip.
This is your guide to the best stops along South Rim Road and which ones to skip in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
The Basics
Entrance Fee: $30/vehicle. If you’re planning to visit three or more National Parks this year, be sure to pick up an America the Beautiful Pass to save on entrance fees.
Location: Montrose, Colorado, USA
Hours: 24/7, year-round. Most roads, trails, and facilities close for the winter.
Notable Wildlife: Bighorn sheep, elk, black bears, marmots, otters.
Pets: Leashed pets are allowed on roads, in campgrounds, at overlooks, and on a few trails.
The Best Stops at Black Canyon of the Gunnison South Rim (& what to skip)
Tomichi Point
Distance: 10 ft. (3 m)
Tomichi Point is located right before the visitor center and will offer you your first glimpse into the canyon. It’s a quick pull-off that doesn’t require any walking to reach, so it’s worth making a short stop here. It’s also located along the Rim Rock Trail, so if you’re planning to do that hike, you’ll pass by this overlook along the way.
Gunnison Point
Distance: 100 yards (91 m)
You’ll definitely want to make a stop at Gunnison Point! Sweeping panoramic views and a clear look into the incredible depth of the canyon await you here. This stop shares a parking lot with the visitor center, so it’s also an ultra-convenient overlook to visit.
Pulpit Rock Overlook
Distance: 134 yards (122.5 m)
While many of the overlooks along South Rim Road give you a look into the depth of the canyon, at Pulpit Rock Overlook you’ll really come to appreciate how narrow it is as well. With expansive views of the canyon in each direction, this is a popular stop.
Cross Fissures View
Distance: 357 yards (326.5 m)
This stop adds a little variety to the viewpoints at Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Rather than the sweeping views seen at the previous overlooks, this stop gives you a look at the deep cracks, or fissures, in the canyon walls. The jagged rocks make for a unique photo backdrop as well! It requires a longer walk than most of the other viewpoints, but I thought it was worth it.
Rock Point
Distance: 294 yards (269 m)
This viewpoint is named for the giant rock creating a bend in the river below. The view is fairly underwhelming, so I recommend skipping this one. There are much better river views further on down South Rim Road.
Devils Lookout
Distance: 607 Yards (555 m)
Getting to this overlook requires a substantially longer walk than what’s needed to reach any of the others. The view at the end is nice, but it pales in comparison to other spots along the South Rim Road. If you’re looking for a short hike, this is an easy trail with the bonus of a fairly nice canyon overlook. If you’re just in search of a pretty view, I would skip this one. The payoff here isn’t really worth it.
Chasm View
Distance: 100 yards (91 m)
This viewpoint is where the canyon reaches its narrowest point. Thousands of feet below, the river looks almost entirely still, but at Chasm View you’ll begin to hear signs of the rushing water carving its way through the canyon. This is definitely worth a stop along the South Rim.
Painted Wall View
The Painted Wall is one of the most striking geological landmarks in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. At a height of 2,250 ft (686 m), it’s also the tallest cliff in Colorado. You’ll see the Painted Wall from several vantage points throughout the park, but this overlook has the best view of the wall and its unique striping pattern.
Cedar Point
This was my favorite overlook in the park! Not only does it have an incredible view of the canyon and the rushing river below, but the juniper and cedar trees along the way add some much-needed variety. This viewpoint and the short trail leading up to it also offer another great view of the Painted Wall.
Dragon Point
Distance: 100 yards (91 m)
Like Cedar Point, Dragon Point has a spectacular view of the canyon and the Gunnison River. The view here is stunning, but it’s very similar to Cedar Point. If you’re running low on time or don’t want to put in the extra steps, you could definitely skip one or the other. This walk to Dragon Point is shorter, but I thought the walk to Cedar Point was a little more enjoyable. Choose whichever works best for you!
Sunset View
Distance: 10 ft (3 m)
If you need a spot to stop for a picnic, the picnic tables here make it a good place to do so. Otherwise, this overlook doesn’t really warrant a stop. The views from Cedar Point and Dragon Point are more scenic, and although they require more of a walk, they’re worth it.
High Point
Distance: 100 yards (91 m)
The last stop along South Rim Road is High Point. This overlook is where you’ll find the trailhead for the Warner Point trail, and it’s only worth stopping here if you plan on doing that hike. This viewpoint doesn’t face the canyon and instead looks out over the valley and the town of Montrose. It’s a relatively flat and unexciting view.
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BONUS: East Portal Road
If you have time, I highly recommend making the drive down the canyon via East Portal Road at the south end of the park. It’s an incredibly scenic drive throughout, and getting to see the landscape from both atop and within the canyon is a marvel. As you approach, you’ll see signs warning you of the steep grade and hairpin turns, but don’t let that hold you back. While you’ll certainly want to proceed with caution and follow the instructions to shift to a low gear, the drive was much less terrifying than I expected, and I comfortably did it on my own.
If you have limited time on your trip, you can definitely get a good feel for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park without making every stop on South Rim Road. Overall, I recommend stopping at these overlooks and skipping the rest:
- Tomichi Point
- Gunnison Point
- Pulpit Rock Overlook
- Cross Fissures View
- Chasm View
- Painted Wall View
- Cedar Point or Dragon Point
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