This dramatic overhead view of the Black Canyon, seen from Pioneer Point, quickly illustrates how this narrow gorge received its name. The canyon’s near vertical walls, dropping nearly 2,700 feet near Warner Point, keep the Gunnison River in the shade most of the day. Here, the Gunnison, before being slowed with a series of dams, has carved out a breathtaking gorge through crystalline rock, the deepest in Colorado. Erosion has exposed some of the oldest rocks on earth, some dating to the Precambrian Era nearly two billion years old.
     The spectacular canyonland can be easily viewed from both the north and south rims. Overlooks are found either roadside or short trails to the rim. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park offers a half dozen trails along the rims, while no maintained or marked trails into the canyon exist. Unofficial routes are sketchy and should be attempted by only an experienced adventurer. Technical climbing routes are long, multi-pitched routes, requiring advanced skills and preparation. For the average visitor, rim trails vary from one-third mile to seven miles, offering sufficient thrills in a cliffside hike.