Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Black Canyon of the Gunnison, circa 2002

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is one of the most spectacular of the National Parks we've visited.

Our first time there was on the 1979 family camping trip to Colorado we made with another family. We'd just left our Durango campsite, where we'd had the chance to visit Mesa Verde National Park.  We hadn't planned to go there.  We needed a place to camp that night, and this was a place on the map that looked good.  What a good choice.  This is an amazing place.

 Black Canyon of the Gunnison, circa 1979

This is a steep, rugged canyon formed by erosion by the swift moving Gunnison River.  The name, Black Canyon refers not only to the color of the stone, but the fact that at places along the river, the cliffs are so steep and narrow, that sunlight seldom touches the bottom.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison, circa 1979

There are viewing areas along many of the cliffs.  It's a dizzying view across the canyon.  There are strong fences to keep you from falling.  Watch small children, anyway.  

Black Canyon of the Gunnison, circa 2002

In places, you can see all the way to the river.

In 2002, we made another family camping trip to Colorado.  This time, with our son and his family.

Our plan was to camp at a private campground in Southfork, then go on to Mesa Verde.  The forests fires that year had changed a lot of people's plans.  Mesa Verde was closed.  So, we decided we'd try Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

The campgroud there is very nice.  Both families had RVs, and we had full hook-up sites.  And, no forests fires there.  Our first stop was at one of those overlooks.  The four grandkids ran down the hill ahead of us.  By the time the adults got there, the then five-year-old had climbed over one of those strong fences, and was standing on the edge of the cliff.  Our hearts stopped for a second, but we got her back over without tragedy.  Whew!  The memory makes me a little shaky, even now.

The next morning, we drove down to the river.  Rock Rose has posted, that she and her husband hiked down to the river.  I'm glad we didn't see that option.   Driving was so much easier.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison, circa 2002

The water is beautiful.  We didn't fish, but now I wish we had.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison, circa 2002

We did do some hiking. 

Black Canyon of the Gunnison, circa 2002

And, just sitting...taking in the beauty.

Since time was getting short, we only spent one night there.  It would be worth another, longer trip.

There were many more photos taken on that trip.  Most of the best went into a scrapbook made for my daughter-in-law, to replace all the photos lost when their house burned.  I never had more prints made.

Sometimes, pictures don't get printed from negatives....some just live inside computers.   Going back and looking at these photos brings back memories of fun times in the past. 

Thanks to Pam at Digging for inspiring us all to tell our stories of visits to National Parks.   Visit her and see more stories.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison, circa 1979