Gunnison Route (Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness)

If you want to hike to the inner canyon you need a wilderness permit, which can be obtained at the South Rim Visit Center, and the right gear to get down there. Microspikes are recommended during early spring, fall, and winter. Hiking poles can also be very useful. If you plan to camp at the river, don't forget your overnight gear.

That being said, this is the easiest of all the inner canyon hikes. This is the only hike that takes you to the canyon floor that offers a chain to help on steeper sections. That does not mean this is for everybody. It is still a very tough and strenuous hike/scramble. The Gunnison Route is 1.5 miles long with a vertical drop of 1800 ft. Expect a round trip to be between 3 and 4 hours.

For campers, there are 0.75 miles of river access, three campsites, and an outhouse upstream.

Before you venture out on an inner canyon hike/scramble you have to realize they all come with a risk. They are very strenuous, there could be poison ivy everywhere, there are very loose rocks, big ledges to climb down and up to, and routing is difficult. Talk to a ranger and do your own research before doing them.

Info about Wilderness Permits: nps.gov/blca/planyourvisit/innercanyon.htm