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

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Details

Informations

Distance 957 m

Uphill 480 m

Downhill 0 m

Weather

Wednesday 29 October

12°C

-1°C

0 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Montrose County, Colorado, United States

Other Popular Places to Check Out

South Rim Visitor Center, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

View of Black Canyon from North Vista Trail

Oak Flat Loop Trail

Warner Point Nature Trail

Gunnison Point Viewpoint

Green Mountain Summit

Uplands Trail

The Fissures Viewpoint

Poison Spring Hill

East Portal Trail

North Rim Ranger Station

Long Draw River Access

Gunnison Route (Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness)

1. Gunnison Route — South Rim — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️