Black Canyon of the Gunnison

https://www.nps.gov/blca https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Canyon_of_the_Gunnison_National_Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is in western Colorado. It surrounds part of a deep, steep-walled gorge carved through Precambrian rock by the Gunnison River. Roads and trails along the north and south rims have views of the Black Canyon's dramatic drops and the striated Painted Wall cliff. The winding East Portal Road descends to the river. Wildlife includes mule deer, elk and golden eagles. Big enough to be overwhelming, yet still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time. Come see some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. Forces of nature and the Gunnison River sculpted this canyon over two million years. The result is a vertical wilderness of rock, water, and sky. South Rim: 7 miles north on CO Highway 347 from the intersection with U.S. Highway 50 east of Montrose. Physical/GPS address is: 9800 Highway 347, Montrose, CO 81401 North Rim: 11 miles southwest of Crawford, Colorado. From CO Highway 92, turn west on Black Canyon Road approximately 3 miles south of Crawford. Follow the road signs to the park. North Rim Ranger Station The ranger station is staffed periodically by climbing rangers in the summer and closed in the winter. In the summer, maps and information are available on the ranger station porch. A self-pay station for the park entrance fee and a self-registration kiosk for wilderness permits are located outside. The North Rim is 11 miles southwest of Crawford, Colorado. From CO Highway 92, turn west on Black Canyon Road approximately 3 miles south of Crawford. Follow the road signs to the park. The last 7 miles are unpaved. The North Rim is closed to vehicles in the winter. South Rim Visitor Center This visitor center has exhibits, information, book and map sales, water (available seasonally), vault toilets, and hiking trailheads. It is open year-round with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. 7 miles north on CO Highway 347 from the intersection with U.S. Highway 50. GPS: N 38.5550 W -107.6866 East Portal Campground The East Portal Campground is located within Curecanti National Recreation Area, but is adjacent to and only accessible from Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, where the entrance fee is $30. The campground is located at the bottom of the canyon, along the Gunnison River. It is a small campground shaded by box elder trees. East Portal Road is closed to vehicles but open to pedestrians and cyclists in winter. The Bureau of Reclamation determines when the East Portal Road closes. Elevation: 6526 feet Standard Camping Fee 20.00 The nightly camping fee at East Portal is $20.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles. Senior / Access Camping Fee 10.00 Discounted camping rate for valid Senior or Access passes. The nightly camping fee with valid passes is $10.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles. East Portal Campground - Sites with vehicle access East Portal Campground - Sites with vehicle access Five out of the fifteen sites have vehicle access. East Portal Campground - Walk-in sites East Portal Campground - Walk-in sites Ten of the 15 sites are walk-in tent sites. North Rim Campground The North Rim campground is remote and has 13 sites dispersed among pinyon and juniper trees. Sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. The last 7 miles of the North Rim Road and the campground road are unpaved. Services are very limited. To protect vegetation and forest resources, please use designated tent pads and do not tie, hang, or attach anything to trees. Maximum combined length of RV, car and/or trailer is 22 feet. Generators are prohibited. Elevation: 7767 ft (2367.4 m). Standard Camping Fee 20.00 The nightly camping fee at the North Rim is $20.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles. Senior / Access Camping Fee 10.00 Discounted camping rate for valid Senior or Access passes. The nightly camping fee with valid passes is $10.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles. North Rim Campground Two tents (yellow and blue) with a picnic table in forested campground area Tent camping is popular at North Rim Campground South Rim Campground The South Rim Campground is located one mile from the South Rim Visitor Center. Reservations may be made on recreation.gov for mid-May to mid-October, and it is first-come first-served after that. Sites are fairly close together and partially shaded by Gambel oak and serviceberry bushes. Only Loop B offers 20 and 30 amp electric hookups. During the warm season, drinking water is available, but there are no showers or dish cleaning stations, and no water for RV tanks. Elevation: 8372 ft (2551.8 m) Loop A Standard Camping Fee 20.00 The nightly camping fee for Loop A at the South Rim is $20.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles. Loop A Senior / Access Camping Fee 10.00 Discounted camping rate for valid Senior or Access passes. The nightly camping fee with valid passes is $10.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles. Loop B Standard Camping Fee 34.00 The nightly camping fee for Loop B (RV sites with electricity) at the South Rim is $34.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles. Loop B Senior / Access Camping Fee 17.00 Discounted camping rate for valid Senior or Access passes. The nightly camping fee with valid passes is $17.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles. Loop C Standard Camping Fee 20.00 The nightly camping fee for Loop C at the South Rim is $20.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles. Loop C Senior / Access Camping Fee 10.00 Discounted camping rate for valid Senior or Access passes. The nightly camping fee with valid passes is $10.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles. Typical Tent Site picnic table and fire pit in a grassy clearing among the brush Loop A and C are mainly intended for tents. This is what a typical tent site looks like. Black Canyon near Tomichi Point Black Canyon near Tomichi Point Black Canyon near Tomichi Point Black Canyon near Painted Wall Black Canyon near Painted Wall Black Canyon near Painted Wall Landbird Monitoring in Northern Colorado Plateau Network Parks, 2018 Because birds can be sensitive to habitat change, they are good indicators of ecosystem integrity. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with the University of Delaware to assess breeding-bird species trends in three different habitats: low-elevation riparian, pinyon-juniper, and sage shrubland. Find out which species were increasing and declining at network parks as of 2018. Small, bright-orange bird with yellowish underfeathers. NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Black Canyon of The Gunnison National Park, Colorado Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports. steep narrow canyon and river Traits, Tradeoffs, and Pivot Points: How Climate, Plant, and Soil Properties Affect Vegetation Growth on the Northern Colorado Plateau As the northern Colorado Plateau heads into a hotter, drier future, there will be ecological winners and losers. Figuring out how different vegetation communities will fare is tricky. A recent study aimed to identify which vegetation communities might come out ahead, which might lag behind, and what might make the difference. Desert grassland in red rock setting. Pink wildflowers grow in foreground as storm brews in the sky. Wildland Fire in Douglas Fir: Western United States Douglas fir is widely distributed throughout the western United States, as well as southern British Columbia and northern Mexico. Douglas fir is able to survive without fire, its abundantly-produced seeds are lightweight and winged, allowing the wind to carry them to new locations where seedlings can be established. Close-up of Douglas fir bark and needles. Park Air Profiles - Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Air quality profile for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Gives park-specific information about air quality and air pollution impacts for Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP as well as the studies and monitoring conducted for Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP. Juniper tree and Painted Wall in Black Canyon Wildland Fire in Ponderosa Pine: Western United States This forest community generally exists in areas with annual rainfall of 25 inches or less. Extensive pure stands of this forest type are found in the southwestern U.S., central Washington and Oregon, southern Idaho and the Black Hills of South Dakota. Recently burned ponderosa pine forest. Herbert Hoover's National Parks Herbert Hoover is not thought of as one of our better presidents, but he made lasting contributions in the national parks he established. During Herbert Hoover's presidency from 1929 to 1933, the land designated for new national parks and monuments increased by 40 percent. Sepia photo of Herbert Hoover standing at the rim of the Grand Canyon. What We’re Learning and Why it Matters: Long-Term Monitoring on the Northern Colorado Plateau Knowing which key natural resources are found in the national parks, and whether they're stable or changing, helps decisionmakers make sound choices. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network is building that knowledge. After more than ten years of monitoring, we've learned a lot about park ecosystems, how they're changing, and what they may look like in the days to come. Find out what we’ve learned and how it’s being used to help managers plan for the future. Man stands in a stream, looking down at a handheld gauge. Landbird Population Trends in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2019 Because birds can be sensitive to habitat change, they are good indicators of ecosystem integrity. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with the University of Delaware to assess breeding-bird species trends in three different habitats: low-elevation riparian, pinyon-juniper, and sage shrubland. Find out which species were increasing and declining at network parks as of 2019. Bald eagle Water Quality in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network: Water Years 2016–2018 Once a month, ecologists collect water samples at dozens of monitoring sites in and near ten National Park Service units across Utah and Colorado. This consistent, long-term monitoring helps alert managers to existing and potential problems. Find out the results for 2016-2018 in this brief from the Northern Colorado Plateau Network. A monitoring crew of three samples a clear river flowing over brown rock and sand Water Quality Trends in Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP and Curecanti NRA, 2001–2014 “Is it safe to go in the water?” It’s a pretty basic question—and a really important one. In Curecanti National Recreation Area and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, the Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with park managers to find the answer. A report examined long-term trends in water quality at both parks from 2001 to 2014--and the news was mostly good. Blue reservoir with ice Series: Park Air Profiles Clean air matters for national parks around the country. Photo of clouds above the Grand Canyon, AZ Connie Rudd: Defining a Career Path Connie Rudd's career with the National Park Service began as a seasonal ranger in 1979. Her continual desire to learn propelled her to various sites and positions in interpretation, planning, and management until 2014, when she retired as Park Superintendent. In this Spotlight article, Rudd reflects on her career path, changes in interpretation, and being in upper management as a woman. Part of "Women’s Voices: Women in the National Park Service Oral History Project." Connie Rudd smiles for a portrait in an outdoor setting, wearing a NPS uniform and flathat Landbird Population Trends in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2020 Because birds can be sensitive to habitat change, they are good indicators of ecosystem integrity. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with the University of Delaware to assess breeding-bird species trends in three different habitats: low-elevation riparian, pinyon-juniper, and sage shrubland. Find out which species were increasing and declining at network parks as of 2020. Small beige bird with black beak and feet, brown back. Monitoring From Space: Using Satellite Imagery to Measure Landscape Conditions on the Ground Scientists from the Northern Colorado Plateau Network travel thousands of miles each year to collect data on plants, soils, and water across network parks. But it would be impossible to cover every square inch of the Northern Colorado Plateau with boots on the ground. Instead, we simultaneously monitor the parks with boots in space—satellite data that provide information at a much broader scale. Satellite and Earth in space Localized Drought Impacts on Northern Colorado Plateau Landbirds Birds of the desert southwest, a climate-change hotspot, are among the most vulnerable groups in the US. To help park managers plan for those changes, scientists evaluated the influence of water deficit on landbird communities at 11 national parks in Utah and Colorado. The results will help land managers to focus conservation efforts on places where certain species are most vulnerable to projected climate changes. A man wearing a clipboard looks through binoculars at dawn in field of sagebrush Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios. Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background South Rim Ski Trail Etiquette When the South Rim Drive closes to vehicles each winter, it becomes a peaceful paradise groomed specifically for self-propelled winter activities like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. A park ranger skis along the South Rim Ski Trail. Landbird Population Trends in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2021 Because birds can be sensitive to habitat change, they are good indicators of ecosystem integrity. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with the University of Delaware to assess breeding-bird species trends in three different habitats: low-elevation riparian, pinyon-juniper, and sage shrubland. Find out which species were increasing and declining at network parks as of 2021. Small dove with black spots on back of wings, long tail, and brownish-gray body. 2021 National Park Service Aviation Awards In 2021, the National Park Service Aviation Program awarded the Excellence in Mentorship Aviation Award, the Tom Clausing Aviation All Risk (Hazard) Program Award, Aviator of the Year Award, and the Wright Brothers Aviation Safety Award. Five men and a woman stand surrounding a Mesa Verde Helitack sign. Two men hold awards. NPS Establishes NPSage Initiative to Restore Sagebrush-Steppe Ecosystems Artemisia species, commonly known as sagebrush, are far from being the only species on the landscape. The sagebrush biome is composed of a rich mosaic of thousands of diverse plant species, which are largely driven by differences in climate, soil and elevation. These distinct sagebrush plant and animal communities occur in approximately 70 park units across the western U.S— all of which are experiencing significant threats from wildfire and droughts. Two NPS staff knealing next to plants growing in a nursery My Park Story: Dr. Bill Pollard Meet Dr. Bill Pollard, a member of the Volunteers-In-Parks program with the Trails & Rails program who brings his own unique perspective to volunteering with the National Park Service. Bill Pollard on a train speaking to someone who is out of frame. Making an Impact: Long-Term Monitoring of Natural Resources at Intermountain Region National Parks, 2021 Across the Intermountain Region, Inventory & Monitoring Division ecologists are helping to track the effects of climate change, provide baseline information for resource management, evaluate new technologies, and inspire the next generation of park stewards. This article highlights accomplishments achieved during fiscal year 2021. A man looks through binoculars at sunrise. Landbird Population Trends in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2022 Because birds can be sensitive to habitat change, they are good indicators of ecosystem integrity. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with the University of Delaware to assess breeding-bird species trends in three different habitats: low-elevation riparian, pinyon-juniper, and sage shrubland. Find out which species were increasing and declining at network parks as of 2022. Hairy woodpecker clings to the underside of a tree branch. A Changing Bimodal Climate Zone Means Changing Vegetation in Western National Parks When the climate changes enough, the vegetation communities growing in any given place will also change. Under an expanded bimodal climate zone, some plant communities in western national parks are more likely to change than others. National Park Service ecologists and partners investigated the future conditions that may force some of this change. Having this information can help park managers decide whether to resist, direct, or accept the change. Dark storm clouds and rainbow over mountains and saguaros. Project Profile: Produce Seed for Intermountain Sagebrush Systems The National Park Service will build in-house capacity for four strategically located parks to scale up their collection, production, and storage of genetically appropriate native seeds with a focus on ’workhorse’ species to meet their needs as well as parks in the same ecoregions. two men, one in nps uniform, survey plant seedlings in a nursery. Project Profile: Produce Seed for Intermountain Grasslands The National Park Service and organizations of the Southwest Seed Partnership will implement the National Seed Strategy and associated revegetation and restoration efforts in grassland ecosystems in Intermountain Region parks. The project focuses on native plant development and involves collecting, producing, cleaning, testing, tracking, and storing seeds from native species. a man kneels in a field and puts collected seeds into a 5 gallon bucket Park Managers look to Bipartisan Infrastructure Law projects to break cycle of fire-driven ecosystem losses in the West Park managers look to Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to break the cycle of fire-driven ecosystem losses in the West. The project focus, as part of a larger program that the National Park Service calls its NPSage Initiative, is on collaborative work to build capacity across four priority seed zones of the Intermountain Region: 17 parks in the Colorado Plateau and Rocky Mountains ecoregions of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. rows of tall grasses being grown for restoration Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park Service To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. Landbird Population Trends in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2023 Because birds can be sensitive to habitat change, they are good indicators of ecosystem integrity. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with the University of Delaware to assess breeding-bird species trends in three different habitats: low-elevation riparian, pinyon-juniper, and sage shrubland. Find out which species were increasing and declining at network parks as of 2023. A speckled white bird floats on blue water. Project Profile: Manage Invasive Plants and Re-Seed Degraded Lands to Maintain Healthy Rangelands in Intermountain Region Park Units The National Park Service will improve rangeland conditions and climate resilience across parks in Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. This will include rangeland ecosystem assessments, the monitoring of forage availability and vegetation conditions, the restoration of rangeland infrastructure and grazing allotments, and adding staff capacity in parks. The moon rises over a dark desert landscape, with shrubs in the foreground. Project Profile: Resilient Sagebrush Ecosystems (NPSage) The National Park Service will expand NPSage collaborative ecosystem restoration projects and integrate climate vulnerability planning and resiliency enhancement actions in parks across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Colorado, Northern California, and Arizona. Bucket of seeds Saving the Heart of the American West’s Largest Landscape Sagebrush, America’s most imperiled ecosystem, is half of what it once was. Aided by recent infrastructure funding, a dedicated community of scientists is racing to protect the best of what’s left. Vast, flat, sagebrush landscape with mountains in the distance viewed from a lichen covered outcrop.