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. 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. Torrence and Fellows Expedition - 1901 William Torrence, Abraham Lincoln Fellows, and their expedition crew successfully navigated the turbulent, dangerous waters of Black Canyon to continue surveying for a tunnel. Black and white drawing of two men shaking hands. They are wearing jackets and broad brim hats. Bryant Expedition - 1883 Byron Bryant's expedition continued exploration of the "Grand Canyon of the Gunnison" for railroad opportunities during the winter of 1883 and 1884. Their survey helped advise the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad to not continue through Black Canyon. Black Canyon walls and rim have snow, sky has clouds. Dark river is at the bottom. Gunnison Expedition - 1853 Lieutenant John W. Gunnison, Lieutenant Edward G. Beckwith, and crew traveled from the Great Plains, over the Rocky Mountains, and into the Tomichi Valley. The expedition continued to follow the Grand River (Gunnison River). The Gunnison Expedition report contains the first official description of the Black Canyon. Lithograph depicting a scene with tall pinnacle spires and mesas. Pelton Expedition - 1900 John Pelton's expedition was focused on surveying for a tunnel to bring water into the Uncompahgre Valley. The challenging and dangerous conditions within the canyon forced the crew to abandon the trip early. Rushing rapids between dark canyon walls. Sunlight is visible farther upstream. Kolb Expedition - 1916 Kolb was one of the first to conduct a lengthy recreational trip down the Gunnison River through Black Canyon. Historic black and white image of a person looking at rapids between steep canyon walls. Landbird Population Trends in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2024 Northern Colorado Plateau Network’s long-term landbird monitoring program provides habitat-based updates for bird population status and trends in the parks in the Northern Colorado Plateau. These inform scientists and managers about changes in bird populations and about the health of the habitats they depend on. Learn more about which species were detected in the network parks for the first time and which landbird populations were increasing or declining between 2005 - 2024. A bird sitting in a tree.

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Cutting through Rock with Water … Weather … and Time GUNNISON RIVER—NPS / MURRAY SHOEMAKER American dipper Cinclus mexicanus Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Colorado © MICK THOMPSON The roaring of the river reverberated and echoed like demons howling over their prey. Abraham Lincoln Fellows, 1901 Song of the Gunnison Black Canyon’s natural music can be percussive, gentle, or raucous. Over the rim at Gunnison Point, where you are mindful of loose rock that could send you sliding into the blackness, a muffled sound reaches up to you. You listen, hard. Is that the wind or the river 1,800 feet (548 m) below you? Close your eyes, and the sound gently envelops you. Open them, and a violet-green swallow passes but adds no sound, or did it? A white-throated swift soars within arm’s reach, riding a thermal, its wings adding the slightest bit of flutter to the river’s distant rush. A wind gust hits your cheek. From below comes the sound of a peregrine falcon perched beneath a sheltering rock. A Powerful Partnership John W. Gunnison, an explorer and engineer seeking a Pacific railroad passage in the 1850s, judged Black Canyon impenetrable and difficult to cross. He could not have known that the river had hewn the canyon walls from a dome of extremely resistant crystalline rock nearly two billion years old. A geological event now known as the Gunnison Uplift had raised the canyon’s rock from deep in Earth’s basement. You sleep that night beneath the Milky Way, frothy with stars, as you’ve never seen it before. In the morning, despite being warned of the steep grade, poison ivy, and heat, you hike to the river. In time the roar builds to a crescendo, until it cancels out all other sounds. You look warily at the 10-foot (3 m) boulders casually scattered about. Any minute one could come crashing down. Imagine the power and the sharp crack as rock meets rock. Vertical Views Black Canyon has some of the darkest skies over the United States. The skies crown a sliver of habitat for nocturnal animals and plants that need the darkness to survive. Pinyon-juniper and Gambel oak woodlands grow near the canyon rims and on the gentler slopes, while lone trees occupy crevices and narrow gorges. Some pinyon and juniper trees are centuries old. Dark spires of Douglas-fir rise from inner canyon ridges. In fall aspen trees glow yellow. Mosses and ferns attach to cool, shaded, moist walls. Box elders cling defiantly to river banks, while most plants struggle at the bottom. You’ll mainly find rocks there, as explorer Abraham Lincoln Fellows did in 1901: “Gigantic boulders had fallen in from the cliffs, the water flowing 100 feet [30 m] or more beneath these boulders … smooth and polished to such an extent that it was only with the greatest difficulty they could be surmounted.” Night sky © PHILIP SCHEETZ Utah Juniper Juniperus osteosperma Gunnison sage-grouse Pinyon-juniper woodland Centrocercus minimus JEANNIE STAFFORD / USFWS Expanses of silver-blue sagebrush, grasses, and forbs at the North Rim support the Gunnison sage-grouse, a threatened species. Bobcats, mountain lions, and black bears are among the mammals that roam both rims. Bighorn sheep delicately balance on the inner canyon’s ledges. American dippers share the water with beavers and river otters. Nocturnal ringtails may nestle among boulders at the canyon bottom. Below: The Painted Wall from Cedar Point, South Rim. Veins of pink, igneous pegmatite run horizontally through canyon walls of blue-black, metamorphic gneiss. Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus © GREG GARD Black Canyon of the Gunnison Time is the Gunnison River’s unseen but equal partner. Two million years ago, its course determined by the location of high mountain ranges (below), the river began cutting through the uplift’s core with rocks, gravel, and sediment. Empowered by floodwaters, it gained speed through a steep descent from the surrounding mountains. It wielded huge boulders that scoured trees and chiseled the canyon bottom— which had not yet been reached. Sagebrush Mule deer Odocoileus hemionus © JAO VAN DE LAGEMAAT Gambel oak Quercus gambelii Gambel oak woodland ALL IMAGES—NPS UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii Pegmatite Inner canyon © JAO VAN DE LAGEMAAT Gneiss Ringtail Bassariscus astutus © DAVE WELLING White-throated swift Aeronautes saxatalis © DOUG SHURMAN Along the river © JACK BAUER Violet-green swallow Tachycineta thalassina © MARK WYNJA Granite Painted Wall 2,250 ft (686 m) The Narrows 40 ft (12 m) Chasm View 1,100 ft (335 m) Schist Steep, Deep, and Narrow Visiting Black Canyon of the Gunnison Plan Your Visit Start at the South Rim Visitor Center for information, exhibits, publications, wilderness permits, and Junior Ranger booklets. Check the website for hours. Accommodations The park has two campgrounds for overnight accommodations. Sites at North Rim Campground (open



Adventures in Black Canyon Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Official Junior Ranger Activity Book o t e m o c l We n o y n a C Blackf the Gunnison o National PARK! To Earn Your Junior Ranger Badge: • Page 6 is a REQUIRED page. • Complete as many activity pages as your age. • When you are finished, bring your book back to the visitor center to receive your badge. Follow the Junior Ranger Rules: • SAFETY FIRST! - Stay at least a body length from the edge of the canyon. - Do not climb on railings. - Do not throw rocks over the canyon rim. - Store food where bears and other wildlife can’t get it. - Keep a safe distance from wildlife. • Take care of the park. Leave it better than you found it. • Be prepared. This means wear sunscreen and a hat, sturdy shoes, and carry plenty of water. Adults: ork ed to w ncourag e e r a u Yo child. ith your w ly e s clo ed present estions u q y n a M ended e openhere ar courage nt to en and mea . Place of ideas n io s s u disc correct hasis on less emp emphasis nd more a , s r e answ covery. ss of dis e c o r p k on the the wor lp, but e h n a c You ’s own. ur child o y e b should 2 BINGO! Find a sagebrush and sketch it below. Smell it! Have a picnic. Sit in a quiet place for two minutes. Visit East Portal. Touch a juniper tree. Can you hear birds? The river? How many fish can you spot? ___________________ Hint: Look for a tree with small, hard blue berries. Attend a Ranger program. Find an animal’s home. Sketch it. Who lives there? Clean up your trash. Don’t attract bears, birds, or chipmunks! Look for lichen growing on the rocks. Circle the colors that you find. Black Purple Green Orange Blue Yellow Red White Sketch a wildflower. ___________________ Find an animal track and sketch it. Whose is it ? What would you hunt for dinner? ___________________ ___________________ Wave to a Ask a Park Ranger a question. mule deer. Don t’ pick it! Hide under a small tree or under a bush like a mountain lion. Hike a park trail. On the South Rim you can try the Warner Point Trail or the Oak Flat Trail. On the North Rim try to hike to Exclamation Point on the North Vista Trail. Sketch an oak leaf. Hint: Look for acorns under the tree. Spot a soaring bird. Hint: Look up! n o As you explore the park, try to get a BINGO! by crossing out y n a C k c a l B four boxes in a row, either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. 3 ! ! K E R A V I E L As you travel through the park, A R A N G I U IHLDAT BW you are likely to visit many overlooks. Circle one overlook below and visit it in order to complete these two pages. South Rim: Pulpit Rock Chasm View Sunset View North Rim: Narrows View Exclamation Point Kneeling Camel View The rock that makes up the Black Canyon’s walls is ancient! Some of the rock that you can see is over 1.8 billion (1,800,000,000) years old. This rock formed deep underground and is extremely hard. It was lifted to the surface of the earth about 65 million (65,000,000) years ago during the Gunnison Uplift. The Gunnison River has been forming the canyon by cutting through the rock for the past 2 million (2,000,000) years. The canyon gets a little bit deeper each year. HINT: in 1 year, the river carves approximately the thickness of this piece of paper. How many years would it take to cut the canyon as deep as your Junior Ranger book’s thickness? __________________ Can you hear the river? What does it sound like? Is it moving quickly or slowly? _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ Can you see the river? Sketch what you can see. Do you know which direction the river is flowing? It may be hard to tell. The Gunnison River flows northwest (NW) through the canyon. Use the compass rose on the next page to determine whether the river is moving from left to right or right to left below you. (Circle answer below.) 4 I am standing on the South Rim North Rim Below me, the Gunnison River is flowing from left to right right to left N Nw NE W SE SW Grand Junction E DENVER S COMPASS ROSE PACIFIC OCEAN SCALE (MILES) 0 100 200 MEXICO Melting snow from the West Elk and San Juan Mountains joins the Gunnison River, which flows through Blue Mesa Reservoir and the Black Canyon, and then joins the Colorado River in Grand Junction. The Colorado River flows all the way to the Pacific Ocean. How many mountains can you count around you? __________ Can you see the ocean? __________ Using the scale on the map, estimate how far you are from the ocean: ________________________ Imagine that you are a drop of water in the Black Canyon. You travel in the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers all the way to the Pacifc Ocean. How many states do you pass through?__________ How many countries do you visit? __________ In reality, the Colorado River no longer reaches the Pacifc Ocean. It has run dry in

Adventures in Black Canyon Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Curecanti National Recreation Area Official Junior Ranger Activity Book o t e m o c l We ! n o y n a C Black Adults, read Aloud... To Earn Your Junior Ranger Badge: • Complete any 4 pages. • When you are finished, bring your book back to the visitor center to receive your badge. Follow the Junior Ranger Rules: • SAFETY FIRST! - Stick close to an adult. Do not get near the canyon edge. - Do not climb on railings. - Do not throw rocks over the canyon rim. - Store food where bears and other wildlife can’t get it. - Keep a safe distance from wildlife. - Be prepared. This means wear sunscreen, a hat, and sturdy shoes. Carry plenty of water. • Take care of the park. Leave it better than you found it. her: Work tokgeist suggested his boo s While t s, adult year old e for 4-6 s clo ly to work d e it v in are assist ild, and h c r u o ge with y Encoura eded. e n e r e wh about, o think t d il h c n your their ow iculate t r a d n a ou are ven if y e , s r e answ g them. recordin e n o e h t uld be ired sho u q e r ” k ll. “Wor un for a al and f n io t a c u ed 2 a t a h W Draw the Black Canyon! Over millions of years, the Gunnison River carved through hard rock to create this deep, narrow canyon. VIEW! Go to an overlook. Sit in a safe place. Draw what you see. Find a rock that is smaller than your fst, but bigger than your thumb. What color is your rock? How hard is it? Black soft like play dough Gray Pink White hard like a cookie Purple harder than a penny (hint: it scratches a penny) Is it alright to throw rocks or anything else into the canyon? Yes No Is it alright to keep rocks or other objects found in a national park? Yes No When you are fnished, fnd a special place to leave your rock. 3 Are you my Mother? Draw lines to match each adult with its young. Adult Young Butterfy Fry Doe Caterpillar Trout Eaglet Eagle Fawn Extra: Circle the animals you see while at the park. 4 Explore the ! N O Y N A C R E N WILD IN In a Wilderness canyon you must tread lightly. It is hard work to climb down into the rugged, remote, inner canyon. It is even harder to climb back up! Explore the inner canyon by completing this page. I counted I counted I counted _________ _________ _________ plants. animals. people. 5 Who lives He re? Each riddle gives hints about something that lives here. Fill in the missing letters to solve the riddle. Check your answer by connecting the dots. 4 3 5 6 2 1 13 8 12 I move quickly wherever I go. If I lose my tail, it just might regrow! 11 10 l 7 z 9 r 1 2 4 3 6 In spring I am green, but later turn brown. 5 I blow in the wind, and fall to the ground. 7 8 10 9 11 6 l f T i c -Ta c -To e ! Attend a Ranger program… Spot a soaring bird. Have a picnic. Clean up your trash. …or ask a Park Ranger a question. Hint: Look up! Don’t attract bears, birds, or chipmunks! Hike a park trail. Visit two overlooks. Be an explorer! Imagine walking in the shoes of a past explorer, what would you choose? Float the Gunnison River Climb up a rock wall Ride a train (circle one) Smell sagebrush or a wild flower. Take a picture with your family or friends. Remember: Don’t pick it! Watch a bug for 1 minute. Sketch it. Remember: Don’t touch! Black CanyonAs you explore the park, try to get a Tic-Tac-Toe! Cross out three boxes in a row, either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. 7 _________________________________________________________ Date You can also mail completed booklets to: Education Office, Black Canyon NP, 102 Elk Creek, Gunnison, CO 81230. We will mail your badge with your completed booklet. For more, visit: www.nps.gov/blca www.nps.gov/webrangers OFFICIAL JUNIOR RANGER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD _________________________________________________________ Park Ranger Signature _________________________________________________________ Junior Ranger Signature “I, _________________________, PROMISE TO TEACH OTHERS ABOUT WHAT I LEARNED AT BLACK CANYON, PROMISE TO EXPLORE OTHER NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AREAS, AND PROMISE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PLACES SO THAT ALL PEOPLE CAN ENJOY THEM FOREVER. ” Certifcate n o y n a C k Blac Junior Ranger