After driving over six hours from Estes Park to Montrose, we checked into our hotel, dropped off our bags, and headed out for our first visit to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. It is about a twenty minute drive from town to the park entrance.
entering the park
obligatory family photo at the park sign
On this first visit we drove down to the bottom of the canyon. We traveled East Portal Road, which is the only way to drive to the river at the bottom of the canyon. The road has 16% grades in some points meaning for every 100 feet of horizontal distance traveled, the road rises or falls 16 feet in elevation. It is very steep and has a lot of switchbacks. From the entrance station to the end of the road is 7.2 miles. The road ends at Crystal Dam. Driving it reminded us of the many mountains roads we have traveled in Guatemala. In a way, it felt like home.
Starting the drive on East Portal Road
you can see the Gunnison River down below
I took a short video on the drive down that I'll share below.
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Sign at the Crystal Dam
view from the bottom of the canyon
the Gunnison River
David and Cruz admiring the views
It was very pretty and peaceful down there.
Cruz down below
soaking in the views at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
David and the boys
I loved these purple flowers! They were blooming everywhere.
a video of our time at the bottom of the canyon
We were up early the next morning and back at the park. We enjoyed driving along the South Rim and stopping at each lookout point. It was cool to get to see the canyon from both the bottom and the top. I'll share about the South Rim next.
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