Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness
Two billion years ago, Precambrian gneiss (a coarse-grained, granite-like metamorphic rock that's extremely strong and resistant to erosion) formed the core of this region. In what is now known as the 53-mile-long Black Canyon, the gneiss was worn away with unimaginable slowness by the Gunnison River, creating the deepest narrow canyon in America, a moody terrain where lack of sunlight shrouds the bottom in almost perpetual shadow. At places, the river throbs wildly 2,400 feet below, while at The Narrows, the canyon is only 1,100 feet wide at the rim and as little as 40 feet wide at the bottom. It lies surrounded by a dryland forest of piñon and juniper.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| State | Colorado |
| Size | 15,599 acres |
| Designated | 1976, by Congress |
| Center point | 38.58° N, 107.76° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 20) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 5 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedUpd Baldy Mountain Piles Rx
33 mi from the center point · 120 acres
- PrescribedMain Mesa Piles Rx
34 mi from the center point · 366 acres
- WildfireGold Mountain
37 mi from the center point · 39,747 acres · 92% contained
- WildfireElk
39 mi from the center point · 7,257 acres · 90% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 5.2 miD & Rg Narrow Gauge Trestle ↗Cimarron, CO
- 6.6 mi
- 6.6 mi
- 6.6 mi
- 6.9 miRio Grande Southern Railroad Derrick Car ↗Cimarron, CO
- 6.9 mi
- 6.9 mi
- 6.9 mi
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Colorado
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness?
15,599 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness?
The National Park Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness in?
Colorado.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1976.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 38.584° N, 107.756° W. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park is adjacent. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Upd Baldy Mountain Piles Rx at 33 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness?
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park (adjacent) and Curecanti National Recreation Area (17 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness?
The National Register has 32 listings within 15 miles, including D & Rg Narrow Gauge Trestle and Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad Caboose No. 0577.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.