Head To This Colorado National Park For Dramatic Cliff Views
By Mina Elwell
VACATIONS
Many people see a canyon as a vast swath of land stretching out below them, but the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado is quite the contrary.
This surreal canyon is deep and narrow, like a thin, jagged slice carved out of the cliff by the Gunnison River, roaring almost 3,000 feet below.
It gets its name, Black Canyon, not from the color of the ancient rock that makes up its walls, but from the deep, dark shadows that often fill the canyon.
Visitors can spend hours hiking, scaling cliffs to dizzying heights, and taking in a breathtaking view like no other from the top of the canyon's sheer walls.
There are many hiking trails to enjoy, like the short Chasm View Nature Trail that ends with stellar views or Oak Flat Loop Trail that takes you down into the canyon itself.
There is an entrance fee — either $15 to walk in or $30 to drive in. Both South Rim and North Rim campgrounds have campsites that only cost $20 per night.