Today’s adventure took us to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. It was a short 45 minute drive from our basecamp in Olathe. Caroline had warned us that looks are deceiving; the road up to the canyon looks so unassuming and uninteresting, but behind the unassuming is the wow.
She wasn’t kidding. There honestly are no appropriate adjectives to describe the massive chasm. We were lucky enough to hear a spiel by one of the rangers about the development of the canyon. “Just remember: grow, blow, flow.” First there was the Gunnison uplift (grow) then the volcanic eruptions of the San Juan and West Elk mountains (blow) and finally the Gunnison River cut into the Uplift to form the canyon (flow).
This is a canyon I’d never heard of before this trip, and geologically, just as interesting as the Grand Canyon, if not more so.
We start our hike at the overlook behind the visitor center to get a better idea of the expanse. The Gunnison River looks so tiny all the way down there, it’s hard to believe all the work it did. Walking along the ridge, we see mica glinting in the dirt, like fairy lights welcoming us.
Soon we start our descent into the canyon. Pines, aspens, and serviceberry bushes are just enough dispersed to allow a peek of the canyon walls. Wildflowers decorate the sides of the trails.
We make it to the bottom (not the real bottom!) and can walk right up to the massive canyon wall, then follow the trail back to the visitor center.
Next we drive down East Royal Road to the very bottom of the canyon. Oh, boy do we feel tiny and insignificant. This canyon was here millions of years before us and will most likely be here millions of years after us….but what will it look like then? How will it have changed? Will there be humans sitting here having the same thoughts?
Back up to the main road and drive to some of the overlooks for different vantage points. Vegetation grows lush on one side of the canyon, but not the other. One side has a roughly 93% slope, while the other side is only 67%. At one end the width of the canyon is no wider than the visitor center. It is overwhelmingly breathtaking, unbelievable and truly amazing.
We’ve worked up quite the appetite after all that pondering of human existence so we head to “linner” in Montrose at Horsefly Brewing where there is “no crap on tap.” Tis true. The beer is delicious and the food is yummy, and we have lots and lots and lots of laughs. I can’t even remember what we were laughing about, I only know it was so funny I was crying. Good times.
Back home to hose ourselves off, and then Carol and I take a walk around the farm lanes, and try to figure out what’s growing. There is a rousing game of Scattergories, reading, then lights out.
I get up to try to shoot Milky Way and stars, but for the second night, clouds have rolled in. One night left to try. Tomorrow Colorado National Monument!
We have changed Carol’s trail name to Braveheart, because twice she has saved us from encroaching insects with nary a thought. And she is quite brave, and has a good heart, so it fits.
Adventures in Colorado, 2023 edition 