GUNNISON RIVER

The Gunnison River is formed by the confluence of Taylor and East rivers at Almont in eastern Gunnison County. It winds through desert canyonlands, where it receives Kannah Creek before it empties out of the Dominguez Canyon into the Colorado in Grand Junction.

The Gunnison River ranges in width from 100 to 1,000 feet and 3 to 50 feet in depth. The river’s powerful current and many rapids make upstream travel nearly impossible. It is navigable for small craft throughout its course and by larger boats below the Black Canyon. Parts of the Black Canyon are non-navigable to any sorts of craft because of giant cataracts. Navigation through the entire canyon is dangerous and for experienced boaters only.

Through the mid-1800s, the river held various names. Names included: The Eagle, Eagle Tail, South Fork of the Grand, Grande, and Grand River. Exploration reports and published maps in the 1850s and 1860s most commonly referred to the river as the Grand River. In subsequent years, the river was renamed for U.S. Army Captain John W. Gunnison. He was one of the Topographic Engineers who was ambushed and killed by Pahvant Utes while mapping a trail west in Utah Territory in 1853. ~wikipedia

The target was to view the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. We approached from the the north through Crawford on our way to Ouray. There isn’t a “through-route” to speak of on the north side. Just south of Crawford Reservoir, Black Canyon Road to the west that will get you to the North Rim area. We continued on 92 heading south toward the river. The views were spectacular.

Hermits Rest Picnic Area

Our first stop was at Hermits Rest Picnic Area. From there you can see Morrow Point Reservoir. There are restrooms here. Here you will find Hermits Rest Trail down to the edge of the reservoir. 1800 feet down, then 1800 feet back up; approximately 6 miles round trip. We continued on by car.

Pioneer Lookout Point

There are numerous areas along 92 to pull off. There are only two areas with restrooms. The second stop was Pioneer Lookout Point. Here you can see Curecanti Needle, a 700-ft granite spire.

There are several locations at this stop to take in the magnificent views. Here you will find Curecanti Creek Trail that descends down to the river edge. 900 feet down, 900 feet up; approximately 4 miles round trip.

Highway 92 was an excellent way to see parts of the Gunnison River. On a future return trip to the area I hope to visit the Black Canyon of The Gunnison National Park in its entirety. I would love to visit both the North Rim and South Rim. The views (seen through Google images) of those two areas of the park look amazing.

EXTRA

COLORADO MONUMENT

Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama. You can experience sheer-walled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive, where you may spy bighorn sheep and soaring eagles. ~nps.gov

Colorado National Monument is a National Park Service unit near the city of Grand Junction, Colorado. The park hosts a wide range of wildlife, including red-tailed hawks, golden eagles, ravens, jays, desert bighorn sheep, and coyotes. There are scenic views from trails, Rim Rock Drive, which winds along the plateau, and the campground. Nearby are the Book Cliffs and the largest flat-topped mountain in the world, the Grand Mesa.

The monument’s feature attraction is Monument Canyon, which runs the width of the park and includes rock formations such as Independence Monument, the Kissing Couple, and Coke Ovens. The monument includes 20,500 acres (32 square miles), much of which has been recommended to Congress for designation as wilderness. – wikipedia

To say that Rim Rock Drive is a scenic road is an absolute understatement. The 23-mile drive follows the upper rim of a series of canyons, connecting points only eight miles apart in a straight line. The entire road has been designated a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. There are a number of points of interest along the way with areas to pull off and absorb the natural beauty that completely surrounds you here. The photo map below marks the spots highlighted below with galleries.

Colorado National Monument Map (pdf)

Colorado National Monument Photo Map (click to enlarge)