Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park guide · 1 min read
Painted Wall and Chasm View: The Canyon's Core
Painted Wall is the tallest sheer cliff in Colorado, rising 2,250 feet. Lighter-colored pegmatite dikes stand out clearly across its face.
Its height gives a good sense of how steep the canyon walls are.
Chasm View is where the Gunnison River makes its greatest descent within the park, falling 240 feet per mile. That is far steeper than the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, which drops about 7.5 feet per mile. The overlook here is wheelchair accessible, so visitors with mobility needs can take in the view along with everyone else. The Chasm View Nature Trail offers another way to explore the area on foot.
The canyon is both deep and narrow. At its tightest point, the gorge is only 40 feet wide at the river, and sheer cliffs rise on either side. So little sunlight reaches the bottom that the walls often appear black, which is how the canyon got its name. For more views, drive from overlook to overlook along the North Rim or South Rim, since no road connects the two rims inside the park.
Climbers use the South Chasm View Wall, where routes climb the canyon face. Those who want to go farther can hike below the rim toward the Gunnison River or go white water rafting. Whatever you choose, the rim views at Chasm View give a good first look at the canyon.
