Exclamation Point
Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado - July 2009

When I realized my itinerary was going to bring us right past Black Canyon of the Gunnison, I was not sure I would bother to stop. I’d visited the park one other time on a family vacation with my parents. I came away unimpressed. We arrived at the south rim of the canyon in the middle of the day, looked over the edge at various viewpoints – most of which looked the same to me – and left. The most impressive thing I saw was my first Manzanita bush. (Now I have a yard full of them!)

Ultimately, it was the fact that Darla and Lewis had never seen the Black Canyon which motivated me to do a little research to see if there was more to see and do than I was remembering. I am glad I did. I happened across a photograph of the canyon taken from Green Mountain. This was a completely different view of the canyon, an aerial view, and one I definitely wanted to see for myself.

Taking in the View
Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado - July 2009

One of the reasons photographers prefer to shoot with the sun low in the sky is because the contrast between the light and shadows is reduced. The light loses the harsh character it exhibits when it’s overhead. Mid-day haze disappears. Everything is more beautiful. Even knowing this, I was shocked at the difference in the quality of the view into the canyon at this time of day (7 PM) compared to the mid-day views I experienced on my first trip. It was huge.

Tiny Tree
Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado - July 2009

Another difference between this visit and my first was that we were on the north rim rather than the south rim. The south rim is where the main visitor center is located. It is where the big campground is located. It is easiest to reach from the major highways. All the north rim has going for it is superior views, far fewer visitors, and the trail to the top of Green Mountain.

Standing on the Edge
Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado - July 2009

About that trip to the top of Green Mountain… It’s a seven mile roundtrip with a 1200 foot elevation gain. We’d already made it a mile and a half to Exclamation Point, but we had to make it the rest of the way up and back before it became completely dark. Because sunset was only an hour and fifteen minutes away, Darla decided she and Lewis would head back to the camper while I made a run to the top – and I do mean run.

Coming Into View
Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado - July 2009

There wouldn’t have been such a sense of urgency had I thought to bring a headlamp with me. Unfortunately, I did not. This meant that I didn’t just need to make it to the top before the sun set; I needed to make it back to the camper before it became completely dark. I left Exclamation Point figuring that even if I didn’t make it to the top I could get a few shots along the trail. This assumption proved to be wrong. The trail to the top of Green Mountain runs through a forest of Pinyon pine and juniper. There were occasional openings along the trail that provided glimpses of the canyon, like this one, but no clear views.

Crack in the Ground
Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado - July 2009

This is the view I had come to see. There is no other place in the park from which one can appreciate just how huge this crack in the ground really is.

I wasn’t yet at the top when I took this shot, one of the first clear views I had seen along the trail. It was hard to tell just how close to the top I actually was at this point – but it seemed like I should be close. I pressed on. It was 8:01pm.

Pink on Black
Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado - July 2009

It was 10 more minutes before I made it to the top. When I finally arrived I was breathing so hard that it was difficult to hold the camera steady. I gave myself five minutes at the top before heading back down.

This image wasn’t taken at the top. It was taken very near the location of the previous image. It’s 8:19pm, about 5 minutes before sunset. The sun is already behind Green Mountain. Three and a half miles to go.

Painted Wall
Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado - July 2009

I was up at sunrise the following morning to take in Chasm View, another great viewpoint on the north rim. I knew that my window for good light would disappear quickly so I hoped to see as much of the rim as possible while the sun was still low in the sky.

Chasm View East
Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado - July 2009

We Were There
Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado - July 2009

This is another viewpoint along north rim, Island Peaks View, I think. We decided to take a couple “We were there” shots, this one with The Mom and The Boy.

By the way, it’s only 9:23am. It is already starting to get hot and hazy. Almost time to put away the camera.

The Boy and The Dad
Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado - July 2009

previous image set: Crested Butte and Gothic Valley, Colorado
next image set: Telluride, Colorado