Landscape Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Black Canyon of the Gunnison · 06:30 PM

This NPS Park is located off of Hwy 50 at county road 347 near the city of Montrose, CO. The Gunnison River is creating this canyon which has a depth of 2700 feet. Although the depth of this canyon can not be compared to Hell's Canyon or the Grand Canyon, the difference is the shear walls leading to the roaring Gunnison River below. The pictures do not show the feeling you get peering over the different lookout rims in the park. It has taken millions of years to produce this canyon, it is estimated the river erodes the river bed at a rate of about the thickness of a piece of paper each year due to the hardness of the rock material.

Rupert · 03-29-2011, 08:45 PM

Pretty neat shots Bob...and a very interesting place. Long ago I was at the Royal Gorge, it was a sight to see! Bet you've been there...bet you've been everywhere!

Regards!

**Bob Harris** · 03-29-2011, 09:00 PM

thanks Rupert, if you don't like heights, you will be a little uneasy looking straight down 2700 foot. Here is the link to the Royal Gorge thread. Bob
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/135481-travel-royal-gorge-colorado.html

Colorado CJ · 03-29-2011, 09:36 PM

Great shots. It is hard to tell just how far down it is, until you realize that that little thread of water at the bottom is actually a large river!

I've drove by there many times but have never actually went into the park. I really need to go there and see it in person.

slowpez · 03-30-2011, 08:13 AM

Finally Bob, a place we have been too. Thanks for bringing back some nice memories.

**Bob Harris** · 03-30-2011, 09:41 AM

Originally posted by Colorado CJ

Great shots. It is hard to tell just how far down it is, until you realize that that little thread of water at the bottom is actually a large river!

I've drove by there many times but have never actually went into the park. I really need to go there and see it in person.

CJ, you are spending way too much time on the eastern side of the Rockies, thanks for looking. Bob

Lynn · 03-30-2011, 09:47 AM

The Black Canyon is one magnificent hole in the ground. I used to drive past the back side of it a lot on the way to my parents' ranch. (Hwy 92 starts at Blue Mesa dam and heads past part of the canyon and on to Crawford.)

Thanks for sharing!

Lynn

**Bob Harris** · 03-30-2011, 09:55 AM

Originally posted by Lynn

The Black Canyon is one magnificent hole in the ground. I used to drive past the back side of it a lot on the way to my parents' ranch. (Hwy 92 starts at Blue Mesa dam and heads past part of the canyon and on to Crawford.)

Thanks for sharing!

Lynn

Lynn, we have taken that road a couple of times and the drop off views into the canyon can make you a bit dizzy. Did you know that Joe Cocker " an old rock star" and his wife live in the area of Crawford, I think she had a restaurant there that we ate in years back. thanks for viewing Bob

normhead · 03-30-2011, 12:13 PM

Bob, when we have our big trip down to Arizona ti visit Tess' uncle, we're writing you for an itinerary. Maybe you should get started, so it's ready when we are... but you probably have a couple years, so don't hurry.

ccrookston · 03-30-2011, 12:55 PM

Geepers! I get the feeling that these photos don't really do the place justice. Good shots, but I bet the grandeur of the place is hard to capture. But still, I feel a little vertigo just looking at them.

I wonder if it would work to take the same photographs at sunset or sunrise.

**Bob Harris** · 03-30-2011, 02:23 PM

Originally posted by ccrookston

Geepers! I get the feeling that these photos don't really do the place justice. Good shots, but I bet the grandeur of the place is hard to capture. But still, I feel a little vertigo just looking at them.

I wonder if it would work to take the same photographs at sunset or sunrise.

You are absolutely right, later would have been a lot better. We were camped about 75 miles from here and had a couple of more places to visit before and after in the area, so we really never have the perfect time of day for photos, most are when the sun is at its highest. A lot of my photos are no more than snapshots. Thanks for looking, Bob

Lynn · 03-30-2011, 02:27 PM

Oh, yes, I know the road very well! First time I took it was in 1968. Back then, it was a gravel road, and we drove it in the middle of a dark night, canyon not visible. And I spun out on one of the curves. Didn't make a thing of it -- until I drove the other direction the next day to go over to Gunnison and just about fainted when I saw the drop-off.

Crawford is a pretty neat little town. I knew about Cocker being there. My parents' place was between Crawford and Paonia, closer to the Paonia end.

Lynn

Originally posted by Bob Harris

Lynn, we have taken that road a couple of times and the drop off views into the canyon can make you a bit dizzy. Did you know that Joe Cocker " an old rock star" and his wife live in the area of Crawford, I think she had a restaurant there that we ate in years back. thanks for viewing Bob

**Sailor** · 03-30-2011, 02:28 PM

Nice shots, Bob. I was there when I was a boy - these pics bring back memories, one of which is agoraphobia. I distinctly remember the chill you'd feel looking down on this thing.

Jer

**Bob Harris** · 03-30-2011, 02:37 PM

Originally posted by normhead

Bob, when we have our big trip down to Arizona ti visit Tess' uncle, we're writing you for an itinerary. Maybe you should get started, so it's ready when we are... but you probably have a couple years, so don't hurry.

Norm, I could set you up with an itinerary that would keep you busy for a month at least, so much to see in Arizona. We are now in Casa Grande AZ and will head to Tombstone AZ in a week, another fun place to visit. Bob

BlueBubbleBoy · 03-31-2011, 06:08 AM

I think your photos do show how deep that canyon really is. I'm fascinated by geology (if I had a do-over I'd probably choose that career, but that's another story). It's amazing what some water and rocks and a little bit of time...make that a really long time...can create.
Here's a shot I took from the top of Angel's Landing at Zion NP last summer, and it's only a 1,200 ft drop!

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03-29-2011, 08:45 PM	#2
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Pretty neat shots Bob...and a very interesting place. Long ago I was at the Royal Gorge, it was a sight to see! Bet you've been there...bet you've been everywhere! Regards!

03-29-2011, 09:00 PM	#3
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477 Original Poster	thanks Rupert, if you don't like heights, you will be a little uneasy looking straight down 2700 foot. Here is the link to the Royal Gorge thread. Bob https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/135481-travel-royal-gorge-colorado.html

03-29-2011, 09:36 PM	#4
Colorado CJ Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,429	Great shots. It is hard to tell just how far down it is, until you realize that that little thread of water at the bottom is actually a large river! I've drove by there many times but have never actually went into the park. I really need to go there and see it in person.

03-30-2011, 08:13 AM	#5
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,462	Finally Bob, a place we have been too. Thanks for bringing back some nice memories.

03-30-2011, 09:41 AM	#6
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477 Original Poster	Originally posted by Colorado CJ Great shots. It is hard to tell just how far down it is, until you realize that that little thread of water at the bottom is actually a large river! I've drove by there many times but have never actually went into the park. I really need to go there and see it in person. CJ, you are spending way too much time on the eastern side of the Rockies, thanks for looking. Bob

03-30-2011, 09:47 AM	#7
Lynn Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Angel Fire, NM Photos: Gallery Posts: 146	The Black Canyon is one magnificent hole in the ground. I used to drive past the back side of it a lot on the way to my parents' ranch. (Hwy 92 starts at Blue Mesa dam and heads past part of the canyon and on to Crawford.) Thanks for sharing! Lynn

03-30-2011, 09:55 AM	#8
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477 Original Poster	Originally posted by Lynn The Black Canyon is one magnificent hole in the ground. I used to drive past the back side of it a lot on the way to my parents' ranch. (Hwy 92 starts at Blue Mesa dam and heads past part of the canyon and on to Crawford.) Thanks for sharing! Lynn Lynn, we have taken that road a couple of times and the drop off views into the canyon can make you a bit dizzy. Did you know that Joe Cocker " an old rock star" and his wife live in the area of Crawford, I think she had a restaurant there that we ate in years back. thanks for viewing Bob

03-30-2011, 12:13 PM	#9
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Bob, when we have our big trip down to Arizona ti visit Tess' uncle, we're writing you for an itinerary. Maybe you should get started, so it's ready when we are... but you probably have a couple years, so don't hurry.

03-30-2011, 12:55 PM	#10
ccrookston Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minnesota Photos: Albums Posts: 91	Geepers! I get the feeling that these photos don't really do the place justice. Good shots, but I bet the grandeur of the place is hard to capture. But still, I feel a little vertigo just looking at them. I wonder if it would work to take the same photographs at sunset or sunrise.

03-30-2011, 02:23 PM	#11
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477 Original Poster	Originally posted by ccrookston Geepers! I get the feeling that these photos don't really do the place justice. Good shots, but I bet the grandeur of the place is hard to capture. But still, I feel a little vertigo just looking at them. I wonder if it would work to take the same photographs at sunset or sunrise. You are absolutely right, later would have been a lot better. We were camped about 75 miles from here and had a couple of more places to visit before and after in the area, so we really never have the perfect time of day for photos, most are when the sun is at its highest. A lot of my photos are no more than snapshots. Thanks for looking, Bob

03-30-2011, 02:27 PM	#12
Lynn Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Angel Fire, NM Photos: Gallery Posts: 146	Oh, yes, I know the road very well! First time I took it was in 1968. Back then, it was a gravel road, and we drove it in the middle of a dark night, canyon not visible. And I spun out on one of the curves. Didn't make a thing of it -- until I drove the other direction the next day to go over to Gunnison and just about fainted when I saw the drop-off. Crawford is a pretty neat little town. I knew about Cocker being there. My parents' place was between Crawford and Paonia, closer to the Paonia end. Lynn Originally posted by Bob Harris Lynn, we have taken that road a couple of times and the drop off views into the canyon can make you a bit dizzy. Did you know that Joe Cocker " an old rock star" and his wife live in the area of Crawford, I think she had a restaurant there that we ate in years back. thanks for viewing Bob

03-30-2011, 02:28 PM	#13
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,205	Nice shots, Bob. I was there when I was a boy - these pics bring back memories, one of which is agoraphobia. I distinctly remember the chill you'd feel looking down on this thing. Jer

03-30-2011, 02:37 PM	#14
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477 Original Poster	Originally posted by normhead Bob, when we have our big trip down to Arizona ti visit Tess' uncle, we're writing you for an itinerary. Maybe you should get started, so it's ready when we are... but you probably have a couple years, so don't hurry. Norm, I could set you up with an itinerary that would keep you busy for a month at least, so much to see in Arizona. We are now in Casa Grande AZ and will head to Tombstone AZ in a week, another fun place to visit. Bob

03-31-2011, 06:08 AM	#15
BlueBubbleBoy Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alabama Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 642	I think your photos do show how deep that canyon really is. I'm fascinated by geology (if I had a do-over I'd probably choose that career, but that's another story). It's amazing what some water and rocks and a little bit of time...make that a really long time...can create. Here's a shot I took from the top of Angel's Landing at Zion NP last summer, and it's only a 1,200 ft drop!