Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP - North Rim

We made the drive to the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park yesterday.  A long windy, twisty turny drive on the edge of the canyon.  Glad we drove there, we were thinking when we leave Gunnison to drive that route and bypass Montrose.  Nope, don't want to do that, will do the round about through Montrose.

The Dillon Pinnacles area of Curecanti National Rec Area

Blue Mesa Reservoir, right near the dam we were to cross on top of

Water is really low, almost on top of dam towards north rim

Wondered where it was going

Dramatic scenery along the way to the north rim

On our way to the north rim we passed some beautiful country.  Saw a deer by the road and wondered how he/she got there, and where was it going?  And another area where the rocks looked like bubbles coming out of the side of the cliff right at the road.  On the way home a group of cars/vans were parked there, from the University of Michigan.

Came Rock - definitely could see it!

South Rim visitor's center on top of cliff - we were there few days ago

Glad for the banisters - little scary by the rim's edge

Looking straight down from edge, the roar of the water was amazing 

Narley juniper tree

Got to the park after an hour drive and drove to the end of the rim road and looked out over the rim at Camel Rock sat right in front of us and it did look like a camel.  The views into the canyon were incredible.  The name of the national park, Black Canyon, comes from the deep narrow canyon/gorge where the Gunnison River flows through.  In some places (Chasm View) the canyon is only 40 feet wide and therefore the sun only shines at the bottom for 33 minutes a day.  The canyon for the most part is in deep shadows.  And the river - oh my goodness - we could hear the water roaring over the rocks below.  River drops 240 feet per mile at the Chasm, rafting is not allowed, too dangerous.  Of course, the only way to the river is to hike/repel down.

Walls look like painting, its really pink pegmatite and dark
blue black gneiss rocks

The Gunnison River has 3 dams which control the flow of the water downstream.  And the hiking that you could do is rated strenuous, definitely not our cup of coffee.  But we did see some tremendous views.  Breathtaking.

Canyon is 40 feet across here at the Narrows

We will do the south rim another day, there is no direct road between the 2, you have to drive miles and miles to get from one rim to the other.  And we plan to take the boat tour which runs behind the first dam at Blue Mesa (the largest reservoir made with the damming of the river) another time.

Lunch spot, right by rim of canyon

Right at the lunch spot, looking down

Morrow Point Reservoir

Where we saw the bubble rocks, Univ of Michigan cars/vans studying them