#9 of 22 sights in Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Sight · Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
A west-facing overlook that makes sunset a smart time to stop.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this area
Cedar Point and the Plant Trail“Cedar Point is coming up, with a short nature trail to two overlooks facing Painted Wall.”
Plays on the road 0.3 mi from Dragon Point Overlook in the Parkwolf Black Canyon of the Gunnison Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Dragon Point is a named overlook on the South Rim Drive, looking across the Black Canyon toward the Painted Wall and down to the Gunnison River. From the roadside parking area, it is about a 100-yard walk on an unpaved path. It makes a quick leg-stretch on a full scenic-drive day; if you have limited time after the park’s headline overlooks, prioritize those first.
Take in the far wall and the river below; together they show the canyon’s scale. The landscape’s story runs through uplift, volcanic activity and the long work of water. For a photo, include the rocky rim in the foreground and the Painted Wall across the gorge, with the river low in the frame to give the view depth.
The overlook faces west, and sunset is a particularly recommended time to take in the view. It is a natural late-day stop when your South Rim schedule allows.
Wildlife
49 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
67 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
11 sightingsRed-tailed HawkMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
10 sightingsCooper's HawkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
66 sightingsCollared LizardMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
163 sightingsFence LizardMost seen around 10 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyCedar Point Nature Trail0.4 mi · 30 min · 0.3 mi awayPlant signs on the way to two canyon overlooks.
ModerateChasm View Nature Trail0.5 mi · 30 min · 1.2 mi awayA short woodland loop reaches two very different canyon views.
ModerateWarner Point Trail1.6 mi · 1 hr · 1.2 mi awayThe river is a long way below this short rim walk.
ModerateNorth Vista Trail (to Exclamation Point)2.9 mi · 1.8 hr · 1.4 mi awaySage and juniper lead to an unrailed view of the river bend.
ChallengingNorth Vista Trail to Green Mountain6.4 mi · 3.5 hr · 1.4 mi awayA long climb earns a canyon panorama and views of four ranges.
ModerateUplands Trail0.9 mi · 36 min · 2.4 mi awayA short upland connector, not a canyon-rim walk.
ModerateDeadhorse Trail5.2 mi · 3 hr · 2.8 mi awayAn old service road ends above Deadhorse Gulch.ModerateDeadhorse Trail with Loop6.6 mi · 4 hr · 2.8 mi awayA North Rim hike with a stock pond and two canyon overlooks.Sight · 0.2 mi awayCedar Point OverlookTwo rim stops frame the Gunnison River and Painted Wall.
Sight · 0.6 mi awaySunset View OverlookAn easy overlook and picnic area on the South Rim Drive.
Sight · 0.6 mi awayPainted Wall OverlookA 2,250-foot cliff marked by pale pegmatite veins.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayChasm View Overlook (South Rim)A short walk to the Gunnison, 1,820 feet below.
Sight · 0.9 mi awayExclamation PointA 1.6-mile hike each way to a close canyon view.
Sight · 1 mi awayNorth Chasm ViewThe canyon narrows to 40 feet at the river below.
Campground · 1.1 mi awayNorth Rim CampgroundA remote North Rim campground beside the short Chasm View loop.
Sight · 1.1 mi awayDevil's Lookout OverlookA short unpaved walk opens onto the Gunnison River gorge.Parkwolf’s Black Canyon of the Gunnison ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
