Sight · Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Pick out a camel-shaped rock above a quick, steep canyon view.
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 place
Kneeling Camel Overlook and Deadhorse Trail“Kneeling Camel Overlook is coming up, with a rock profile that looks like a camel resting above the canyon. You can enjoy the steep-walled view beside the parking area with almost no walking.”
Plays as you drive up to Kneeling Camel 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
The Kneeling Camel Overlook is a roadside view into Black Canyon from the North Rim, known for its steep walls and a rock profile that resembles a kneeling camel. I'd stop if you're driving this side: the canyon opens up beside the parking area, with very little walking.
The river cuts through metamorphic rock about 1.8 billion years old. Uplift exposed this ancient rock around 60 million years ago; later volcanoes covered it, and the Gunnison began cutting through that layer into the older rock as early as 2 million years ago.
Look along the canyon wall for the camel-shaped profile. If you're taking a photo, include the ribbon of river below the walls to show the drop into the canyon. For a longer outing, the Deadhorse Trail leads toward Deadhorse Gulch and views of East Portal, with birding along the way.
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
ModerateDeadhorse Trail5.2 mi · 3 hr · At the trailheadAn old service road ends above Deadhorse Gulch.ModerateDeadhorse Trail with Loop6.6 mi · 4 hr · At the trailheadA North Rim hike with a stock pond and two canyon overlooks.
ModerateUplands Trail0.9 mi · 36 min · 0.8 mi awayA short upland connector, not a canyon-rim walk.
ModerateRim Rock Trail1 mi · 45 min · 1.3 mi awayOne mile on the rim links the visitor center and campground.
ModerateNorth Vista Trail (to Exclamation Point)2.9 mi · 1.8 hr · 2.3 mi awaySage and juniper lead to an unrailed view of the river bend.
ChallengingNorth Vista Trail to Green Mountain6.4 mi · 3.5 hr · 2.3 mi awayA long climb earns a canyon panorama and views of four ranges.
ModerateChasm View Nature Trail0.5 mi · 30 min · 2.3 mi awayA short woodland loop reaches two very different canyon views.
EasyCedar Point Nature Trail0.4 mi · 30 min · 2.5 mi awayPlant signs on the way to two canyon overlooks.
Sight · 0.6 mi awayGunnison Point OverlookA quick first look into the canyon's dark, jagged walls.
Visitor center · 0.7 mi awaySouth Rim Visitor CenterStart here for ranger advice, canyon context, and a quick view.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayIsland Peaks OverlookA short walk brings the fractured Island Peaks into view.
Sight · 0.9 mi awayTomichi OverlookAn easy first look down the canyon before the drive gets dramatic.
Sight · 1.2 mi awayBig Island OverlookA canyon view of Big Island and the river, steps from parking.
Sight · 1.2 mi awayPulpit Rock OverlookStep onto a natural ledge above the Gunnison River.
Campground · 1.4 mi awaySouth Rim CampgroundA high-elevation base one mile from the South Rim Visitor Center.
Sight · 1.4 mi awayBalanced Rock OverlookA short walk to a balanced boulder above the river.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.
