#8 of 22 sights in Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Sight · Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Step onto a natural ledge above the Gunnison River.
Overview
Pulpit Rock Overlook is one of 12 named viewpoints along the seven-mile South Rim Drive, reached by a 134-yard unpaved path. It ends at a natural rock outcrop above the Gunnison River, with steep canyon walls filling the view. This is a satisfying stop when you want to see the canyon from more than the road; give yourself a few minutes at the rock to take in the depth below.
Parkwolf’s verdictWorth the short detourMap
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
Pulpit Rock Overlook“Up ahead is Pulpit Rock Overlook, where a short walk ends on a natural rock outcrop above the Gunnison. It's about a hundred and thirty yards from the parking area, on an unpaved path with rocks and steps.”
Plays as you drive up to Pulpit Rock 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 approach is short but unpaved, and visitors have mentioned rocks and steps. It isn't a paved viewing platform, and the outcrop feels exposed; if heights bother you, there's no need to edge farther out than feels comfortable. In winter and early spring, South Rim Drive closes to cars just past the visitor center, so reaching Pulpit Rock can mean a longer walk or a ski or snowshoe outing. Check road access before you go.
From the outcrop, look down to the river and follow the canyon upstream toward the Chasm View bend. The opposite walls make the depth easy to read. For a photo, include the river or a strip of the foreground ledge; either gives the canyon a sense of scale.
A band of schist runs through the canyon between Gunnison Point and Pulpit Rock. The rock includes mica- and hornblende-rich schist, and garnet can occur in places. The Gunnison began cutting forcefully into the area's roughly 1.8-billion-year-old metamorphic rock about two million years ago.
Pulpit Rock was already a destination when the South Rim road opened in 1962; by the early 1960s, nearly all visitors drove as far as the overlook before exploring farther. It's still a useful pause on the park's main rim drive.
Across the road, Pulpit Rock Picnic Area has tables and vault or composting restrooms. It is a first-come day-use area, so bring food; there are no restaurants in the park.
Wildlife
50 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
68 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
164 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
ModerateUplands Trail0.9 mi · 36 min · 0.9 mi awayA short upland connector, not a canyon-rim walk.
ModerateDeadhorse Trail5.2 mi · 3 hr · 1.2 mi awayAn old service road ends above Deadhorse Gulch.ModerateDeadhorse Trail with Loop6.6 mi · 4 hr · 1.2 mi awayA North Rim hike with a stock pond and two canyon overlooks.
EasyCedar Point Nature Trail0.4 mi · 30 min · 1.4 mi awayPlant signs on the way to two canyon overlooks.
ModerateChasm View Nature Trail0.5 mi · 30 min · 1.5 mi awayA short woodland loop reaches two very different canyon views.
ModerateRim Rock Trail1 mi · 45 min · 1.5 mi awayOne mile on the rim links the visitor center and campground.
ModerateNorth Vista Trail (to Exclamation Point)2.9 mi · 1.8 hr · 1.5 mi awaySage and juniper lead to an unrailed view of the river bend.
ChallengingNorth Vista Trail to Green Mountain6.4 mi · 3.5 hr · 1.6 mi awayA long climb earns a canyon panorama and views of four ranges.
Sight · 0.5 mi awayCross Fissures OverlookTake the short walk for a closer look at the canyon’s fractures.
Sight · 0.5 mi awayIsland Peaks OverlookA short walk brings the fractured Island Peaks into view.
Sight · 0.6 mi awayRock Point OverlookShort walk, narrow point, and Long Draw across the river.
Sight · 0.6 mi awayBig Island OverlookA canyon view of Big Island and the river, steps from parking.
Sight · 0.7 mi awayDevil's Lookout OverlookA short unpaved walk opens onto the Gunnison River gorge.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayBalanced Rock OverlookA short walk to a balanced boulder above the river.
Sight · 0.9 mi awayNarrows OverlookSee where the canyon narrows to 40 feet at the river.
Sight · 1 mi awayGunnison Point OverlookA quick first look into the canyon's dark, jagged walls.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.
