Campground · Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
A high-elevation base one mile from the South Rim Visitor Center.
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
Rim Rock Trail from South Rim Campground“Rim Rock Trail is coming up, with its campground entrance near Loop C of South Rim Campground. It's a useful walk to the visitor center, following the rim past Tomichi Point with glimpses of the river below.”
Plays as you drive up to South Rim Campground 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
South Rim Campground is the park’s developed campground on South Rim Drive, about a mile from the visitor center. It’s a useful place to stay while exploring the canyon, but not a canyon-view campsite; plan to drive to the overlooks. Every site requires an advance reservation, and cell service is unreliable, so sort out your booking before you head in.
The numbered sites sit in loops among tall shrubs. They’re described as fairly close together, though the screening and sense of privacy vary by site. Use the food lockers for food and scented items, and build a fire only in a designated ring when conditions allow.
At 8,400 feet, weather can turn quickly and the campground is often windy; be ready for cold, wet conditions even in summer. Vault toilets are available year-round, while drinking water is seasonal, usually from mid-May to mid-September. There are no showers, dishwashing stations, RV tank fill or dump station, camp store, or firewood sales, so bring the water and supplies you need.
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
ModerateRim Rock Trail1 mi · 45 min · 0.1 mi awayOne mile on the rim links the visitor center and campground.
ModerateUplands Trail0.9 mi · 36 min · 0.7 mi awayA short upland connector, not a canyon-rim walk.
ModerateDeadhorse Trail5.2 mi · 3 hr · 1.4 mi awayAn old service road ends above Deadhorse Gulch.ModerateDeadhorse Trail with Loop6.6 mi · 4 hr · 1.4 mi awayA North Rim hike with a stock pond and two canyon overlooks.
EasyEast Portal Trail0.8 mi · 45 min · 2.4 mi awayA short, rough river walk between steep canyon walls
EasyCedar Point Nature Trail0.4 mi · 30 min · 2.8 mi awayPlant signs on the way to two canyon overlooks.
ModerateChasm View Nature Trail0.5 mi · 30 min · 3 mi awayA short woodland loop reaches two very different canyon views.
ModerateNorth Vista Trail (to Exclamation Point)2.9 mi · 1.8 hr · 3.1 mi awaySage and juniper lead to an unrailed view of the river bend.
Entrance station · 0.3 mi awaySouth Rim Entrance StationSort your park pass here before the South Rim drive.
Sight · 0.5 mi awayTomichi OverlookAn easy first look down the canyon before the drive gets dramatic.
Sight · 0.5 mi awayBlack Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Entrance Sign (South Rim)A wood-and-stone welcome sign on the South Rim approach.
Visitor center · 0.8 mi awaySouth Rim Visitor CenterStart here for ranger advice, canyon context, and a quick view.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayGunnison Point OverlookA quick first look into the canyon's dark, jagged walls.Sight · 1.4 mi awayKneeling Camel OverlookPick out a camel-shaped rock above a quick, steep canyon view.
Sight · 1.6 mi awayPulpit Rock OverlookStep onto a natural ledge above the Gunnison River.
Sight · 1.6 mi awayIsland Peaks OverlookA short walk brings the fractured Island Peaks into view.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.
