World United States Colorado Gunnison National Forest

FULLTIMING WITH SUE, JOHN AND ARNIE A Surprise Trip to Idaho and Montana

Black Canyon National Park May 21, 2008

We have settled into Montrose, CO for a four-night stay. Montrose sits in a wide valley north of the San Juan Mountains with a great view

The San Juans from Montrose

of the mountains to the south. There is a 3-mile long bike path, great for running and walking just to the west of the RV park. Not far beyond that is a Yak farm!

Yaks

Just fifteen miles from Montrose is the entrance to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Today we drove the Honda to the park and spent an enjoyable day of short hikes, lunch and sightseeing. The canyon has been formed over a two million year period by the Gunnison River

Gunnison River

that flows through the floor of the canyon.

After a visit to the visitors center, Sue, Arnie and I took a hike along the mile-long Rim Rock Trail that runs along the southern edge of the canyon.

Arnie Checks Out the Canyon

The trail runs from the visitors center to the park campground. We took advantage of a picnic table at the campground for lunch.

After our return hike to the visitor center we drove the rest of the south rim road that heads west from the visitor center. There are several stops along the road with short hikes to viewpoints overlooking the canyon. One of the more interesting stops was at painted rock

Painted Rock

with many colorations to the rock of the steep north wall of the canyon.

We took several other short hikes to other viewpoints.

Sue at the Canyon

Each of the views showed a different aspect of the canyon. We concluded our day having had a fun time and an appreciation of the work of the Gunnison River in carving this 2000 foot deep canyon.

John at the Canyon

It was a good day!

We will be in Montrose for two more nights and then will head for Fruita, CO for the Memorial Day weekend and a visit with our good friends the Porfirios who live there.