Rock Climbing

Advanced rock climbers will find Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park right up their alley. The deep, narrow river valley contains the tallest vertical wall in Colorado (the 2,250-foot Painted Wall) and is not a place friendly to beginner climbers; of the 145 routes in the park, only eight are rated 5.8 and 20 are rated 5.9, and many of these aren't commonly climbed; the remainder of the routes are 5.10 to 5.13 climbs. Note that many climbers say these route ratings are either inaccurate, deceiving, or both. Climbing season begins in early to mid April and runs through early June, when many routes are closed to protect nesting birds. Routes re-open from mid-September through early November. Permits are free and available at both the North Rim Ranger Station and South Rim Visitor Center; self-registration permits are also available. There's an informal whiteboard where climbers leave their names and route information as a way to keep track of climber traffic and activity throughout the canyon. If you go climbing, be prepared for environmental hazards like thunderstorms, poison ivy, and ticks, and keep in mind that if find yourself in need of rescue, it may take a while for help to arrive.