.jpg%3F1463510697&w=3840&q=75)
Painted Wall
Made up of some of the oldest rocks in Colorado, Painted Wall is a must-see in the park.
Plan Around Painted Wall
A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.
Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Painted Wall Details
Painted Wall truly is one of the more remarkable sights in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. This near-vertical wall is fissured and cracked from top to bottom, making it a favorite place for rock climbers and for nesting birds. It gets its name from the colors “splattered” across its face by patches of lichen, bits of vegetation, and the streaks and striations of rocks. Painted Wall is comprised of metamorphic and igneous rocks from the Precambrian period, making it some of the oldest rock in Colorado. The prevailing theory suggests that Painted Wall was volcanic mud, sand, and dirt that got buried and eventually turned into solid rock. Next, the rock was melted, changing its form and shape and crystallized as it cooled, forming a gneiss. The cracks in the gneiss provided space for hot magma to inject itself into the rock creating the lines you see. Painted Wall was "pushed up" to the surface over 25 million years ago and the surrounding rocks washed away, leaving the gneiss exposed. The mighty force of the Gunnison slowly cut through the rock, allowing you the spectacular view you enjoy today. You can view Painted Wall from the viewpoint of the same name off the drive on the South Rim.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
N/A
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Painted Wall
Compare nearby parks around Painted Wall when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Painted Wall
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Painted Wall while the map context is still fresh.
0.1 mi away
Painted Wall View
Painted Wall truly is one of the more remarkable sights in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
0.3 mi away
Chasm View
Remarkable views of the South Rim down a short trail just off the road.
0.3 mi away
Cedar Point Nature Trail
An easy trail featuring the flowers, grasses, and shrubs native to the South Rim of Black Canyon.
0.5 mi away
Dragon Point
The overlook at Dragon Poin offers a stomach-churning view of the depths of the canyon.
0.6 mi away
North Rim Campground
North Rim Campground is located in a Pinyon-Juniper forest approximately 16 miles southwest of Crawford, Colo.
