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Elevation: 5,671 ft 1,729 m
GPS: 38.57701, -107.73207
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 848,886 total · 2,846/month
Shared By: Steve Levin on Dec 31, 2000
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC
Warning Access Issue: Seasonal Raptor Closures DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

 "Several western canyons exceed the Black Canyon in overall size.... some are longer, some are deeper, some are narrower, and a few have walls as steep, but no other canyon in North America combines the depth, narrowness, sheerness, and somber countenance of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison." - Wallace Hansen

Getting There Suggest change

The Black Canyon of Gunninson is located approximately 250 miles SW of Denver.

South Rim: 15 miles east of Montrose, via U.S. Hwy 50 and CO Hwy 347.

North Rim: 11 miles south of Crawford, via CO Hwy 92 and North Rim Road (closed in winter).

Permits

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Per Black Canyon Ranger: in 2003, permits are required to climb. They are free.

The Flakes Area Unstable Rock

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Note that in 2018, a large feature 250-300 feet tall and probably 40 feet wide on average in the area of The Flakes moved substantially. There is a risk for massive rockfall!

146 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Black Canyon of the Gunnison Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 262
Escape Artist
Trad 7 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 162
Journey Home
Trad 5 pitches
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 291
Comic Relief
Trad 8 pitches
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 132
Checkerboard Wall
Trad 5 pitches
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 68
The Cruise
Trad 12 pitches
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b PG13
 66
Cloaked Interpretation
Trad 8 pitches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 287
The Scenic Cruise
Trad 13 pitches
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 44
Comic 2.0
Trad 8 pitches
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c PG13
 46
Atlantis
Trad 16 pitches
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 98
Lightning Bolt Crack
Trad
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 39
Happy Ending
Trad
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 100
Astro Dog
Trad 14 pitches
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 40
Stoned Oven
Trad 13 pitches
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 42
Tague Yer Time
Trad 15 pitches
5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c R
 9
The Free Hallucinogen Wall
Trad 12 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Escape Artist N Rim Routes > SOB Gully (skier's le…
 262
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 7 pitches
Journey Home N Rim Routes > N Chasm View Wall
 162
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad 5 pitches
Comic Relief N Rim Routes > SOB Gully (skier's le…
 291
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad 8 pitches
Checkerboard Wall N Rim Routes > Checkerboard Wall
 132
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad 5 pitches
The Cruise N Rim Routes > N Chasm View Wall
 68
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad 12 pitches
Cloaked Interpretation N Rim Routes > SOB Gully (skier's le…
 66
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b PG13 Trad 8 pitches
The Scenic Cruise N Rim Routes > N Chasm View Wall
 287
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad 13 pitches
Comic 2.0 N Rim Routes > SOB Gully (skier's le…
 44
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad 8 pitches
Atlantis N Rim Routes > Prisoner of Your Hair…
 46
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c PG13 Trad 16 pitches
Lightning Bolt Crack N Rim Routes > SOB Gully (skier's le…
 98
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad
Happy Ending N Rim Routes > N Chasm View Wall
 39
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad
Astro Dog S Rim Routes
 100
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad 14 pitches
Stoned Oven N Rim Routes > N Chasm View Wall
 40
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad 13 pitches
Tague Yer Time S Rim Routes
 42
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Trad 15 pitches
The Free Hallucinogen Wall N Rim Routes > N Chasm View Wall
 9
5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c R Trad 12 pitches
More Classic Climbs in Black Canyon of the Gunnison »

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