Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

   We got to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park late in the day after a long ride from Mesa Verde. The visitor center was already closed so we were bummed that we couldn't get our books stamped, but the kids seemed happy to get a break from postcards!

    The park is set up from the south side of the canyon as a driving loop with scenic viewpoints down in the the canyon. It's a narrow canyon with really dramatic cliffs. It was very pretty after all of the desert stuff we had been seeing. The highlight for the kids though was a cut-out of a park ranger where they could stick their faces in and force us to take their picture.

    We walked down to an amazing overlook that allowed you to see the Gunnison river and the dark cliffs that give the park its name. The kids spotted a rabbit on the way back up which made their day. Another short visit, but it was a pretty one!