About the Name

One of the steepest and most rugged canyons in North America is formed by the Gunnison River. It cuts through some of the oldest exposed rock on earth at the western edge of the Rocky Mountains, on its way to join the Colorado River at Grand Junction.

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison’s unique and spectacular landscape was formed by the action of water and rock scouring down through hard Precambrian crystalline rock. The canyon walls are composed of gneiss and schist, predominantly black in color.

The gorge reaches depths of over 2,000 feet while often measuring only 1,500 feet across. Sunlight illuminates the walls only briefly, hence the name ‘Black Canyon’. No other canyon in North America combines the narrow opening, sheer walls, and startling depths of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

What could better illustrate the dramatic effect of consistent and concentrated action over time?