Hiking Into Black Canyon of the Gunnison: Fishing & Camping on the Gunnison River

Imagine standing on the rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and looking nearly 2,000 feet down toward the Gunnison River.

Now imagine putting everything you need for the night on your back, hiking down into that canyon, spending the afternoon fishing for trout, camping beside the river, and then climbing all the way back out the next morning.

That’s exactly what we set out to do.

Our overnight adventure into Black Canyon of the Gunnison turned out to be one of those trips that combined just about everything we love: a challenging hike, incredible scenery, backcountry camping, and the opportunity to fish one of Colorado’s legendary trout rivers.

And getting to the Gunnison River was an adventure in itself.

Watch our complete Black Canyon of the Gunnison adventure below:

• Mileage: 2-mile hike
• Elevation Gain: 2,000 ft
• Time: 2 to 4 hours to hike, depending on your ability
• Type of Hike: Out and Back
• Things to Consider: It is a hard hike due to its steepness
• Notes: May to November, depending on snow and the snowmelt

Black Canyon isn’t like many national parks where a well-maintained trail gradually takes you into the backcountry.

Getting into the inner canyon is a completely different experience.

The routes descending below the rim are wilderness routes rather than conventional hiking trails. They’re extremely steep, rugged and often covered with loose rock.

Some routes into Black Canyon descend more than 2,000 vertical feet in roughly a mile.

That means getting down is challenging.

Getting back out is even harder.

For our adventure, the goal was to reach the Gunnison River, establish camp and spend the rest of the day exploring and fishing before climbing back to the rim the following morning.

One of the best-known ways of reaching the Gunnison River from the South Rim is the Gunnison Route.

Although it’s considered one of the more approachable inner-canyon routes, don’t confuse that with an easy hiking trail.

This is still an extremely strenuous backcountry route.

Part of the descent includes a steep section equipped with an approximately 80-foot chain that hikers can use to help navigate the terrain.

Once you reach the bottom, campsites and a backcountry toilet are located a short distance upstream.

The experience of reaching the river after looking down at it from the rim is difficult to describe.

The canyon walls suddenly tower above you instead of dropping away below you.

And the Gunnison River becomes the center of the entire landscape.

Yes, you can camp at the bottom of Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

For us, camping beside the Gunnison River was one of the highlights of the entire adventure.

Instead of rushing down to the river and immediately turning around for the brutal climb back out, an overnight trip gave us time to enjoy the bottom of the canyon.

We could set up camp, filter water, explore the river and—most importantly for us—go fishing.

There are established camping areas at the bottom of the wilderness routes. A Wilderness Use Permit is required for overnight trips into the inner canyon.

One important regulation to know is that campfires are prohibited in the inner canyon, so plan on bringing a backpacking stove if you want to prepare a hot meal.

Food and scented items should also be stored securely because black bears are present in the wilderness.

This was one of the biggest reasons we wanted to make the trip.

The Gunnison River inside Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is designated Gold Medal Water and Wild Trout Water.

And once you’re standing beside the river surrounded by enormous canyon walls, it’s easy to understand why fishing here feels so special.

The river supports both rainbow trout and brown trout, and the combination of cold water, rugged surroundings and limited access creates an incredible fishing experience.

But there are important regulations.

Within this section of the Gunnison River, anglers must use artificial flies or lures only—no bait—and rainbow trout are catch-and-release only.

You’ll also need a valid Colorado fishing license.

Always check the latest Colorado fishing regulations before your trip because regulations can change.

Of course, hiking almost 2,000 feet into a canyon carrying fishing gear creates one big question:

Would we actually catch anything?

Fortunately, the Gunnison delivered.

Standing in the river catching trout while looking up at the towering walls of Black Canyon was one of the most memorable fishing experiences we’ve had.

There are certainly easier places in Colorado to reach trout.

But that’s part of what makes this place special.

You earn it.

Every piece of fishing equipment, camping gear, food and clothing you bring to the river has to be carried down—and eventually carried all the way back up.

That makes holding a Gunnison River trout at the bottom of Black Canyon feel just a little more rewarding.

Yes.

A Wilderness Use Permit is required for inner-canyon wilderness travel, including both day trips and overnight backpacking trips.

The permit system depends on the route and time of year.

For South Rim routes such as the Gunnison Route, peak-season permits are currently handled through Recreation.gov and are limited.

Because permit procedures, route availability and seasonal conditions can change, we strongly recommend checking the National Park Service’s current Black Canyon inner-canyon information before planning your trip.

Don’t rely solely on an older blog post or YouTube video for current permit information.

Very difficult.

This is one of the most important things to understand before attempting an inner-canyon route.

These are not maintained hiking trails.

They’re steep, unmarked wilderness routes involving loose rock, scrambling and route finding.

You also need to remember something that’s easy to overlook while descending:

Every foot you descend has to be climbed the next day.

Going down can make the trip feel deceptively manageable.

The climb back to the rim is where the canyon really gets your attention.

Take your time, stay hydrated and don’t underestimate the combination of elevation gain, heat and a loaded backpack.

Water is available from the Gunnison River, but it needs to be properly filtered or treated before drinking.

This makes carrying a reliable backpacking water filter extremely important.

Rather than carrying enough water for the entire overnight trip, we could filter river water once we reached the bottom.

However, you still need to carry enough water for the descent—and particularly for the climb back out.

Temperatures inside the canyon can also be significantly warmer than temperatures at the rim.

For an overnight hiking, camping, and fishing trip like ours, keeping pack weight under control is extremely important.

Some of the gear we’d consider essential includes:

• Backpack
• Lightweight tent
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad
• Water filter
• Water bottles or hydration reservoir
• High-energy food
• Backpacking stove
• Headlamp
• First-aid kit
• Sun protection
• Rain layer
• Appropriate hiking shoes or boots
• Trekking poles
• Fishing rod and tackle
• Colorado fishing license
• Wilderness permit
• Bear- and squirrel-resistant food storage

The trick is balancing comfort with weight.

Something that seems insignificant at the rim can feel considerably heavier when you’re carrying it nearly 2,000 vertical feet back uphill.

Morning came with the part of the adventure we’d been thinking about since the previous day:

Now we had to get back out.

There’s something psychologically interesting about beginning a hike by going downhill.

Normally reaching the destination means you’ve completed the hard part.

Not here.

At Black Canyon, reaching the Gunnison River means you’ve committed yourself to climbing back to the rim.

We packed camp, loaded our backpacks and started climbing.

Slowly.

The steep terrain that challenged us on the way down became considerably more demanding going uphill.

But eventually the rim started getting closer.

And reaching the top produced that wonderful combination of exhaustion and accomplishment that makes difficult adventures so memorable.

For experienced and properly prepared hikers?

Absolutely.

Black Canyon looks spectacular from the overlooks along the rim.

But experiencing it from the Gunnison River gives you an entirely different perspective.

From the bottom, you’re surrounded by the canyon.

Add an overnight camp and trout fishing on the Gunnison River, and this becomes much more than simply another hike.

It’s an adventure.

We came for the hike.

We came for the fishing.

But what we’ll probably remember most is waking up at the bottom of Black Canyon with the Gunnison River flowing beside us and knowing that the only way home was nearly 2,000 feet above.

Conditions inside Black Canyon can change.

Route closures, wildfire impacts, permits, river conditions and regulations may be different when you make your trip.

Before heading into the inner canyon, check directly with the National Park Service for current route conditions, permit requirements and wilderness regulations.

This is genuine backcountry travel. Prepare accordingly and don’t underestimate Black Canyon.

One Adventure You Won’t Forget

There are hikes you finish and immediately start thinking about the next trail.

Then there are adventures you continue talking about long after they’re over.

Hiking nearly 2,000 feet into Black Canyon of the Gunnison, fishing the Gunnison River and camping at the bottom was one of those adventures for us.

It wasn’t easy.

That’s also what made it worthwhile.

If you’re looking for an adventure that combines backpacking, camping, incredible Colorado scenery and world-class trout fishing, Black Canyon of the Gunnison deserves a place on your list.

And remember:

Whether you’re 25 or 75, inspiring YOU to GO is what we’re all about!

If you liked this adventure of the Black Canyon, check out the link below for some other hikes you may also like.

SIMPLY CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

The
Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie is our favorite sun hoodie and was perfect for hiking and fishing while going down into the Black Canyon.

We love our Black Diamond Trekking poles. They are lightweight and compact, and they are perfect for hiking the Black Canyon.

Hoka Stinson’s are our favorite trail running and hiking shoes, and they were perfect for the hike into the Black Canyon.

When using trekking poles, the tops of your hands will get beat up by the sun. Furthermore, it is nice to have gloves on when using trekking poles. Outdoor Research Activeice Sun Gloves are our favorite sun gloves and were perfect for the hiking Black Canyon.

The Osprey AG 65 is the perfect pack for hiking down the Black Canyon.

Fuel and hydration are key in a successful hike into the Black Canyon Tailwinds Endurance Fuel is our go-to drink for hydration, electrolytes, and fuel to keep us going while on the trail. Tailwinds was the perfect drink for the hike.

Capturing the moment is a must while on an epic adventure. The GoPro is our go-to video camera. It is easy to use for video and pictures with its voice commands while on the trail. The GoPro was the perfect setup for the hike into Black Canyon.

Having a quality camera helps capture epic pictures. Although not inexpensive, the Sony RX100 is worth the cost. It is compact and lightweight, and it beats carrying a full-body camera for a long hike. The Sony RX100 is our go-to camera and was the perfect setup for the hike.

ND filters are helpful on sunny days to capture great footage. The perfect setup for GoPro.

The Garmin Enduro is our go-to watch for long hikes and backpacking trips. Power Glass solar charging lens harvests the sun’s energy, giving you more power and time between charges

Heading out for an ultra run or a hike takes planning and the proper clothes, equipment, and nutrition.

There is nothing worse than finding out you forgot something.

Having a checklist of your essential items is very helpful in setting yourself up for success when hitting the trail.

Below is a link to our essential hiking and ultra-running gear checklist. We print out and check off the items before heading out the door for each adventure.