Our Overnight Gunnison Route Backpacking, Fishing and Camping Adventure

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.

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

Things to Consider Before Hiking the Gunnison Route

After completing the overnight trip, we came away with several lessons that could make the experience safer and more enjoyable for anyone planning to hike into Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

Bring Trekking Poles

I debated whether to bring trekking poles, but I’m extremely glad I did. The Gunnison Route is exceptionally steep, and the poles provided valuable balance during the descent. They were even more helpful on the climb out, taking some of the pressure off my legs.

Protect Your Food and Gear From Squirrels

Bring a metal mesh food bag, bear-resistant container or another secure way to store food and scented items. The squirrels at the bottom of the canyon are persistent.

We accidentally left out a few items that weren’t food but still had traces of sugar from our drink mix. The squirrels chewed the tops off our handheld water bottles. Before leaving camp to fish or explore, securely store anything that contains food, sugar or other scents.

Otherwise, the squirrels may have a yard sale with your gear!

Arrive Early if You Have an RV or Large Vehicle

Parking near the South Rim Visitor Center is limited, especially for an RV, truck or trailer. We saw only about six or seven designated spaces capable of accommodating larger vehicles.

We received permission to leave our RV in the parking lot overnight. If you are bringing a large vehicle, speak with a park ranger beforehand and arrive early enough to secure an appropriate parking space.

We also found BLM land outside the park where we could camp the night before our hike. Staying nearby made it much easier to get up early, reach the visitor center before sunrise and begin hiking while temperatures were cooler.

Consider Carrying a Backup Fishing Rod

I brought two fishing rods even though I only used one. Carrying the additional rod added some weight, but reaching the Gunnison River requires a difficult hike. It would be disappointing to make it all the way down and be unable to fish because a rod tip broke or the equipment was accidentally damaged.

If fishing is one of the main reasons for your trip, a lightweight backup rod may be worth carrying.

Bring Shoes for Hiking and Fishing

Proper footwear is extremely important on the Gunnison Route. I wore my Hoka Stinson shoes for the hike and packed a second pair of water-specific shoes for fishing.

The water shoes could get wet while still providing traction when walking along the river. Having separate shoes also allowed my hiking shoes to remain dry for the demanding climb back to the rim.

Pack Rain Covers for Your Backpacks

One item we wish we had brought was a rain cover for each backpack. The sky was clear when we went to sleep, but a monsoon storm rolled into the canyon around midnight and brought substantial rain.

Summer weather in Colorado can change quickly. A lightweight pack cover or waterproof liner can help protect your clothing, sleeping gear and other equipment if a storm arrives during the night.

Take the Descent Slowly

Most importantly, don’t rush the descent. The Gunnison Route contains steep, loose and potentially dangerous sections. Losing your footing in the wrong location could have serious consequences.

Take your time, carefully choose each step and remain focused—even when carrying a heavy backpack or fishing equipment. The Gunnison Route is an incredible adventure, but it deserves your full attention and respect.

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 or Jetboil 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.

Permit Link: CLICK HERE

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 like a BeFree or MSR MiniWorks.

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

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.