Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Driving north from Durango to Black Canyon of the Gunison, Colorado

The road to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison went through desert land like this.

Then suddenly the earth just seemed to split open to reveal an entirely different world 2000 feet below the desert surface:

First view of the canyon

Canyon side


See the Gunnison River down there?

Gunnison River from 2000 feet up. Empire State Building would reach about half way up the canyon.

Bird's Eye View of the river. Very knee-wobbling shot.

After a 5-mile, 16% grade descent down the canyon side, here is the Gunnison River at ground level.