The Black Canyon's North Rim is reached from Crawford, on a gravel road that closes in winter

Most visitors see Black Canyon of the Gunnison from its busy South Rim near Montrose. But the park’s quieter North Rim is reached from the Delta County side, near the town of Crawford. From CO Highway 92 you turn onto Black Canyon Road and follow signs to the entrance, about eleven miles southwest of Crawford.

Two things make this drive different from a typical national park visit. First, it turns to gravel. The Park Service notes that the last several miles of the access road and the entire North Rim Drive are unpaved. In dry conditions they are usually fine for most vehicles, but gravel can get rough or muddy. Second, it is seasonal. The North Rim is closed to vehicles in winter and early spring, and those roads are not plowed. Water and the ranger station are only available part of the year.

The reward is a rim with dizzying drops to the river far below and far fewer people than the South Rim. The two rims are not connected by a road inside the park, so you reach the North Rim on its own from the Crawford side.

Before you go, check the North Rim road status, seasonal opening, and current conditions on the National Park Service site for Black Canyon of the Gunnison.