The Gunnison Gorge near Montrose is wild water reached on foot

Downstream of the national park, the Gunnison River keeps carving, and the stretch north of Montrose is the Gunnison Gorge. The Bureau of Land Management runs it as a national conservation area with a wilderness inside, and it is a different kind of trip than a drive to an overlook.

The river here is prized trout water, and stretches of the Gunnison carry Colorado’s Gold Medal designation, meaning the state recognizes it for quality fishing. Special fishing rules can apply by segment, so the regulations matter as much as the gear.

Getting in takes effort. Visitors reach the river by hiking down steep trails from trailheads such as Chukar, Ute, Duncan, and Bobcat, all off Peach Valley Road. These are not casual strolls; they drop a long way to the water and climb back out in the heat. Rafting and kayaking the gorge is a remote, technical run that depends on river flows, which swing high in spring and drop in summer.

This is rugged, remote country with little shade and no services down by the river. Carry water, plan for the climb out, and check current flows and trail conditions. The BLM Uncompahgre Field Office is the place to confirm access, permits, and rules before you go, and the state wildlife agency posts the fishing regulations.