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Colorado

When to catch Black Canyonat its best

Black Canyon through the year: wildflowers (local timing: early season (April–June)) and fall foliage (statewide: usually well under way by mid-October). Each has its own page with spots, sources and the latest reports.

RIGHT NOW · SEP 30

  • Latest reportNo dated report this season; the posters below show each usual window.
  • This weekend (NWS)Sat sunny, 69°F · Sun sunny, 70°F
  • Park alertsNo current NPS alerts

When are you going?

Where to go at Black Canyon

Spots, visitor points and places nearby
  • Fall
Places on this map, as a list
Map: approximate positions; state lines US Census.

Best spots

Where each event's source says to go

Wildflowers

  • Oak Flat Loop TrailA 2-mile loop, rated difficult, from near the South Rim Visitor Center through the Gambel oak shrubland, where wildflowers, grasses and serviceberry grow among the oaksNational Park Service ↗
  • Uplands Trail0.9 mile one way, moderate, through Gambel oak, Utah serviceberry, sagebrush and wildflowers; links the Rim Rock Trail near the campground to the upper Oak Flat Loop, with parking at the South Rim Visitor Center or campgroundNational Park Service ↗

Fall foliage

Next 7 days at Black Canyon

Forecast: National Weather Service
  • TodayRain Showers55° / 42°89% rain
  • ThuSunny67° / 43°1% rain
  • FriSunny69° / 45°–
  • SatSunny69° / 46°–
  • SunSunny70° / 46°2% rain
  • MonSunny68° / 46°11% rain
  • TueMostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms66° / 44°11% rain

Today: sunrise 7:06 a.m., sunset 6:57 p.m., light until 7:23 p.m. · moon waning gibbous, 77% lit (our calculation)

Visitor reports, not verified

Been here in the last week? Tell us how the trees looked.

What color were the trees?

Tap the one that looks most like what you saw.

One report per place for each day you saw it, no name or email · How reports work · Terms · Privacy

Nearby, and when they peak

Straight-line miles; roads are longer

Towns nearby

Straight-line miles; each town page has frost dates and its nature year

Black Canyon in pictures

Illustrative photos, not current conditions
Red paintbrush flowers beside low pink phlox blossoms
Desert paintbrush and pink phlox in bloom, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, May 20, 2013. Photo: NPS Photo · public domain · resized

Questions people ask

Can I bring my dog on the flower trails?

Not on the Uplands Trail: pets aren't allowed there.Source: National Park Service, Hike Uplands Trail - South Rim ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Is there drinking water in the park in spring?

Not early in the season: from late fall through mid-spring, the park has no drinking water, so bring your own.Source: National Park Service, Black Canyon hiking trails ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Is the Uplands Trail wheelchair accessible?

No. It's an unpaved, narrow trail and isn't wheelchair accessible.Source: National Park Service, Hike Uplands Trail - South Rim ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Anything to know about bears?

Yes: black bears forage in the oak shrubland these trails cross, and bears here go after hikers' snacks. Keep your backpack within arm's reach at all times.Sources: National Park Service, Black Canyon life zones ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Black Canyon hiking trails ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How we know

Every timing above, from these pages; checked Sep 30