national park united_states located western colorado managed national_park_service entrances park south rim entrance located miles east north rim entrance miles south closed winter park contains miles mile long canyon national park contains deepest dramatic section canyon canyon continues upstream downstream canyon owes fact parts gorge receive minutes sunlight day according black canyon book author states american west longer deeper combines depth darkness geology drops average feet mile entire canyon making 5th mountain descent north_america comparison drops average feet mile greatest descent occurs park dropping feet mile named makes difficult sunlight penetrate depths result canyon shadow causing rocky walls appear black point canyon wide river extreme depth formed result processes acting primarily responsible carving canyon events occur order form canyon seen today majority steep walls formed billion years ago period brought collision ancient volcanic island arcs southern end present day wyoming lighter colored seen basement rocks formed later period cretaceous entire area underwent million years ago raised makes canyon walls million years ago large episodes occurred area immediately surrounding present day contributed burying area thousand feet volcanic ash debris modern set course million years ago run nearby began carving relatively soft volcanic deposits course set broad area million years ago caused river cut softer volcanic deposits eventually river reached rocks river unable change course began extremely hard rocks river flow larger currently higher levels result river dug rate inch years extreme rock relative river carved created steep walls seen today number running slope wrong direction water flow canyon believed entrenched streams region shifted north flowing drainage pattern response change tilt surrounding terrain west flowing essentially trapped hard rock change course history indians known canyon exist long time europeans saw referred river rocks big water known avoided canyon time united_states declared independence spanish expeditions passed 1800s numerous fur searching beaver known canyon existence left written record official account provided captain leading expedition survey route san_francisco described country hilly cut seen canyon south present day following death hands indians later year river captain called grand renamed honor denver reached denver line built provide link burgeoning gold silver mines san_juan mountains rugged terrain standard rail decided narrower gauge took year irish italian laborers mile costing mile mile said cost entire project august passenger train passed editor rode observation cars remarked canyon undoubtedly largest rugged canon world traversed iron horse heard scenery canyon conception trip narrow gorge walls granite rising places height thousands feet entire length probably quarter mile straight track road respect curves frequent sharp hundreds places walls granite perpendicular places road bed walls rock track went feat railroad engineering probably found world probably section colorado country varied interesting lot scenery found hopes running railroad rest sent engineer inner canyon exploration set man crew december expecting complete survey days returned man crew left days terrified task rest men saw spectacular seen human reported impossible build depths advice decided route railroad south canyon march completed connection salt_lake_city brief period canyon main line railroad system railroad early visitors canyon path utah mines southwest later visitors came canyon opportunity recreation personal enjoyment described ride canyon following words entered gorge remote sun rocks thousand feet sheer rock river feet track built simple principle dropping miscellaneous dirt river pinning rails glory wonder mystery mad ride felt alternate route completed route difficult operate lost importance trains route finally abandoned sent canyon look site build diversion tunnel bringing water suffering water shortages influx settlers area native expert taken failed expedition previous year experience proved valuable second excursion opted bring single rubber air instead heavy wooden boats doomed previous journey canyon entered canyon august equipped hunting knives silk ropes rubber bags instruments days rock falls river crossings emerged canyon suitable tunnel site construction tunnel began years later difficulties right onset working conditions tunnel difficult high levels carbon dioxide excessive temperatures humidity water mud sand fractured fault zone took crew year bore feet water filled rock tunnel driven granite layers sandstone coal limestone work manually hold drill rotate second use drive drill rock work required strong hard working men spite good pay fringe benefits disliked dangerous underground conditions stayed average weeks men killed year undertaking tunnel finally completed stretching distance miles costing nearly million dollars time held honor world longest irrigation tunnel september president dedicated tunnel accessible canyon tunnel visible diversion dam seen established national monument march national park october built design national_park_service includes miles roadway listed historic district biology national park contains wide variety flora fauna common plants native park include pine desert utah oak oak single leaf ash species native park wildlife park include eagle deer addition canyon home number resident birds including great owl american jay migratory birds mountain falcon white swift canyon attractions estimated tourists visit park annually main attraction park scenic drive highway colorado highway south rim east end park meets area developed camping includes tent camping parking canyon tours hiking fishing boat tours west end park river access automobile guided tours canyon short heads point boat tours boating fishing hiking south rim hiking nature trails north rim accessible automobile small primitive automobiles access river south rim road grade prohibited vehicles feet length river accessed steep trails called routes draws north south rim routes require hours hours depending route taken inner canyon require class climbing basic route finding skills steep impassable lack cover challenges faced poison ivy grows draws canyon floor long hiking boots strongly recommended flow rate considered planning camping canyon high river levels wash camp sites national_park_service warns following routes difficult follow individuals excellent physical condition attempt expected find way prepared self rescue free country permit required inner canyon use west end designated gold medal water yards downstream dam includes miles national park artificial flies permitted rainbow trout catch release additionally fishing prohibited yards downstream center rock climbing style known traditional climbing climbs difficult attempted advanced opportunities exist region run park difficult technical run best impassable stretches water requiring long dangerous remaining class iii expert river runners downstream river somewhat easier navigate remote experienced runners class iii
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park