Geology

Several canyons in the American West are longer and some are deeper, but none combines the depth, sheerness, narrowness, darkness, and dread of the Black Canyon.
—Duane Vandenbusche, Western Colorado University professor

Deep, Steep, and Narrow

About 60 million years ago, a small area of land uplifted and brought 1.8 billion year old metamorphic rock to high elevations. This is called the Gunnison Uplift. About 30 million years ago, large volcanoes erupted on either side of this uplift, burying it in volcanic rock. Then, as early as two million years ago, the Gunnison River began flowing in force. The river and time eroded all of the volcanic rock and cut a deep canyon in the metamorphic rock below.

What you see today is a deep, steep, and narrow canyon: the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

Edge of the Colorado Plateau

Black Canyon of the Gunnison lies on the eastern edge of the Colorado Plateau - a region spanning Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. This physiographic province highlights a region well known for its natural features, plateaus, buttes, deep canyons, and colorful rock layers. In many places, Black Canyon is deeper than it is wide—a contrast to most canyons across the western United States.

 
A map of Colorado and adjacent states showing the physiographic provinces. Pink shading on the left for Colorado Plateau, purple shading in the middle for Southern Rocky Mountains, and blue shading on the right to show Great Plains.
Curecanti National Recreation Area falls between two physiographic provinces: Colorado Plateaus (west) and Southern Rocky Mountains (east).

NPS/Geologic Resources Division

 
Low clouds hanging near the tops of canyon walls and formations
Building Black Canyon

How long did it take to construct Black Canyon? Learn about the materials and forces that caused it to form.

Image of a quartz rock with glittering segments of white, grey, and brown
Rocks & Minerals

Learn about the types of rock and minerals found in Black Canyon and Curecanti.

Image of a view looking up. Four canyon wall segments are straight above towards a blue sky
Canyon Dimensions

Learn about depth and steepness, and how Black Canyon compares to other canyons around the world.

Two people standing at an overlook facing a dark, steep canyon
The Geologic Story

Chapters written across time make up the in-depth story of Black Canyon.

 

Last updated: August 14, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

102 Elk Creek
(GPS/physical address = 9800 Highway 347, Montrose, CO)

Gunnison, CO 81230

Phone:

970-641-2337

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