News Release

Status of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Date: July 18, 2025

Montrose, Colo. – On the morning of July 10, 2025, lightning strikes ignited wildfires on both the North Rim and South Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Visitors and staff were safely evacuated, and the park is closed until further notice.

Since the fire is still active and not contained, the park’s total estimated loss is unknown. When the fire is 100% contained, formal damage and safety assessments will begin. Initial assessments have determined that the South Rim Visitor Center, the administration building, and the entrance booth survived the fire. However, the facility management building, the Western National Parks warehouse, the welding shop, several pieces of heavy equipment, the South Rim Campground, and numerous bathrooms and overlooks throughout the park burned and were either destroyed or heavily damaged.

All reservations for the South Rim Campground and for Wilderness Permits are cancelled, with no re-opening date. A reopening date for the park will be considered when the fire is contained, and safety assessments have been completed.

High temperatures, very low humidity, gusty winds, and very dry vegetation across the region enhanced the fire’s spread at Black Canyon. Montrose County is currently in a Stage 1 Fire restriction. Fire season brings numerous hazards to the region. Use caution on roadways and watch for wildlife and workers for their safety and yours.

The South Rim fire is being managed by the Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3. Check InciWeb for incident updates: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/cobcp-south-rim

Some of the Black Canyon Visitor Center staff have been temporarily relocated to the Public Lands Center located at 2465 South Townsend Ave in Montrose. The visitor center, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm with a lunch closure from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. National Park Service rangers are now available to provide visitor services at that location and answer questions by phone at [phone]. The Black Canyon passport stamp is also available.

Curecanti National Recreation Area is comanaged with Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and remains open for boating, hiking, camping, and stargazing. Visitors are cautioned that there is a temporary closure for boating on Blue Mesa Reservoir west of Middle Bridge for air operations related to fire. Displaced Black Canyon Park Rangers will be offering additional astronomy programming at Curecanti. The programs are free and open to the public.

-end-

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.