Tips for a weekend road trip to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park!
Since moving back to Florida from Colorado, one thing we miss terribly (besides some of our favorite people and the gorgeous summer weather) are the majestic Colorado mountains. We made a promise to each other when we moved to go back west and visit as much as possible, seeing new sights each trip.
We planned this road trip in September to see the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, so we could enjoy the crisp fall air and bright aspen trees. We chose the quaint town of Ouray to stay in for the weekend because of its central location. This ended up being the perfect route for a road trip to Black Canyon and Telluride, just a one hour drive to each!
Where to start a road trip to Black Canyon and Telluride
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is located in southwest Colorado. Since we were staying in the Denver area, we started early and drove straight to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park from Denver. For this road trip you can choose to fly into Denver, or into the Colorado Springs airport. Black Canyon is about a 5 hour drive from Denver, or 4 and a half hours to Colorado Springs.
Most of the drive is very pretty so it doesn’t feel like you are in the car for that long. We saw a moose literally galloping along the side of the road while we were driving! We also stopped in the Pike National Forest to see some of the beautiful Aspen trees, and to use the facilities there. If you haven’t seen fall in Colorado, add it to your bucket list now!
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison is situated in the southern part of the Rockies, near the beautiful and rugged San Juan mountain range. The steep gorge was carved out over millions of years by volcanic eruptions and the Gunnison River, which you can still see pulsing through the canyon today.
After spending the morning in the car, we were ready to get out and explore the Black Canyon. Many of the trails are just out-and-back walks and you can drive through most of the park. We visited the South Rim portion, where there are 12 scenic overlooks along the South Rim Drive.
Note: There is no bridge to connect to the North Rim, which would be another 2-3 hour drive to get to.
You can easily see Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in one day if you stay nearby. It is a spectacular park and we highly recommend you add it to your list. Sign up below to follow along with our journeys, and to see all of the national parks we’ve enjoyed! Keep reading for more tips on where to stay and things to do near the Black Canyon.
Ouray, Colorado
Once we finished the Black Canyon scenic drive, we headed to our first night in Ouray (pronounced “yir-ay). Ouray is about 48 miles south of the South Rim entrance to Black Canyon, or a one hour drive. Ouray sits in a box canyon with high mountains lining three and a half sides of the town and is referred to as the “Switzerland of America”. The town has some of the largest non-sulfur hot springs in the United States, so it is only fitting we stayed at Box Canyon Lodge and Hot Springs!
Box Canyon Lodge and Hot Springs
Although the room at the Box Canyon Lodge was a basic hotel room, it was spacious and clean. They did offer a small continental breakfast, with coffee and hot chocolate. Honestly though, the location and amenities are what make this place amazing.
Each of four redwood hot tubs offer a spectacular 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains. The temperatures in the hot tubs range between 103 and 108 degrees, there is a chart in the lodge reception area that shows the daily temps in each of the tubs. Since the hot spring water is constantly flowing in and out, replacing itself every 24 hours, there are no added chemicals in the water.
Downtown Ouray
After several soaks in the mineral-rich hot springs, we headed out to check out downtown Ouray. There are shops, restaurants, and breweries to explore. We loved hanging out at the Ouray Brewery, basically any place that has a rooftop bar is my favorite. Plus they had gluten-reduced beers and hard ciders for me so I was super happy!
Once we had enjoyed a drink (or two, they were good!) we went next door to dinner at the Outlaw. This restaurant was recommended by several people we met at the Box Canyon Lodge and bonus, there was no wait. The Outlaw felt like an old timey steakhouse, and we learned John Wayne used to hang out here in the 1960’s while filming True Grit. The Caesar salad and steak were tasty and we were stuffed. Time to call it a night and head out early for Telluride in the morning.
For more options for lodging in the area, click here for a list with reviews of the best places to stay in Ouray, Colorado.
Telluride, Colorado
Although they are close on the map, Telluride was an hour drive away because of the huge mountains in between the two towns. We knew we wanted to spend the entire day there so we again headed out right after a quick breakfast. The drive between Ouray and Telluride was gorgeous with all the fall colors. We stopped at a few overlooks along the Uncompahgre National Forest. This is such a beautiful part of Colorado!
Hike to Bridal Veil Falls
The first thing we wanted to do in Telluride was hike to Bridal Veil Falls, which is the tallest free-falling waterfall in Colorado at 365 feet high. We started early because this hike can get crowded, and by the time we were descending most of the upper parking areas were full.
The hike begins just outside of downtown Telluride. We parked at the trail head in the unmarked parking area at the Pandora/Idarado Mine. Hiking to the base of Bridal Veil Falls has a moderate difficulty rating, and elevation gain of 1,650 feet. Follow the switchbacks heading up the wall of the box canyon overlooking Telluride valley.
After 1.2 miles you will reach the base of Bridal Veil Falls, here you can turn around or continue hiking another steep 0.8 miles all the way to the top of the falls. The top of Bridal Veil Falls has a historic power plant perched along a ledge of the canyon, and panoramic views of the valley below.
*Note: You can drive to the bottom of the falls but a high clearance, 4-wheel drive is highly recommended. The road is very busy with hikers, bikers and 4-wheel drive traffic so driving should only be considered if you are unable to hike. We saw several people attempt the drive in insufficient vehicles and due to gravel, switchbacks, and huge ruts in the road, they had to (very carefully) turn back or they would be stuck.
Tip: Take your time on the hike back down, all the loose gravel makes a slippery slope!
Now that we got our heart rate up, it was time for some lunch. We ate at High Pie Pizzeria in town, and both the regular and the gluten free pies were exactly what we needed after that hike. The craft beer and cider hit the spot as well!
Telluride Gondola
We shopped and walked around town a bit, and hit the farmer’s market set up right at the base of the gondola. Our next adventure was riding the gondola from historic Telluride to the European style Mountain Village nearby. The gondola takes about 12 minutes to get from one town to the next and eliminates the 20 minute drive between the two. It is free to ride and offers quite breathtaking views both on the way up and down!
On our way out of town we checked out the Telluride Brewing Company taproom. It was in a cool setting and David said their beers were good, but unfortunately there weren’t any gluten free options for me. So we enjoyed a few minutes sitting outside and then headed back towards Ouray.
Driving the Million Dollar Highway
I had been reading a lot about the Million Dollar Highway when researching this trip so we decided to drive on it for a few miles just to check it out, since we were already taking Highway 550 in Ouray. The Million Dollar Highway is a 25 mile stretch of Highway 550 running from Ouray to Silverton that is noted to be one of the most beautiful and most dangerous roads in the world. It twists and turns through the gorge, 11,000 feet above sea level in the San Juan Mountains… with no guardrails. Of course we had to experience this!
There are various claims about how this section of the highway got it’s name. Some say it was named for the million-dollar views, others claim the nickname stuck after people claimed they wouldn’t drive on it for a million dollars. It was actually named in the 1920’s during the planning process where someone said this highway would cost a million dollars to build!
The road wasn’t especially scary that day (I wasn’t the one driving though!), but there’s no way I would drive one of the semi trucks we saw barreling down the road. I can’t even begin to imagine driving it in the snow, or during some of the high winds at that elevation. It was a beautiful drive, you just have to pay attention every second.
China Clipper Inn
Our last night in Ouray we stayed at the China Clipper Inn Bed & Breakfast. We loved the Victorian rooms, the family that owns and operates the inn, and the phenomenal breakfast! The Inn was built by a Navy Commander and has 12 rooms, each named after a famous Clipper ship. The back deck has a hot tub we soaked in before breakfast.
David had pancakes, we both had cheesy eggs made to order, and they even had gluten free toast as an option for me with homemade jams. The fresh squeezed orange juice was the icing on the cake! This was such a great end to our weekend getaway.
If you are planning a road trip to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Telluride, or Ouray, you will not be disappointed! The views are spectacular everywhere you turn in the gorgeous San Juan mountain range. We loved exploring all around this area and can’t wait to go back.
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Safe travels!
What a great post! This is the area I live in!! I live in Montrose and make frequent trips to the BC, buying an annual pass every year! Telluride and Ouray are awesome places too.
I would go back to Ouray and Telluride in a heartbeat! Such cute towns with so much to do 🙂
The national park looks so great! And all the pics you’ve clicked are wonderful!
Only 33 min of sunlight per day? That’s crazy! I’m not sure how I never heard of this national park (my bro works for the Park Service so has been on assignment at most of the parks west of the Mississippi at some point), but it def looks like one to add to our family bucket list!
We were very impressed, and the out and back hikes are great for families 🙂
This is just the best and most timely post for me. I’m planning a solo road trip of Colorado and these spots are on my list. Thanks so much, it will be a huge help in scheduling
I can’t wait to hear about how your trip goes! That’s so exciting 🙂
I loved reading about your experience in Black Canyon. Your descriptions really made it come alive for me. Happy travels!
It really surprised us how beautiful it was!
Are there guardrails on the road between Ouray and Black Canyon NP? I’m not good on the scary roads !!
You know honestly I don’t remember, but I do know that the drive wasn’t scary from Black Canyon to Ouray. Now, driving the Million Dollar Highway is a different story… that is one sketchy mountain pass!