The area is renowned for its hiking, fishing, and climbing opportunities, but the gorge's technical terrain can make access difficult. Before hikers enter the canyon, they must convince a ranger of their abilities before obtaining a free backcountry permit. The most popular trail, Gunnison Route, starts from the canyon's south rim and descends nearly 1,700 feet into the gorge. Currently, more than 230,000 people visit the canyon annually. In some spots, the gorge reaches depths of 3,000 feet and is only 40 feet wide at its narrowest point.
Sunlight only penetrates the canyon floor about an hour a day, hence the name Black Canyon.
Before becoming a national park, the Black Canyon region was established a national monument by President Herbert Hoover in 1933. The recent bill also creates the 57,725-acre Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, which will be managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Click here to find out how. Copyright Rodale, Inc. 2001.