The drop is so sheer and the span so narrow that the canyon walls are shrouded in dark shadows most of the day, thus its name. Be on the lookout for golden eagles and hawks soaring on the updrafts. Finish the day with a late afternoon drive through Colorado National Monument with its striking red rock canyons, sandstone spires and highland junipers. Gauge Railroad for a scenic ride to Durango. The route, inaccessible by car, follows the River of Lost Souls Canyon.
Yellow aspens contrast with the dark green pines, making autumn rides spectacular.
Late this afternoon, arrive in Durango, a Registered National Historic Landmark. See their cliff dwellings embedded in sheer rock. Drive to see pithouses and kivas, which are stylized ceremonial parlors. Enjoy lunch atop the mesa before returning to Durango. The rest of the day is free to enjoy this western frontier town.