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According to the National Park Service, "Due to its exceptional night skies and efforts to mitigate light pollution, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park was designated as an International Dark Sky Park in 2015."
There are trails on both North and South rims at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The Uplands Trail is one of those hiking trails. To read more about hiking in this national park, click here.
According to the National Park Service, "Pegmatite refers to igneous rock with very coarse texture and unusually large, intergrown crystals. It consists mostly of quartz, feldspar, and mica. As magma cools and solidifies, water becomes concentrated. This concentration makes the magma more fluid and easier to squeeze, like toothpaste out of the tube, into the surrounding rock.
Wildflowers and flowering shrubs found at Black Canyon bloom in early season (April–June), mid-season (June–July), and late season (July–September). They grow on the canyon rim, uplands, and the inner canyon. Mariposa lilies are native to Western North America.
The cliffs of Black Canyon are a siren call to rock climbers, but this place is not to be lightly tackled by beginners. To read more about rock climbing at this national park in Colorado, click here.
Black Canyon is home to 174 bird species, including this canyon wren.
According to the National Park Service, "Black Canyon is the result of multiple episodes of uplift and erosion and the carving power of the Gunnison River. The canyon displays a wide variety of rock types - including igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary."
"Deep, steep, and narrow." According to the National Park Service, Black Canyon exposes nearly two billion year old Precambrian "basement rocks," one of the best examples in the world.
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Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.
Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.
You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.
