This guide covers where to stay in Crawford, the closest town to the north rim of the national park, as well as Montrose, the closest town to the south rim of Black Canyon.

Where should I stay near Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park?

Although this itinerary is just a quick 4 day snapshot (including travel), it is free so you can use it as a guide to make your stay in Black Canyon longer by adding to it.

What if I want to spend more time in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park?

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has a few different airports for you to choose from:
Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ) - 5 minute drive to Montrose / 1 hr to Crawford
Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT)- 1.5 hr drive to Montrose or 1.5 hrs to Crawford
Denver International Airport (DEN) - 5.5 hr drive to Montrose or Crawford

What are the closest airports to Black Canyon?

Yes, you do need a vehicle and preferably an SUV with higher clearance. Some of the roads in this itinerary are dirt roads and are easier to navigate with an SUV or 4x4 drive. 

Do you need a car in Black Canyon? 

This itinerary breaks down everything in one PDF guide. The itinerary adds even more value by planning every detail of a 4 day trip to Black Canyon of the Gunnison so all you have to do is truly book it, show up and enjoy the trip. We learn a lot on our trips about things that were worth it, things we wish we did, and the optimal route to take if we could do it over. You benefit from those learnings with this itinerary! Our podcast episodes give you highlights but not to the level of detail you’ll find within our itinerary. 

What's different about your itinerary from your podcast episode?