Gunnison Gorge
The Black Canyon or (Gunny Gorge) is an impressive scar in the land in Western Colorado. The Gunnison River has slowly dug this ditch to around 2000 Feet deep. The Black Canyon (above Chukar Trail) section is committing and makes for a wild adventure for the expert kayaker. Portages are tough and most drops have must make moves to avoid sweepers and other nasty features. For those that make this trip though it is a trip of a lifetime for most. The Gunny Gorge section (below Chukar Trail) is a classic class III overnight trip, with one of the most difficult sections simply being accessing the river at the bottom of the steep Chukar Trail.
Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the Gunnison River are between a bare minimum of 600cfs and a high of 2,000cfs.
River conditions sourced from USGS 09132500, the North Fork Gunnison River Near Somerset
Remember only watercraft are permitted
at Gunnison Gorge.
Run Stats
| Status | Too Low |
| Class Level | III to IV- |
| Elevation | 6,081 ft |
| Run Length | 14.0 Mi |
| Gradient | 50 FPM |
| Streamflow Discharge | 59.4 cfs |
| Gage Height | 1.4 ft |
| Air Temperature | 54° |
| River | Gunnison River |
| Reporting Streamgage |
North Fork Gunnison River Near Somerset
USGS 09132500 |
|
Chukar Rapid
Class III |
|
One Miler
Class III |
|
Improvise Rapid
Class III |
|
Upper Pucker Rapid
Class II+ to III+ |
|
Lower Pucker Rapid
Class II+ to III+ |
|
Buttermilk Rapid
Class III to III+ |
|
Red Canyon Rapid
Class III to IV- |
|
Boulder Garden Rapid
Class III to IV |
|
Paddle Keeper Rapid
Class III to III+ |
|
T-Dyke Rapid
Class II+ to III |
|
S-Turn
Class III to III+ |
|
The Squeeze Rapids
Class III to IV- |
|
The Three Drops Rapid
Class V- to V+ |
|
Cable Rapid
Class III to IV |
|
Jumpin’ Jack Splash
Class III to III+ |
|
Gate Keeper
Class III to III+ |
|
Grand Finale
Class II+ to III |
| Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
North Fk Gunnison River Above Mouth Nr Lazear
USGS 09136100 |
113 cfs | 3.1 ft |
|
North Clear Creek Bl Continental Reservoir
USGS 08214500 |
2 cfs | 1.2 ft |
|
South Fork San Miguel River Near Ophir
USGS 09171310 |
29 cfs | 1.6 ft |
|
Rio Grande At Thirtymile Bridge
USGS 08213500 |
2 cfs | 0.6 ft |
|
Muddy Creek At Bardine
USGS 09131500 |
0 cfs | 3.2 ft |
|
Plateau Creek Near Cameo
USGS 09105000 |
49 cfs | 2.3 ft |
|
Animas River Above Tacoma
USGS 09359500 |
111 cfs | 2.6 ft |
|
Hubbard Creek At Highway 133 At Mouth Nr Bowie
USGS 09132960 |
2 cfs | ft |
|
Surface Creek At Cedaredge
USGS 09143500 |
4 cfs | 0.7 ft |
|
Gunnison River At Delta
USGS 09144250 |
504 cfs | 1.5 ft |
| Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
|---|---|---|
|
Scotch Creek
SNOTEL 739 |
1" | -1" |
|
Burro Mountain
SNOTEL 378 |
2" | 0" |
|
Sharkstooth
SNOTEL 1060 |
2" | -1" |
|
Columbus Basin
SNOTEL 904 |
11" | -1" |
|
Stump Lakes
SNOTEL 797 |
5" | -1" |
|
ouray .23 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-OR-2 |
0.77" | 0" |
|
Red Mountain Pass
SNOTEL 713 |
14" | -1" |
|
silverton 0.3 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-SJ-4 |
0.07" | 0" |
|
Wager Gulch
SNOTEL 1188 |
1" | 0" |
|
Mineral Creek
SNOTEL 629 |
4" | 0" |
|
Vallecito
SNOTEL 843 |
5" | 1" |
|
Mc Clure Pass
SNOTEL 618 |
3" | 0" |
|
Crosho
SNOTEL 426 |
12" | -1" |
|
Lone Cone
SNOTEL 589 |
7" | 3" |
|
Idarado
SNOTEL 538 |
7" | 0" |
|
Middle Creek
SNOTEL 624 |
6" | 1" |
|
Lizard Head Pass
SNOTEL 586 |
2" | 0" |
|
Bison Lake
SNOTEL 345 |
12" | -2" |
|
Mancos
SNOTEL 905 |
2" | 0" |
|
Spud Mountain
SNOTEL 780 |
2" | 0" |
|
Ripple Creek
SNOTEL 717 |
17" | 0" |
|
Park Reservoir
SNOTEL 682 |
18" | 0" |
|
Black Mesa
SNOTEL 1185 |
15" | 0" |
|
Trapper Lake
SNOTEL 827 |
2" | -1" |
|
Mesa Lakes
SNOTEL 622 |
6" | -1" |
|
North Lost Trail
SNOTEL 669 |
7" | 0" |
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Lake | 11 | 8,750 ft | |||
| South Rim - Gunnison National Park | 88 | 8,365 ft | |||
| East Portal - Curecanti National Rec Area | 15 | 6,557 ft | |||
| Cimarron - Curecanti National Rec Area | 22 | 6,906 ft | |||
| Big Cimarron | 10 | 8,667 ft | |||
| Silver Jack | 60 | 9,117 ft | |||
| Ridgway State Park | 283 | 7,062 ft | |||
| North Rim - Gunnison National Park | 13 | 7,752 ft | |||
| Crawford State Park | 44 | 6,560 ft |
| Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silverton Mountain | 14" | 41° | 0" |
| Telluride | 4" | 41° | 0" |
| Kendall Mountain | 4" | 41° | 0" |
| River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gunnison Gorge | 59.4cfs | 14.0 Mi | III to IV- |
| South Mineral Creek | 44.4cfs | 0.5 Mi | V to V+ |