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Know before you go: Black Canyon of the Gunnison

How to stay safe here, what to pack and what to leave at home.

By The Green Adventures · Updated · How we check

Today at Black Canyon of the Gunnison

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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for South Rim Visitor Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.

Stay safe

  • Wildlife: Keep at least 25 yards (23 m) from all wild animals, and 100 yards (91 m) from bears and wolves where they live. Never feed wildlife. Use pullouts to watch animals from the road.
  • Altitude: Parts of the park are high. Take it easy the first day, drink plenty of water, and head lower if you get a headache, nausea or shortness of breath.
  • Flash floods: Rain miles away can flood canyons and washes. Check the flash flood forecast at the visitor center before narrow or slot canyon hikes and get to high ground if water rises.
  • Cell service: Coverage is patchy in most parks. Download offline maps and the park’s info before you lose signal.

What to pack

Start with the park service’s ten essentials:

  • Navigation: a paper map or offline map, plus a charged phone and battery pack
  • Sun protection: sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat
  • Layers: a warm layer and a rain shell, even in summer
  • Headlamp or flashlight
  • First aid kit
  • Fire starter (matches or a lighter) for emergencies
  • Repair kit and tools (a small knife, tape)
  • Extra food
  • Extra water and a way to treat it
  • Emergency shelter: a space blanket or tarp

For Black Canyon of the Gunnison also bring:

  • A warm hat and gloves: mornings can be freezing even in summer
  • A red light and a blanket for stargazing
  • Binoculars for wildlife watching from a safe distance
  • Camping: tent, sleeping bag rated for night temperatures, camp stove and fuel bought locally

What to leave at home

  • A drone: launching, landing or flying drones is banned in almost every national park site.
  • Firewood from home: it can carry tree-killing pests. Buy it where you burn it, ideally within 10 miles.
  • Pets: of the 8 hikes the park service lists here, 3 allow pets (some with limits). Where pets are allowed they must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet.
  • Anything you plan to take home from the park: rocks, plants, antlers, artifacts and fossils must stay where you find them.
  • Food that wildlife can reach: store it as the park directs, in your car or a locker, never in a tent in bear country.

Weather

Today's Weather: http://www.weather.com/weather/today/l/NPBLCA:13:US CLIMATE Weather can vary greatly throughout the day. Summer daytime temperatures range between 55 to 90F (13 to 32C), nights 45 to 60F (7 to 16C). Winter daytime temperatures range between 15 to 40F (-9 to 4C), nights 10 to 20F (-12 to -6C). Afternoon thunderstorms are common during the summer. Snow accumulation varies greatly year to year. Layered clothing appropriate for the season is recommended.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What should I pack for Black Canyon of the Gunnison?
The ten essentials (map, sun protection, layers, light, first aid, fire starter, tools, extra food, extra water and emergency shelter), plus a warm hat and gloves: mornings can be freezing even in summer.
Can I fly a drone in Black Canyon of the Gunnison?
No. Launching, landing or operating drones is prohibited in national parks unless the superintendent approves it in writing.