The Painted Wall View Trail at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
near Montrose, Colorado is an easy 0.2-mile out-and-back walk that
features views of Colorado's tallest sheer cliff, the Painted Wall within the Black Canyon.
Walk
This
very
short walk begins at the main trailhead for the Painted Wall View and follows the
dirt trail out toward the south rim of the Black Canyon. The trail leads downhill toward the lookout point where you'll find stunning views of the Painted Wall --
Colorado's tallest sheer cliff at 2,250 feet tall. The Painted Wall gets
its name from the stripes of pegmatite that line the cliff face. From the lookout, you'll find views of the Gunnison River roaring below along with more cliffs of the Black Canyon that drop approximately 2,200-feet below you. After exploring the view, the walk out leads back to parking for a short 0.2-mile jaunt.
Other South Rim Trails
Black Canyon Gunnison National Park's south rim is by far the most popular section of the park for visitors to explore. For popular day hikes, consider checking out Gunnison Point for stunning canyon views or hike the adjacent Oak Flat Loop Trail that descends into the gorge. You can then hike the Uplands Trail to reach the Rim Rock Trail
which runs along the south rim and provides stunning views of the
canyon along the way. To the west, at the end of the park's road, lies
the Warner Point Trail
which provides hikers with another moderate hike to a overlook that
sits above the deepest section of Black Canyon. The rest of the trails
along the south rim are very short hikes or simply peaceful nature walks
that lead to views. Plan your trip to the Black Canyon by checking out
our guides to each of the short overlooks along the south rim - starting
from west to east: Sunset View, Dragon Point, Cedar Point, Painted Wall View, Chasm View, Devil's Overlook, Rock Point, Cross Fissures View, and Pulpit Rock.
Pets
Dogs
are allowed on this trail only if leashed and must be cleaned up after. Note
that dogs are only allowed in parking lots, campgrounds, on paths to
overlooks (like this one), the Rim Rock Trail, and the Chasm View Nature Trail. Dogs are not permitted on any other trails in the park. You can read all of the rules and regulations for pets at the park here.
Parking
Hikers
will find a parking turnout at the coordinates provided, located
along South Rim Road in the park. The lot is large enough to
fit less than a dozen vehicles as of June 2024.
Warnings
Steep cliffs:
Despite the abundance of safety precautions (i.e. fencing), this trail
leads to cliffs that might drop 2,000-feet or more into the Black
Canyon. Be aware of your surroundings.
Sun exposure: This
trail has very-little shade and also sits at about 8,000-feet above sea
level which increases the UV index. It's smart to wear sunscreen and
bring extra sun protection when hiking this trail and other trails at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Elevation sickness:
This trail brings hikers through an altitude of about 8,000-feet above
sea level. Around the 7,000-foot mark above sea level, you may start to
experience symptoms of elevation sickness including shortness of breath,
headaches, muscle aches, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, fatigue, or
vomiting if you are not fully acclimated. If you're experiencing bad
altitude sickness symptoms, the smartest move is to get to lower
elevation as soon as possible.
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