A couple years before Rob and I moved to Vietnam, we took a road trip through Colorado and Utah to explore. We spent three weeks on the road, living out of my Ford Explorer and tents, showering when we could, and hiking every trail we could find.

One of those trails happened to be in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. A National Park known for it’s steep, severe, black walls that appear forbodding and unwelcoming.


Black Canyon of the Gunnison

While there is a rim trail you can follow, we were after river access. Not to swim or anything, but just to get to the river and look up at the massive walls that make the canyon so spectacular. While there are a few different routes to get to the river, we opted for the Gunnison Route since we were staying on the South Rim and it was closest to our campsite.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison River Hike

Here is how the trail is described:

Gunnison Route Description

Now, let’s review. The description is recommending 2 hours for a 1 mile walk. Two hours for what a normal trail would take 20-30ish minutes for most people. In addition, it claims a 1,800 foot drop in elevation in the course of 1 mile. That is no joke.

Rob Descending the Gunnison Route

What this description fails to mention is that the trail is mostly just sand over rock. No footholds, no handholds. Or, that the bottom half of the trail is minimally maintained so you’re bushwhacking at overgrown foliage and guessing at direction.

To this day, every steep trail Rob and I tackle, we compare to the Gunnison.

The trail in which we hung onto roots, trunks, and low branches to try and control ourselves while descending, and then to find something solid to help pull ourselves back up. The trail in which another pair of hikers came flying around a corner saying they saw a bear cub two steps off the trail: a sure sign that mama bear was lurking somewhere nearby. There was no where to go if we made her mad. The trail in which a young group of Mennonites went speeding passed me in no-track Keds. The trail in which I had to sit down for a full 10 minutes and wipe away tears until my uncontrollable shaking subsided.

Descending the Gunnison

The trail we would definitely attempt again if given the chance because the view from the bottom is so, completely worth it.

Bottom of the Gunnison

RQ: Steep trails: yay or nay?

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