Ease into your visit to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park with a stroll along the Warner Point Nature Trail. This 1.5-mile (2.4-kilometer) round-trip hike leads you through mountain mahogany, service berry, pinyon pine and juniper, culminating with views of the San Juan and West Elk mountains, the Gunnison River and, of course, the mighty canyon.
Learn the history of this spot. The interpretive nature trail was named for Presbyterian Reverend Mark Warner, who began his first pastorate in Montrose, Colorado, in the early 1900s. He loved the Black Canyon and championed the designation of the area as a national monument in 1933. He coauthored a book about the canyon with Dexter Walker, traveling through the Black Canyon in a boat to get impressive photos.
The trail traces the south rim of the canyon for a short way, offering a wide view of the canyon, from the Painted Wall to the east to the plateau to the west. Informative placards bear information on the ecosystem, terrains and history of the area. Be sure to pick up a free trail guide at the South Rim Visitor Center or High Point Overlook. You’ll undoubtedly learn a lot in just a short distance. Make your way to Warner Point, where you’ll be rewarded with views of one of the deepest parts of the canyon as well as views of the Montrose plains.
Hardy hikers can access the backcountry Warner Route from the nature trail. A wilderness permit is required for this4.2-mile (6.8-kilometer) expert trail, which plummets to the canyon floor. Be prepared for the strenuous 3,000-foot (900-meter) elevation gain.
Reach Warner Point Nature Trail at the turnaround at High Point at the end of the South Rim Road. Pets are not allowed. At certain times of the year, park rangers lead small group tours along the trail. Purchase a one-week pass to Grand Canyon of the Gunnison National Park to access the trail or buy an annual national parks pass that provides entrance to more than 2,000 federal sites.