Black Canyon at the Gunnison NP

Driving into Montrose, I was a little disappointed as it appeared we had left the mountains far behind.  But less than 30 minutes from our VRBO is Black Canyon at the Gunnison NP.  Very little traffic as we enter the park and stop at the first lookout.

We walked a little ways on a rim trail and I saw a very unusual squirrel-like creature, center left in the above image.

Very dramatic setting as we stopped at other pullouts.  We are at an elevation of 8200', 2000' above the canyon bottom.

Some pullouts required a short walk to the best points from which to see the inner gorge.

Jack the Dog was enjoying himself as we also got a look at the Gunnison River.

Check out the differences in the angles between the North side on the right and the south side of the canyon. That's due to differences in erosion, over time, from snow melt between the south facing side (north rim) and the north facing side.  I hoped there would be a rim to river trail from the south rim but it looked so steep, I doubted its availability (I was so wrong).

As we proceed along the south rim drive, we can see the Painted Wall as we make our way to the end at Walter Point.  There....

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.....we follow a trail for about 3/4 mile to....

....Walter Point but then we notice there is an off trail way to a rocky point, farther out that looked like fun so I descend a bit then ascend to....

....the above perch.  Beautiful spot.  OK, so I found the park gives 15 wilderness permits each day for the Gunnison Route, an unmarked route from the rim to the river.  Permits are handed out each day, before the visitor center closes and then any leftover permits, handed out the following morning.  I'm going to take a chance and try to snag a remaining permit, tomorrow morning.