Golden rays cascading down dramatic cliffs – who wouldn’t want that as the backdrop in their elopement! Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park offers all the gorgeous views without the hassle of so many tourists. While the name may sound ominous, it’s a quiet, yet truly underrated National Park in the heart of Southwest Colorado.
Why you should consider a Black Canyon of the Gunnison elopement
Adventure without the crowds
Honestly, this is Black Canyon of the Gunnison’s biggest advantage over the rest of Colorado’s National Parks – it’s quiet. I mean, there will still be tourists, don’t get me wrong, but watching the sunset on the weekend in the middle of summer with only a handful of people will always beat the hundreds of tourists at Rocky Mountain National Park.
Epic Sunrise & Sunset views
Want to stand on the edge of a cliff admiring the sunset? Honestly, it’ll be a scene straight out of a fantasy novel – the cliffs at Black Canyon are truly epic! Both sides of the Canyon have great viewpoints for both sunrise and sunset – so no matter where on the rim you are, you’ll be treated to a gorgeous view.
Accessible views year-round
Some of the best views are still accessible in winter along the South Rim. Plus, the park opens fully in mid-Spring – WAY earlier than most of our other National Parks here in Colorado. The views are reminiscent of the Grand Canyon, though on a smaller scale.
Where is Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park?
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is located 18 minutes east of Montrose, Colorado on the South Rim and 30 minutes from Crawford on the North Rim. If you wanted to travel from one side to the other from Montrose it would take around an hour and 30 minutes.
How to get there:
Both Montrose and Crawford have airports, though they are regional airports with only a handful of flights. Montrose Regional Airport has flights from American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.
The closest International airport is Denver International. If you are landing in Denver International Airport (it’s usually way cheaper than Montrose) you will want to rent a car to drive the 5 hours to Montrose.
Other locations you may want to drive from:
Grand Junction: 60 miles, 1 hour
Ouray: 36 miles, 45 minutes
Denver: 300 miles, 5 hours
Colorado Springs: 235 miles, 4.75 hours
How to plan a Black Canyon of the Gunnison Elopement: a step by step checklist
- Decide when you want to elope
- Hire a Black Canyon of the Gunnison Elopement Photographer – they will help you plan
- Call the park to determine if you need a special use permit
- Choose your Black Canyon of the Gunnison ceremony location
- Book flights and rental car
- Book lodging for your elopement
- Reach out to and book other vendors for your elopement: catering, hair and make-up, florist, videographer, etc
- Decide on what activities you would like to include on your day
- Get your Colorado Marriage License
- Have an epic Elopement day!
When to elope in Black Canyon of the Gunnison
No matter the season, Black Canyon of the Gunnison is gorgeous and certainly underrated! It’s also a great park for photos at any time of the day, but sunrise and sunset are where it shines – golden rays hitting the cliffs and sunlight sparkling on the river below.
Even though Black Canyon of the Gunnison is definitely quieter than most National Parks – which is great – we still recommend eloping on a weekday for more privacy and less traffic.
Spring
Springtime in Black Canyon of the Gunnison is great for those wanting to get the most out of visiting Colorado during the off-season. Most of the roads open up in mid-April or May, and while there still may be snow in certain areas, most of the park is accessible (unlike the rest of Colorado). Temperatures range from 40°F to 70°F during spring. Spring is also shoulder season for most of Colorado, which means cheaper flights and cheaper lodging!
Summer
Summer truly is the best season to elope in Black Canyon of the Gunnison! Animals are out, flowers are blooming, and it’s just a gorgeous time in the park! Sunsets during the summer here are so beautiful. However, in the heat of summer and during mid-day the temperatures can range up to 100 degrees – that’s why we prefer early June or late August for summer months. Summer may also bring storms, though these tend to pass quickly. During the summer, it’s best to elope on a weekday.
Fall
Fall is such a colorful time in this National Park – the canyon is painted in reds, oranges, and yellows! Temperatures are similar to spring, in the 70s earlier in fall and 40s later in fall. While you could go looking at fall colors in Telluride, you may be overrun by tourists, but in Black Canyon you won’t be.
Winter
If you’re wanting to elope in Black Canyon of the Gunnison during winter, you’ll be treated to a true is a winter wonderland. However, only parts of the National Park are open, including Tomichi Point and Gunnison Point Overlooks, South Rim Visitor Center, South Rim Campground (Loop B only), and the hiking trails. North Rim Road, East Portal Road, and the South Rim Drive past the visitor center are all closed. Temperatures in the winter can get down to 19 degrees, with a high of around 40. However, it’s GREAT for snowshoeing! You can read more about planning an elopement in Winter here.
Locations for your Black Canyon of the Gunnison elopement
The park has two main sides: the South Rim and the North Rim. The South Rim is the easiest to get to and is around 20 minutes from Montrose. The North Rim is a further drive from Montrose (about an hour and a half), and you will want to be comfortable driving on gravel roads.
South Rim
Sunset View Overlook
Sunset View Overlook is one of our favorite places in the whole park. During sunset, this place is downright magical!! There are some cool rocky outcroppings here, and it’s an accesible elopement ceremony location.
Painted Wall Overlook
Painted Wall Overlook features the tallest cliff in Colorado – pretty darn cool right? It’s 2,250ft tall and can be seen from many different viewpoints, not just Painted Wall Overlook. The walk to the overlook is only 200 yards, so it’s a great accessible option for your elopement ceremony.
Pulpit Rock Overlook
This overlook is great during sunrise, it’s a 0.2 mile RT hike with 32 ft elevation gain. Great views of the canyon walls and the river below. During the rest of the day, this overlook can be a little busy however, since it’s easily accessible and has railings.
Dragon Point
Another great option for golden hour and sunset! Dragon Point is a 0.4 mile RT hike with 59 ft elevation gain. It’s an easy hike to a great overlook. The rock outcropping here is a great place for a ceremony and has great views anytime of day.
Gunnison Point
Located right by the visitor center, Gunnison Point is one of the busiest overlooks in the park. It’s no less magical, though, and offers great views! There are a few trails located close to Gunnison Point.
Tomichi Point
This overlook is ADA accessible and is one of the first overlooks in the park! Tomichi Trail passes just below Tomichi Point.
East Portal Trail
Located on the Canyon floor with epic river views, East Portal Trail is an easy 0.8 mile RT hike. A super peaceful hike, honestly!
North Rim
Islands Peak Overlook
Islands Peak Overlook has a pretty unique view overlooking the rocky outcroppings (nicknamed the islands) jutting up from the canyon floor. It is a great accessible spot along the North Rim.
Chasm View Nature Trail Overlook
This 0.5 mile RT trail is a short but moderate hike to a grand view! You’ll be able to see the true nature of the chasm of the canyon at this overlook – vast river views and rugged cliff faces.
Exclamation Point
One of the best hikes in the park, Exclamation Point, offers one of the best panorama views on the North Rim. The hike is 2.9 miles RT and is an easy to moderate hike, but it’s truly a great place for a private elopement ceremony in Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison Elopement permit
If you’re thinking about eloping in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, we recommend emailing the Special Park Use Coordinator about whether a Special Use Permit is required for your elopement. If you are required to obtain a special use permit, they are typically around $100-$300, and the application process is simple.
Getting your Colorado Marriage license
When eloping in Colorado, you may obtain your marriage license in any county, so if you’re flying in to Grand Junction or Denver International and your elopement is on a weekend, you’ll want to get your marriage license when you arrive in Colorado on a weekday.
You may also obtain your marriage license in Montrose County, where Black Canyon of the Gunnison is located. The cost for obtaining your marriage license in Montrose County is $30, and you must use the license within 35 days.
There is no waiting period to get your license in Colorado, so you can use your license the same day you get it – though we always recommend getting it a day or two before. You can also self-solemnize in Colorado, which means you don’t need any witnesses or an officiant for your Black Canyon of the Gunnison elopement.
How much does it cost to elope in Black Canyon of the Gunnison?
The cost of your elopement really depends on what you what to include in your day, what activities you want to do (hiking, jeeping, kayaking, horseback riding), what vendors you want to include, and how much it costs to travel to and stay at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Each and every elopement is completely unique and magical in their own way, so the cost varies! But below, you’ll find the average cost for an elopement at Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Marriage License: $30
Flights: $400 – $1500
Car Rental: $300- $700
Lodging: $500 – $4000 (depending on how many nights you stay)
Special Use Permit: $100 – $300
Photographer: $5600 – $10400
Florist: $100 – $300
Activities: $0 – $2000
Dinner: $50 – $1000
Hair and Makeup Artist: $100- $500
Total cost: $7200 – $21,000
Activities to do during your Black Canyon of the Gunnison elopement
There are so many epic activities you can do during your elopement in Black Canyon of the Gunnison and not all of them are in the National Park!
Hiking
We will always love a good hiking elopement, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison truly has no shortage of fun and challenging trails. Some great hikes include:
Exclamation Point: 2.9 miles RT, 344 ft elevation gain, great views and rugged rock outcropping spots.
East Portal Trail: 0.8 miles RT, 19ft elevation gain, peaceful river hike.
Scenic Drives
One of the best parts of Black Canyon of the Gunnison is being able to drive and see epic views. All of the South and North Rim is accessible by car. One of the best drives in the park is along the East Portal Road, which takes you from the south rim to the canyon floor along the river – it seriously has some epic views (but there is a super steep grade of 16%).
Horseback Riding
The only trail to allow horseback riding in the National Park is Deadhorse trail on the North Rim, however, you can head out to Gunnison Gorge National Conservation area just northwest of the park for a fun horseback riding adventure. Horseback riding is a super fun activity to include on your elopement day – it’s a new way to explore the trails and wilderness around you, plus it makes for EPIC photos!
Kayaking and White Water Rafting
Black Canyon of the Gunnison is located along the Gunnison River – a GREAT river for water sports. While you can’t go white water rafting in the National Park, you can in Gunnison Gorge, located near Hotchkiss. You can kayak along the river in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, but be forewarned they are class V rapids – pretty wild if you ask me. However, there are plenty of other places to kayak along the Gunnison River, including Gunnison Gorge and Curecanti National Recreation Area.
Off-roading
Off-roading really is one of our favorite elopement activities – every couple that has gone off-roading during their elopement has had so much fun! Montrose is an epic destination for some fun desert and canyon off-roading. Divide Road is a 90-mile long graded road from Montrose to Grand Junction and goes through forest and desert. There are also plenty of jeep trails right by Montrose, including Tabeguache, Rim Road, and Peach Valley OHV. It’s such a fun way to explore otherwise remote locations and see the landscape in a new way.
Where to stay for your Black Canyon of the Gunnison Elopement
Montrose
Montrose is the closest town to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park – it’s only 18 minutes away from the South Rim entrance. This western city is surrounded by Mesas and reminds me a little of the outskirts of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Montrose has a quaint little downtown area, all the shops and restaurants you could want, and is a great place to stay if you’re eloping in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
The average cost for a night in Montrose is $200/night.
Here are a few of our favorite Airbnbs/VRBOs:
Casa Raiz: $165/night, 3 bed, 2 bath, sleeps 6 – beautiful modern house
The AdobeOneKanobe: $115/night, 2 bed, 1 bath, sleeps 5
Pet friendly townhouse: $147/night, 3 bed, 2 bath, sleeps 6
3 bedroom house: $160/night, 3 bed, 2 bath, sleeps 6
Crawford
Located on the opposite side of the canyon to Montrose, Crawford is the closest town to the North Rim entrance. This small town is a great place to stay if you want to explore Crawford State Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and the Needle Rock Natural Area. It is a small town, so there aren’t many lodging options or restaurants to choose from. But below you’ll find two of our favorites:
Crawford Cabin: Epic views, $149/night, 3 bed, 2 bath, sleeps 8
The Bus at Needle Rock: Unique Lodging, 1 bed, 1 bath, sleeps 2
In the park
Did you know you can stay in Black Canyon of the Gunnison? If you love camping, that is! There are two campgrounds inside the park, one on the South Rim and one on the North Rim. Reservations can be made from May to September. However, the North Rim Campground is closed until further notice in 2025.
Example timeline for your Black Canyon of the Gunnison Elopement
9:45 am: Meet at Airbnb, you spend some time having a cozy morning making pancakes and having coffee on the porch.
11:00 am: Put finishing touches on vows and get ready
12:15 pm: Brunch at the Airbnb
1:30 pm: Putting attire on (and a few solo shots of each of you in your attire)
2:00 pm: First look at Tomichi Overlook
2:30 pm: Head to Ceremony location at Painted Wall Overlook
3:15 pm: Ceremony
3:45 pm: Picnic
4:30 pm: Head out to Gunnison Gorge National Conservation area for a fun horseback ride
6:30 pm: Sunset photos at Sunset View Overlook, and grab a few blue hour photos with lanterns, then drive back to Airbnb
8:00 pm: Catered Dinner at Airbnb
9:00 pm: First dance, have cake and drinks and spend time stargazing (the sky is so clear near Black Canyon)
Black Canyon of the Gunnison Elopement Photography Packages
As Black Canyon of the Gunnison elopement photographers, we absolutely love Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park – it really is a gorgeous-hidden gem in Colorado. Included in all of our packages is an exclusive elopement planning guide, all the personalized recommendations and planning help you could need to make this super easy, and epic elopement photos by a husband and wife team. We offer packages from 6 hours up to two full days, which range from $5600 to $10400.
