Black Canyon of the Gunnison is Colorado's most underrated park

Rocky Mountain National Park may be Colorado's crown jewel, but there are plenty of other pristine parks in the state — with way fewer crowds.

Driving the news: Outside magazine recently named the 50 most underrated parks in every state. In Colorado, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park took the prize.

• Located near Montrose in western Colorado, the park is known for boasting some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rocks (~1.8 billion years old), and most rugged spires on the continent. Its name is a nod to the color of its cliffs, which are often darkened by shadows.
• The magazine praises the park for its many accessible overlooks, challenging canyon routes for hikers, and towering cliffs for advanced climbers.

Of note: In 2022, Black Canyon — one of four national parks in the state — saw just 297,000 visitors compared to Rocky Mountain's more than 4.3 million.

😮 My thought bubble: This place took my breath away when I first visited in 2017.

• The jaw-dropping views of the roaring Gunnison River some 2,700 feet below (!) are hard to comprehend — and pictures just don't do it justice.
• There's a reason this spectacular gem is known as the Grand Canyon of Colorado. If it wasn't on your radar before, make sure it is now.