Warner Point Nature Trail – Black Canyon Of The Gunnison

Distance: 1.5 miles Elevation Gain: 200 ft Difficulty: Moderate Type: Out-and-Back Surface: rocky path Activity: Hiking Best Season: Late Spring–Fall Typical Time: 1–1.5 hours Fee: Included with park pass Dogs: No Permit: No

Warner Point Nature Trail reaches the southernmost overlook on the South Rim, terminating at a promontory where the Gunnison River canyon reaches its greatest depth — 2,722 feet from rim to river — making it one of the deepest canyons in North America relative to its width. The trail winds through scrub oak, serviceberry, and Gambel oak at the canyon rim before reaching the exposed point where the canyon walls plunge in near-vertical dark Precambrian gneiss to the silver line of river far below.

The sound of Gunnison River rapids carries up from the depths on quiet mornings, an audible reminder of the hydraulic force that carved this extraordinary gorge over two million years. The exposed Precambrian basement rock visible on the canyon walls is among the oldest exposed geology in any US national park — 1.7 billion years old, formed deep in the earth's crust and later uplifted and dissected by the river. The trail also passes through excellent habitat for rufous-sided towhees, Steller's jays, and the occasional mule deer browsing the oak margins. Warner Point is the most remote and peaceful viewpoint on the South Rim; visitor numbers drop sharply at the far end of the road.