Hiking the East Portal Trail in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Distance (Roundtrip): 0.8 miles / 1.3 km
The East Portal Trail in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is the only trail along the Gunnison River that is accessible by way of driving.
By this, I mean that normally, hikers pick one of seven challenging and steep routes that descend from the canyon rim to the Gunnison River, but the East Portal off of South Rim Road is the one exception to this.
That being said, visitors who choose to make the drive down to East Portal have the unique opportunity to see Black Canyon from an entirely new perspective—one that is most often frequented by fishermen and hikers like myself.
This is all to say that whether you’re looking to fish, hike the East Portal Trail, or even spend the night in the East Portal Campground, simply making the drive to the bottom of the canyon is worth the trip alone!
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
East Portal Trailhead Parking
The East Portal Trailhead is located at the very bottom of the long and windy East Portal Road, about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) past the turn immediately following the Black Canyon entrance station.
With that in mind, East Portal Road descends about 1,900 ft. (579 m) over this short distance, which is why it’s important to drive in a low gear and only when the road is snow-free.
Google Maps Directions: East Portal Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Black Canyon
Black bears are known to be found everywhere from the plateaus along the canyon rim to the steep routes that lead down to the Gunnison River, and everywhere in between.
That being said, here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Bear Spray & Holster - If you aren’t flying, don’t rent bear spray! It’s a waste of money. Prepare ahead of time by buying your own, as this may be one of the most important items on this list.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the East Portal Trail
The East Portal Trail begins just downstream of the parking area and campground, following a mostly flat section along the Gunnison River for only 0.4 miles (0.6 km).
This USGS stream gage is exactly what the National Park Service uses to determine the cubic feet per second on the Gunnison River in order to safely issue wilderness permits for any one of the seven steep routes that hikers typically use to reach the bottom of Black Canyon.
Unfortunately, this cable bridge is not open to the public, meaning that fishermen typically only reach the north side of the river late in the season, when the water levels have significantly subsided from their peak in the late spring and early summer.
Poison Ivy is truly just a way of life along the Gunnison River, and often, the National Park Service recommends wearing hiking pants in order to prevent direct skin contact.
This is all to say: learn how to identify it if you plan to hike East Portal or any of the seven routes from the rim to the river.
As the East Portal Trail nears its end, it passes through some rocky areas that are less of a trail in the traditional sense.
It is in these sections that Poison Ivy is typically very abundant.
Sun Shirts
If this is your first time in the area, you’re likely unprepared for how strong the sun can be.
For this reason, I recommend picking up a quality, hooded sun shirt if you plan to do any hiking. Protection from the sun cannot be overstated, and in my experience, sunscreen alone has never been enough over a multi-day visit, especially if you’re visiting during the summer season!
Deadhorse Gulch
After just 0.4 miles (0.6 km), the East Portal Trail ends at the mouth of Deadhorse Gulch, located across the river, directly below the Deadhorse Overlook.
This is the same Deadhorse Gulch for which the Deadhorse Trail is named, on the North Rim of Black Canyon.
That said, I recommend against hiking further, as this photo was taken during the later summer season with considerably low water levels, and it would still have been difficult to proceed further downstream.
I can only imagine how much more dangerous attempting this would be earlier in the season!
More Black Canyon Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
Most obviously, be careful around the rim of Black Canyon! It happens all too often at places like this—the Grand Canyon, Angels Landing, etc.—that someone falls in!
On a different note, if you decide to hike into Black Canyon, take it slow, and stagger yourself from the other people in your group and others on the trail, as many of the gullies are filled with loose rock that can be problematic for those below.
Additionally, learn how to identify Poison Ivy, as there is not one area along the Gunnison River where I haven’t seen it.
Finally, be aware that Black Canyon of the Gunnison is Black Bear and mountain lion territory, and while hiking in Black Bear territory usually presents less danger as opposed to grizzlies, hiking with bear spray is never a bad idea. However, it’s really up to your own discretion and comfort level.
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official National Park website.
National Park Service: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclaimer
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