Black Canyon Warner Point Nature Trail

Hiking the Black Canyon Warner Point Nature Trail

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a national park located in western Colorado that features amazing cliffs and canyons. There are amazing views, hiking, and other outdoor activities available at the park. One of the more popular hikes is located at the High Point parking area. Hiking the Black Canyon Warner Point Nature Trail will give visitors some amazing views of the canyon and some of the unique nature features of the park.

Getting Started

To find the trail for the Warner Point Nature Trail, you will need to drive all the way to the end of the South Rim Park Road. Also, there are several overlooks available along the road. Each overlook has a shorter walk included to get to the best views. I visited them on the way back from the Warner Point Nature Trail but they could be done coming or leaving the park. The Warner Point trailhead is at the end of the High Point parking area.

A walk in the Clouds

I have been told that views on the Warner Point Nature Trail are pretty amazing. However, the weather was not playing nice for me and I was covered in clouds and rain the entire time. The low clouds gave the hike for me more of a mystical feel that I wrote about here.

The trail itself is really nice. It is well manicured, developed and easy to follow. The path has abundant plant life including twisted trees and low scrub brush. There are lizards and birds that find the top level home as well. I didn’t see many animals due to the rain but instead had a really calm and enjoyable hike. There are many spots that give views down into the canyon and the surrounding hills and topography as you hike along. Unfortunately, with the rain it made it a bit harder to make out the canyon floor.

From the parking lot, the trail does dip down considerably. Before climbing back up a hill to get back to the top level of the canyon. There are short declines of up to 19% and short inclines of up to 22% grades. For such a short hike, there is a bit of elevation change that might be a bit of a challenge for those who are not accustomed to the higher elevation hiking.

Misty Canyon

Warner Point has one of the best views down into the canyon that there is in the park. Well, on most days. This day with the clouds and rain, it was a bit blocked but still looked very impressive. Warner point lines up where the canyon makes a curve giving views down both sides. Mostly, it is the long view down at the river that is the most impressive.

For such a short hike, only eight-tenths of a mile, the views are spectacular. Plus, the contrast of the green plant life at the top of the canyon, with the gray and brown rock is very impressive. This was the first trail on my first visit to the canyon and it was a great way to see it in its grandeur and best.

Video of the Black Canyon Warner Nature Trail Hike

I have created a time-lapsed video of the Black Canyon Warner Nature Trail Hike to give you a feel for what it is like. I call these time lapsed versions of the hikes my hikers edits. If you enjoy the video, don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel. It is free to subscribe and you will get the latest updates.

Distance and Elevation of the Black Canyon Warner Nature Trail Hike

If you don’t have the AllTrails app you might want to check it out, I really love mine. It records your progress and is a great way to search for hikes that are nearby and gives you difficulty measurements. According to AllTrails today’s hike was around 1.65 miles and had a total elevation gain of about 423 feet including undulations. That put the high point at around 8,301 feet. This high point is actually at the parking area before hiking down hill. I was also moving for a total of 45 minutes.

I am a Pro member of AllTrails and love it. If you are interested in the platform, please consider using my affiliate link for AllTrails. It gives me a small commission with no extra cost to you.

Effort

The Warner Point Nature Trail should be good for a majority of skill levels. There is nothing technical about the trail and the terrain is easy to follow. However, the is over 400 feet of elevation change in about three quarters of a mile. The tougher part is coming back up to the parking lot at the end. I am going to rank this as an easy to moderate hike. While most won’t have problems, visitors who aren’t used to the elevation and incline might have some difficulties.

Terrain

The Warner Point Nature Trail hike is a well manicured trail that is mostly wide and easy to follow. However, make sure to stay on the trail as there are some large drops on the sides and some more challenging trails leading to the canyon bottom that connect. Also, hiking to the canyon floor require a permit. Also, there is some decent coverage in spots on the trail. However, you will want to make sure to have weather and sun protection.

Access to the Black Canyon Warner Point Nature Trail Hike

The Warner Point Nature Trail is located in Black Canyon National Park. The trail is located at a section called High Point Parking lot at the end of the park road. Black Canyon of the Gunnison is part of the National Park system and there is a $30 per vehicle charge for entry. There are also several annual passes that would qualify. Check the NPS website for more pass information.

Wrap up of the Black Canyon Warner Point Nature Trail Hike

The Black Canyon of Gunnison is a really enjoyable national park and the Warner Point Nature Trail shows it at its best. It is a great way to showcase all of the features of the park. From the abundant flora and fauna to the impressive rock walls. Even down to the canyon below. All features of the Black Canyon are visible and able to be enjoyed on the Warner Point Nature Trail Hike.

On a personal note, Black Canyon National Park and the Warner Nature Trail are located in Montrose County. Because This was my first time hiking in Montrose County, that makes my 44th of 64 counties in Colorado that I have hiked in on my quest to hike in each county! In Fact, Colorado is a beautiful state and I love exploring all of it!

I have added this hike and all of my hikes to my interactive map page that you can find here. If you have a suggestion or comment you can email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com. Or follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!

Gallery of the Black Canyon Warner Nature Trail

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