NationalParkEntry

CO · Rocky Mountains

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park entry requirements

No timed-entry or vehicle reservation is needed to enter Black Canyon of the Gunnison in 2026. Entrance is $30 per vehicle. Check any visit date against the official 2026 rules.

The 2026 season at Black Canyon of the Gunnison

This is what applies across the published season. Use the date checker below for a specific day.

No reservation is required to enter Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in 2026. Some activities need their own permit.

An entrance fee or accepted pass is required on every visit, separately from anything below.

  1. Park entrance

    Required

    You must pay the park entrance fee or show an accepted pass.

    • Private vehicle: $30, valid for 7 days.
    • Motorcycle: $25.
    • Per person on foot or bicycle: $15.
    • An America the Beautiful pass covers this entrance fee. It does not cover any reservation or permit below.
    • Cashless park. The North Rim has only a self-pay station with limited payment options - NPS advises buying a digital pass in advance. The park annual pass is sold at the South Rim entrance station only from early April to late October, and year-round on Recreation.gov.

  2. Timed entry

    Not applicable

    Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has no timed-entry system.

  3. Vehicle, road, or corridor

    Not required

    Nothing here is required in 2026.

    • No vehicle reservation is required at Black Canyon.
    • East Portal Road - winter closure and 22-foot vehicle limit. Vehicles over 22 feet, trailers included, are prohibited year-round. Grades reach 16%.
    • North Rim Road closed to vehicles in winter and early spring. The final 7 miles of the approach are unpaved gravel. The North Rim ranger station has a self-pay station for the entrance fee and a self-registration kiosk for wilderness permits.

  4. Shuttle

    Not applicable

    Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has no shuttle system.

  5. Your campground or lodging

    Not required

    Nothing here is required in 2026.

    • South Rim, North Rim and East Portal campgrounds - some require reservations.

  6. Selected activity

    Required on some dates

    2 separate requirements apply during 2026.

    • Inner canyon wilderness use permit

      Dates
      May 1, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026
      Hours
      All day
      Fee
      Not published
      Opens
      Apr 1, 2026 · 8 a.m. Mountain Time

      Applies to South Rim inner canyon wilderness routes: Warner, Gunnison and Tomichi; plus Red Rock Canyon

      • NPS does not publish a wilderness permit fee on this page; a Recreation.gov processing fee may apply. Unknown.
      • Off-season (November 1 - April 30) permits are first-come, first-served at the South Rim Visitor Center on the day of the trip, from a ranger or by self-registration at the permit box.
      • Climbers and kayakers must obtain their permit on the day of their adventure.
      • Daily quotas: Gunnison Route 15 people, Tomichi Route 9, Warner Route 23.
      • A South Rim campground reservation does not include a wilderness permit, and a wilderness permit does not cover the entrance fee.

    • Inner canyon wilderness use permit

      Dates
      Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
      Hours
      All day
      Fee
      Not published
      Opens
      No advance booking

      Applies to North Rim routes: Pinyon Draw (SOB Route), Long Draw, Slide Draw

      • No fee stated on the NPS page.
      • Daily quotas: Pinyon Draw (SOB Route) 23 people, Long Draw 8, Slide Draw 11.
      • A self-registration kiosk is available when the ranger station is closed.
    Book on recreation.gov

Fees and passes

Private vehicle$30
Motorcycle$25
Per person, on foot or bicycle$15
Valid for7 days
Park annual pass$55

Cashless park. The North Rim has only a self-pay station with limited payment options - NPS advises buying a digital pass in advance. The park annual pass is sold at the South Rim entrance station only from early April to late October, and year-round on Recreation.gov.

An America the Beautiful pass is accepted here. It covers the entrance fee only. It does not cover a timed-entry permit, a vehicle reservation, a parking tag, a shuttle ticket, or an activity permit.

A pass covers the entrance fee only. It does not cover an inner canyon wilderness permit or a Recreation.gov reservation for a South Rim wilderness route.

Fee-free days

  • Feb 16, 2026
  • May 25, 2026
  • Jun 14, 2026
  • Jul 3, 2026
  • Jul 4, 2026
  • Jul 5, 2026
  • Aug 25, 2026
  • Sep 17, 2026
  • Oct 27, 2026
  • Nov 11, 2026

From 2026 a fee-free day waives the entrance fee for U.S. residents. Other visitors still pay it. A fee-free day never waives a reservation, a permit, or a booking fee unless the park says so.

Rules that apply to one area only

These do not apply to the whole park. Where you go changes the answer.

  • South Rim inner canyon wilderness routes: Warner, Gunnison and Tomichi; plus Red Rock CanyonInner canyon wilderness use permit - South Rim routes (day and overnight) · May 1, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026
  • North Rim routes: Pinyon Draw (SOB Route), Long Draw, Slide DrawInner canyon wilderness use permit - North Rim routes (day of only, no reservations) · Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

What a campground or lodging booking does and does not cover

  • Inner canyon wilderness use permit - South Rim routes (day and overnight)Not covered by an in-park booking. A South Rim campground reservation does not include a wilderness permit, and a wilderness permit does not cover the entrance fee.

Quick answers

Do I need a reservation for Black Canyon of the Gunnison?
No. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park does not require a timed-entry or vehicle reservation to enter in 2026. You still pay the entrance fee ($30 per vehicle) or show an accepted pass.
Is there an entrance fee at Black Canyon of the Gunnison?
Yes. A private vehicle pass is $30 per vehicle. An America the Beautiful pass is accepted for the entrance fee, and does not cover any reservation or permit.

Official links, coverage, and sources

When reservations are released

  • Black Canyon of the Gunnison entrance fee
  • Inner canyon wilderness use permitReleased on April 1, 2026. Release time: 8 a.m. Mountain Time. Two fixed windows on Recreation.gov: April 1, 2026 at 8:00am MT opens May 1 - July 31, 2026; July 1, 2026 at 8:00am MT opens August 1 - October 31, 2026.

Official booking and park information

What this does not cover

  • Road, weather, and fire closures that change day to day. Check the park’s alerts page.
  • Backcountry and wilderness permits beyond the headline permits listed above.
  • Commercial use authorizations, filming permits, and group-size rules.
  • Availability. We tell you what is required, not whether anything is left.
  • Individual campsite and lodge availability, which is handled by the booking system.

Effective dates and sources

  • Fees and passesNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Park entrancePrivate Vehicle $30.00 7-Day Vehicle Pass. Entrance fees cover all persons in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle. ... Per Person $15.00 7-Day Individual Pass (pedestrian or bicycle) ... Annual Pass $55.00
  • Fees & Passes - Black Canyon of the Gunnison National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Black Canyon of the Gunnison entrance feeAlthough an entrance pass is required to enter Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, vehicle reservations are not needed.
  • Fees & Passes - Black Canyon of the Gunnison National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to No vehicle reservation is required at BlackVehicle Reservations Not Required. Although an entrance pass is required to enter Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, vehicle reservations are not needed. ... you may also purchase passes at the entrance station upon arrival.
  • Inner Canyon - Black Canyon of the Gunnison National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Inner canyon wilderness use permitPermits are required for all inner canyon wilderness use - both day and overnight trips. ... On April 1, 2026 at 8:00am MT, reservations will open for May 1 - July 31, 2026. On July 1, 2026 at 8:00am MT, reservations will open for the remainder of the season: August 1 - October 31, 2026.
  • Inner Canyon - Black Canyon of the Gunnison National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Inner canyon wilderness use permitMust be obtained on the day of your activity (no reservations). There is a permit self-registration kiosk with instructions when the ranger station is closed.
  • East Portal Road - Black Canyon of the Gunnison National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to East Portal RoadThe road is closed in winter, typically from November to April. ... Vehicles over 22 feet--trailers included--are prohibited on the East Portal Road. ... In a few places, the road is a 16% grade.
  • North Rim - Black Canyon of the Gunnison National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to North Rim Road closed to vehiclesThe North Rim is closed to vehicles in the winter and early spring. ... The ranger station also has a self-pay station for the park entrance fee and a self-registration kiosk for wilderness permits.
  • Plan Your Visit - Black Canyon of the Gunnison National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to South Rim, North Rim and East PortalSome campgrounds require reservations; others are first come, first served.

Something wrong here?

Park rules change, sometimes at short notice. If a line on this page does not match what the park publishes, tell us and we will fix it and re-check the source.

corrections@nationalparkentry.com· Last factual change 2026-08-05 · Sources last reviewed 2026-07-26

Nearest other national parks

Chosen by distance from Black Canyon of the Gunnison, not by editorial preference.