South Rim of Black Canyon to Partially Reopen Monday

The south rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park will partially reopen Monday after being closed since July 10 when lightning sparked a wildfire inside the park. Visitors will again be able to access the Tomichi and Gunnison Point overlooks, along with the visitor center and park store (open daily 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.).

Some areas will remain closed as crews continue safety repairs. The South Rim Fire is still burning in isolated, hard-to-reach areas and is 52% contained.

The fire is one of more than a dozen wildfires burning across Colorado’s Western Slope, which have scorched over 209,000 acres. The Lee Fire has now grown to 127,000 acres with just 3% containment. Yesterday, Governor Jared Polis signed an executive order declaring a statewide disaster emergency.