Black Canyon of the Gunnison Permit Guide 2026

Colorado · No dogs in the backcountry

By Casey Rowan, Permit Ranger

Last updated

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park protects one of the steepest, deepest, and narrowest gorges in North America, where the Gunnison River carves through sheer walls in southwestern Colorado. A wilderness permit is required to descend into the inner canyon overnight, issued for one of three steep, unmaintained scramble routes - Warner, Gunnison, and Tomichi. Quota is limited and the routes are demanding, so competitive summer dates can be hard to secure.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison issues its wilderness permits through recreation.gov, and popular passes sell out ahead of the season. Inner-canyon wilderness permits for May 1 – Oct 31 sell in two releases at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific): Apr 1 (May–Jul entries) and Jul 1 (Aug–Oct). Quota is per person per route. Nov–Apr permits are first-come-first-served in person at the visitor center. Permit Ranger watches every pass here and alerts you the moment a sold-out date opens.

When permits are released

Inner-canyon wilderness permits for May 1 – Oct 31 sell in two releases at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific): Apr 1 (May–Jul entries) and Jul 1 (Aug–Oct). Quota is per person per route. Nov–Apr permits are first-come-first-served in person at the visitor center.

Quota seasons: May 1 to October 31, 2026; May 1 to October 31, 2027 - off-season: Nov–Apr inner-canyon permits are first-come-first-served IN PERSON at the South Rim Visitor Center - there is no online booking to watch.

Fees

  • Reservation: $6 per permit
  • Per person: $4 per person

How to get a Black Canyon of the Gunnison permit

  1. Choose one of the three inner-canyon routes - Warner, Gunnison, or Tomichi - that matches your experience and party.
  2. Identify your release: the May 1 to October 31 online season sells in two fixed releases at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific) - April 1 for May–July entries and July 1 for August–October entries.
  3. Book your permit on recreation.gov as soon as your entry date's release opens, since quota is per person per route.
  4. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations reopen quota, and Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a watched route frees up.

Notable trails

Top passes in this area

The most in-demand Black Canyon of the Gunnison entry points, each with its own detail page.

Frequently asked questions

When do Black Canyon of the Gunnison permits open?

Inner-canyon wilderness permits for May 1 – Oct 31 sell in two releases at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific): Apr 1 (May–Jul entries) and Jul 1 (Aug–Oct). Quota is per person per route. Nov–Apr permits are first-come-first-served in person at the visitor center. Exact on-sale details are on the recreation.gov permit page.

What if my dates are sold out?

Cancellations open up all season. Watch the passes you want on Permit Ranger and you get an instant alert when a date you need becomes bookable.

Does Permit Ranger book the permit for me?

No. Permit Ranger alerts you the moment a watched date opens, with a direct booking link, but the booking is always yours to make on recreation.gov.

More permits in Colorado

Plan ahead

Sold-out dates reopen all the time from cancellations and quota drops. Permit Ranger checks recreation.gov around the clock and alerts you the moment your dates open. It never books for you.

Browse Black Canyon of the Gunnison passes · Book on recreation.gov