Curecanti and the Black Canyon; The Rim, The River, and The Ride

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is only a small part of the 48 mile long gorge, carved over 2-billion years by the mighty Gunnison River, a tributary of the Colorado River.   The National Park protects the steepest and deepest 14-mile stretch of the gorge.    The park is bracketed on both ends by recreational areas; Gunnison Gorge to the west, and the larger Curecanti National Recreation Area the east.  Curecanti is formed by a series of three dams; Blue Mesa Dam, Morrow Point Dam, and Crystal Dam, each creating reservoirs of the same name.  The largest of these is Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado’s largest body of water. Continue reading