Black Canyon Winter Operations 2025/2026

As summer comes to an end, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park will transition to winter operations. Check the park websites for operational hours, closures, and current conditions before your trip.

Starting October 1, 2025, the South Rim Visitor Center hours will be open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm daily with a closure for lunch from 12:00 to 12:30 pm. The visitor center will be closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

The South Rim Road will remain open until the first significant snowfall, then close. In winter, South Rim Road is open to vehicles only to the visitor center. When the South Rim Road is in winter road status, pedestrians, leashed pets, and bicycles are permitted until the road is put into winter trail status. Once in winter trail status, the road is groomed for skiing and it will be closed to pets and bicycles, allowing for winter cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Water at Black Canyon is trucked to the park during the summertime. Water is not available from October to April on either the North or South Rim. In winter, visitors are responsible for bringing their own water.

North Rim Road will remain open to vehicles until the first significant snowfall.

The South Rim Campground, the East Portal Road, and several trails and wilderness routes remain closed until further notice due to the South Rim Fire.

When snowfall is abundant, usually in January, staff will offer free guided snowshoe walks, and the South Rim Road will be groomed for skiing.

Winter is a peaceful time to visit Black Canyon. Visitors can enjoy hiking, stargazing, and snow sports when conditions allow. Your safety is your responsibility. Check weather and terrain conditions before recreating. Check the National Weather Service forecast at www.weather.gov and Colorado Department of Transportation road cameras and conditions at www.cotrip.org. Learn more about Black Canyon at www.nps.gov/blca.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Reminder: popular trail closures in Rocky Mountain National Park

As a reminder, Rocky Mountain National Park posted this notice on their social media a few weeks ago:

Beginning Monday, September 29 through Thursday, October 2, and then again Monday, October 6 through Thursday, October 9, trail access to Dream Lake and Emerald Lake will be closed to all uses for an outlet bridge replacement project.

Dream Lake and Emerald Lake will not be accessible during these days. This popular trail section will reopen Friday through Sunday (October 3 through October 5) and close again on Monday, October 6.

All other trails in the Bear Lake area will remain open including the trail to Lake Haiyaha from Nymph Lake.

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From Montana to New Mexico, the American Rockies stretch for more than a thousand miles. Within this spectacular mountain range are thousands of miles of hiking trails. With such an overwhelming number of options, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Rocky Mountains takes all the guesswork out by focusing on some of the most amazing hikes across this range, and provides you with a handpicked list of options that will allow you to make the most of your trips in the Rockies:

Volunteers Across the Country Take Part in National Public Lands Day

This Saturday, September 27, an estimated tens of thousands of volunteers across the country will join together for the 32nd annual National Public Lands Day (NPLD), which supports and celebrates America's public lands through activities like trail maintenance, tree planting, beach clean-ups, and more. NPLD is a fee-free day that not only supports conservation efforts but invites participants to experience and appreciate the beauty of America's public lands.

“For over three decades, National Public Lands Day has been integral to our goal of promoting the many benefits of America’s public lands,” said Sara Espinoza, president and CEO of NEEF. “This year’s theme for NPLD, ‘Our Home Outdoors,’ reminds us that public lands are not just physical spaces, but where we come together, feel rooted, and develop a sense of place.”

National Public Lands Day is more than a clean-up—it connects communities, provides meaningful outdoor experiences for attendees, and showcases the educational, recreational, and health benefits of public lands. The excitement surrounding NPLD also provides a boost in volunteer recruitment for federal, state, and local public land managers. Last year, over 52,000 volunteers participated in more than 750 events across the US, representing $10.5 million in volunteer service.

To find interesting NPLD events happening near you, please visit https://www.neefusa.org/npld-event-search.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Trail project volunteers needed in Rocky Mountain on National Public Lands Day

Rocky Mountain National Park posted this on their social media this past weekend:

To celebrate National Public Lands Day, Rocky Mountain National Park will be partnering with the Headwaters Trails Alliance to host a volunteer event on the west side of the park.

By volunteering, you’re helping preserve the park for the enjoyment of future generations!

On Saturday, September 27, RMNP and the Headwaters Trails Alliance will celebrate National Public Lands Day with a trail project on the Green Mountain Trail, located on the west side of the park. This volunteer project will take place from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Project participants must be 18 or older. This project is considered strenuous and advanced registration is required. It will involve a hike to the project site and the use of hand tools. All tools will be provided.

To register, and for details on this and other projects in the area, click here.

Winter conditions in higher elevations of Rocky Mountain National Park

Winter conditions have arrived in Rocky Mountain National Park, with snow and ice already reported in the higher elevations of the park. In fact, the park just announced on Twitter that Trail Ridge Road has temporarily closed tonight on the east side at Rainbow Curve and on the west side at Milner Pass. The park also announced dangerous conditions on Longs Peak (and likely other high elevation areas of the park) in a Facebook posting today:

Fall has arrived on Longs Peak and the environment is transitioning to winter conditions. Recent storms have blanketed the Keyhole route with a dangerous layer of snow and ice. Slick patches of ice can often be difficult to identify at first glance, as they may be very thin and/or obscured by shadows.

Any storms moving over the mountain will now consist of hail, sleet, and snow. The combination of wet and cold can quickly induce hypothermia, a life-threatening condition that can progress rapidly.

Freeze/thaw cycles are in full effect and will create a number of hazards including ice formation and rockfall. In addition, afternoon thunderstorms remain a real threat and a return to treeline by noon is recommended to help mitigate exposure to lightning storms.

Traction devices or crampons and an ice axe may be prudent for travel on the upper mountain depending on the route chosen. Extra warm clothes, waterproof layers, extra food and water, a headlamp, personal first aid kit, and a cell phone are all strongly recommended.

If you are traveling alone, please tell a friend or family member your plans and take extra care with decision making. Even a minor accident while traveling alone on the mountain can quickly turn into a serious situation. As always, please be prepared to turn around when conditions exceed your abilities.

Remember, your safety is in your hands.

The Keyhole Route is not a hike. This is a challenging climb that crosses vertical rock faces and requires scrambling. Advanced planning and preparation are critical.

🧭 Know your route
🌦 Know the weather forecast
🥾 Know your limits and the limits of everyone in your group
📱 Share your plans with a friend or family member - tell them when you plan to start your trip, what route you are taking, and when you plan to return.

For more details and photos of current conditions on Longs Peak, visit https://go.nps.gov/romo/longspeakconditions

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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com