The South Rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is partially reopening after a wildfire forced its closure for more than a month, but campfires and other burning are prohibited under Stage 2 fire restrictions that went into effect Thursday.
Starting Monday, parkgoers will be able to drive the South Rim Road from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily as far as the visitor center. Access will also be open to the following areas:
- The visitor center and park store, daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
- Tomichi and Gunnison Points.
- Rim Rock Trail from the visitor center to Tomichi Point.
- Red Rock Canyon wilderness route, for reservation-holders.
These areas remain closed until further notice:
- East Portal Campground and the East Portal Road.
- The South Rim Drive beyond the visitor center to all traffic including pedestrian and bicycle.
- The South Rim Campground.
- All trails and wilderness routes accessed from the South Rim and East Portal.
- All burned areas in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
The South Rim Drive will continue to open in stages as park employees complete repairs. Failure to comply with closures is a violation and can result in a citation.
The entire park closed when the South Rim fire was sparked by lightning on July 10. The fire went on to burn more than 4,200 acres, or about 6.5 square miles.
The North Rim reopened on July 30 and operations there have returned to normal.
Hiking, camping, and other recreational opportunities are also available at nearby Curecanti National Recreation Area, located to the east of Black Canyon. The site is co-managed with Black Canyon and shares similar geology, ecology, and recreational opportunities.
Stage 2 fire restrictions started at noon Thursday for both locations. The rules prohibit building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire in any area of the park. The ban includes charcoal grills or fires. Properly shielded gas or liquid-fueled portable camp stoves are allowed.
Smoking is also prohibited, except within a personally owned enclosed vehicle.
Areas around the two parks including Montrose, Delta, and Gunnison counties are experiencing critical fire conditions with extremely dry fuels, above normal temperatures, low humidity, minimal precipitation, and high winds.
Three dozen large wildfires were burning across the West as of Thursday afternoon. The largest is the Dragon Bravo fire that's scorched more than 225 square miles on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
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