Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park · Colorado

North Vista Trail

3.6 mi of trail, end to end · about 1,000 ft of climbing · 7,590 ft–8,568 ft · trail class Developed · hiking

ViewsRanger stations

7,713 ft 8,546 ft · 3.0 mi high 8,546 ft

Along the way North Rim Ranger Station North Vista Trail Overlook

Trailhead North Vista Trail 7,714 ft Drive there

Hike North Vista Trail - North Rim the Park Service's write-up

no dogs · Spring, Summer, Fall · season North Rim of the Black Canyon is closed during winter.

Start North Rim Ranger Station

Green and blueish canyon cliffs with mountains in the background
View from Green Mountain Photo: NPS/D. Goodman

Constructed by the Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, the North Vista Trail offers some of the best scenic views and birding in the park. After passing through an area of sage and oak brush, the trail meanders in a pinyon/juniper forest along the canyon rim. Several overlooks offer views of Pinyon Draw and the inner canyon. Hikers continuing to Green Mountain will be rewarded by panoramic vistas, including the San Juan Mountains, the West Elks, Grand Mesa, the Uncompahgre Plateau, and an aerial perspective of the Black Canyon.

Pets are not allowed.

Trail to Exclamation Point:

Distance (one-way): 1.6 mi (2.6 km)

Difficulty: Moderately strenuous

Trail to Green Mountain:

Distance (one-way): 3.6 mi (5.8 km)

Difficulty: Strenuous

Pets Pets are not allowed on this trail.

Accessibility This trail is unpaved, narrow, steep, and not wheelchair accessible.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 26 trails in Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.