The Rim Rock Trail and Uplands Trail both connect the south rim Visitor Center and the campground at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in southwest Colorado. The total loop is about 2.5 miles.
I started on the 1 mile Rim Trail that departs from the parking area of the Visitor Center. After about 0.5 miles along the rim, the trail passes Tomichi Point, the first view area along the Rim Drive on the way to the Visitor Center.
Continuing south of Tomichi Point, there is an interpreted trail segment with 14 stops. Arriving from the Visitor Center, the stops begin with No. 14.
The Trail Guide doesn’t identify specific features but talks more in general about observing and listening to the environment. There are general comments about which plants and animals live here and also about the erosion process that has formed the Black Canyon. The Tomichi Route into the deep canyon begins near marker No. 13, but wasn’t otherwise marked.
Near the campground, there is a marked junction with the 1.5 mile Uplands Trail. This segment returns to the Visitor Center through mostly Gambel Oak, Sagebrush, and Utah Serviceberry, and is easy walking but without any more views into the Black Canyon.
The trail crosses the paved road twice before making a junction with and finishing on the Oak Flats Trail near the Visitor Center. My hike on the Rim and Uplands Trails took 1:10 hours on a 80 F degree late May day.
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