Getting Oriented

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• East Portal. The only way you can get down to the river via automobile in Black Canyon is on the steep East Portal Road. There's a campground and picnic area here, as well as fishing and trail access. Check the park website before you go, however; a repaving project will be closing the road for an extended time.
• North Rim. If you want to access this side of the canyon from the South Rim, you will have to leave the park and wend around it to either the west (through Montrose and Delta) or to the east (via Highway 92); expect a drive of at least two hours. The area's remoteness and difficult location mean the North Rim is rarely crowded; the road is partially unpaved and closes in the winter. There's also a small ranger station here.
• South Rim. This is the main area of the park. The park's only visitor center is here, along with a campground, a few picnic areas, and many hiking trails. The South Rim Road closes at Gunnison Point in the winter, when skiers and snowshoers take over.