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East Portal Trail

 4.0 (2)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Central Rockies
  4. …Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
  5. South Rim
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Length


0.4 Miles 0.7 Kilometers


7' 2 m

Ascent

-27' -8 m

Descent

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

4%

Max Grade (2°)

6,532' 1,991 m

High

6,512' 1,985 m

Low

Shared By Mikhaila Redovian

Conditions

Unknown
History
Getting forecast...

“A gentle path with a big payout, this route provides excellent views of the canyon wall on the other side of the river.”

— Mikhaila Redovian
Driving DirectionsGPX File

Dogs No Dogs

Features River/Creek · Views

Family Friendly This dramatic trail is a must for the whole family, especially those staying at the campground overnight.

Vehicles longer than 22 feet are prohibited on the East Portal Road.

Description

Short and sweet, visitors staying in the East Portal Campground won't want to miss this route. Especially given the terrain in the area, this trail is a bit exceptional in how little the elevation changes as this trail meanders along the Gunnison River.

Starting from the end of the campground, this trail tracks mostly north, following along a relatively gentle stretch of river. From this side of the water, you'll be able to admire the dramatic cliffs on the other side. Take note of the tilted beds and incredible structures, which hint at the geologic processes that shaped the region.

Contacts

Land Manager: National Park Service - Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

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Your Check-Ins

Check-Ins

Jul 29, 2018
Omar Albayati
Jul 5, 2018
Brian Davis
Hiked with my 5 year old daughter; she did okay but the scrambling scared her a bit. 1mi — 1h 00m
Jul 27, 2017
Blake Higley
1mi
Jul 1, 2016
mike hesh
Great ranger guided short hike — 0h 30m
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 2 votes

#8

in South Rim

#7015

Overall
  4.0 from 2 votes
5 Star
0%
4 Star
100%
3 Star
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0%
1 Star
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Rankings

#8

in South Rim

#718

in Colorado

#7,015

Overall
22 Views Last Month
248 Since Dec 15, 2016
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
67%
0%
33%
0%
0%
0%

1 Comment

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Brian Davis
Brian Davis  
This trail, while flat, is a bit trickier than it appears; it's not really an established trail but rather some social trails interspersed by scree and talus traverses. At times, the footing is a bit loose or you have to rock hop across scattered rocks along the side of the river. It's a very pretty trail but it requires a good bit of focus while hiking. We hiked it with my 5 year old and she did well (but was a bit frightened in spots due to the scrambling over talus). I'd recommend the trail, just know it's not much of a trail... Jul 5, 2018

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