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Rock Point


Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.4 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 7893 - 7919 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Rock Pointl
Fee: $15/vehicle
Attractions: Scenic overlook




The Rock Point trail is located within the South Rim section of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The trail is one of a half dozen or so short trails along the Rim Drive Road that lead to overlooks on the rim above the canyon. Each overlook trail is a little different from the others with new and unique views of the canyon. By the time you hike them all you will feel like you have put in a good and rewarding day of hiking.


This is a little different way of showing distance on a trailhead sign. Not only do you get to hike you can also brush up on some basic math. Let's see, to get round trip distance, 300x2=600 yards, and there are 1760 yards in a mile, so you will be hiking about 1/3 of a mile plus a little playing around on the rocks along the way and you end up with about 4 tenths of a mile all together.


The first part of the trail winds its way through the oak brush towards the canyon.


The ridge narrows down to less than 10 feet at one point. The trail builders may have done a little blasting to make this trail as nice as it is.


This is one of those unique spots in the trail that is so pleasing to look at that it makes you glad you took the time to hike it.


The overlook is on a small section of cliff that juts out into the canyon. Good thing they put up the guard rail so everyone doesn't have to crawl out and lay on their bellies.


The cliffs should tower a little over 1800 feet high at Rock Point. With an 18mm lens the river and the top of the north rim of the canyon just barely fit in a picture.


The massive block of cliff to the right of the overlook appears impressively majestic. One might wonder if anyone has ever been to the top of it.


There are many jagged points that look like they are all waiting for their turn to fall into the canyon below. Some of them would make quite a dam if they fell all at once.


Rock Point is an impressive little overlook. For visitors that are limited on time you might want to put it near the top of your list with Gunnison Point and Pulpit Rock. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.