Round Trip Distance: 0.3 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 7956 - 7982 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 15 mins.
Trailhead: Island Peaks
Fee: $15/vehicle
Attractions: Scenic overlook
The Island Peaks Overlook is in the North Rim Section of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park near Crawford, Colorado. The North Rim Section of the park is closed in the winter and the Ranger Station may be closed at any time during the summer. There is usually someone at the Ranger Station first thing every morning for hikers and climbers looking for inner canyon permits.
The Island Peaks trailhead is about 2.9 miles from the North Rim Ranger Station.
The trail forms a loop that starts near the trailhead.
A fenced overlook allows visitors to safely get close to the edge of the rim and peer into the canyon.
The ruggedness of the Black Canyon is in grand display from the Island Peaks trail.
The Island Peaks is an area where large sections of the cliff have separated from the rest of the rim like icebergs calving off of a glacier.
The scenic trail is a pleasant hike by itself.
Jagged cliffs of the Island Peaks make it difficult to get a good view of the Gunnison River but gazing at the giant shards of granite is just as appealing.
