South Rim Campground — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

South Rim Campground sits in oak brush and pinyon-juniper a short walk from the canyon edge. It has roughly 88 sites across three loops, and one loop has electric hookups. Expect pit and flush toilets, picnic tables and fire rings. Water runs in the warmer months and gets shut off when the freeze comes. Summer weekends fill up, so aim for a weekday arrival or reserve ahead where the park allows it. Dark skies out here are the real prize. Walk to the rim at dusk and look down into 2,000 feet of Precambrian rock.

The camp is paved all the way in, so any rig makes it. It’s about 15 miles from Montrose, which makes it a good staging camp before you roll out to the Rimrocker start. Top off fuel and groceries in Montrose first. This is a national park, so no collecting firewood and no camping outside the campground. Fire restrictions come and go with the season. Fees, loop openings and winter water access change, so verify with the park before you commit. Have a dirty day.

Rim-edge camp 15 miles from the Rimrocker start.