Facility ·
Managed by the Bureau of Land Management
Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (BLM_NCA) · Open Access
This trailhead accesses the West River Trail. This non-motorized/non-mechanized trail provides walk-in fishing access to the Gunnison River. The trail heads south, up-river for about 2.5 miles, the last part of which is in the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness. For more information, please contact the Gunnison Gorge NCA or Uncompahgre Field Office.
From Austin, Colorado drive south on 2200 Road for 0.9 miles. Turn left at the Gunnison Gorge sign onto H75 Rd (gravel), Continue on H75 for about 3.2 miles. At the top of the hill, just past the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area sign there is a 5-way intersection. Take a slight right onto South River Road (graded natural surface, high clearance road). Follow South River Road for 5 miles to the trailhead at the end of the road. South River Road is impassable when wet.
38.78112, -107.83681 · 38°46'52.0"N 107°50'12.5"W
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.9 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 2.8 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Visitors to the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Area will be charged the following user fees: Day Use Only (in and out the same day) = $3 per person. Day Use & Camping = $5 per person per calendar day. 1 night = $10. 2 nights = $15 (maximum allowable stay). Annual Pass for Day Use - $15 per /year. Fees apply to all users, 16 years of age and older, within the river canyon from the down-stream boundary of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument (2 miles upstream of the Chukar Put-In) down to, but not including, the Smith Fork confluence (10 miles downstream of the Chukar Put-In).
From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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