Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Location: Colorado

Year Established: 1999

Area: 32,950.03 acres (133.3 km2)

Annual Visitors: 183,045

The park protects a quarter of the Gunnison River, which slices sheer canyon walls from dark Precambrian-era rock. The canyon features incredibly steep descents, and is a popular site for river rafting and rock climbing. The deep, narrow canyon, made of gneiss and schist, is often in shadow and therefore appears black.