Off the beaten path, getting there is almost an adventure in itself. If you like hiking without the crowds the North Rim is for you. If you want to stay close to your vehicle take the scenic North Rim Road, this is about 5 miles long with a number of awesome viewpoints. Bring your camera!
The North Rim is a hike to get there, but worth it! We got there around 11am so that we could get a decent campsite since there are only 13 spots. The South Rim was completely reserved. We were rewarded with options. We took spot number 1 which was pretty spacious and private. You can take a short walk behind the site and have a great view of the canyon - we watched the sunset from the back of our site. The vault toilets are stinky - but it is a haul to get there to service them. There are also trash and recycling bins which we didn’t see at any other campgrounds on our weeklong trip. The campground also has water. The other sites don’t offer as much privacy - but then again, people are there to see the canyon. A short walk from camp is the “Chasm View Trail”.
Stunning views & great hikes nearby, & amazing night sky, incl satellites and the milkyway. bathrooms were clean but smelly. Rare limited fresh water available.
One of the best places to observe the night sky as it is far away from any city light pollution. Check the weather before you go there. All the basic campground facilities are available. If you are lucky enough, you will probably found your tent surrounded by deers in the morning. Drinking water is also available which was kind of a surprise to us. The park is underrated itself.
Oh my goodness that canyon is so grand. And the north rim is my favorite way to view it.
This campground is right on the north rim, I could walk down to see the view from my site in a matter of minutes. The ranger station is right down the road, and all the rangers are very helpful and friendly. The chasm view trail is right next to the campsite and is really beautiful. There are guides for visitors that give a lot of interesting information on the canyon. There is a trailhead right next to the ranger station with a great hike up to see "Exclamation Point" that provides a great view. I think the main downsides to this campsite is that the sites are very close together and there isn't a lot of privacy, and staying there is quite pricey. It's $16 a night plus an entrance fee of $30 unless you have a national parks pass or a senior pass. If you're staying for more than a couple days it might be worth it, but otherwise it can get expensive for camping. Nonetheless, I loved staying here!
Get there early and get a spot. Less traffic than the south rim and less traffic than most National Parks. A 8 to 10 mile gravel road that is easily traversed by my family sedan. The park is amazing. I reccomend sitting at the rim at sundown and watch the stars come out. The milky way is totally visible. Hiking trails and views are close, accessible and worth checking out. Well maintained restrooms, clean water, bear boxes and quiet. Bring your own firewood because you are not allowed to collect from the amazing Juniper Pinion forest. Hard to believe you are still in Colorado.
Cool spot. The bathrooms smell so if you wind up downwind it's not great.
The North Rim campground has the smelliest vault toilets that I've ever been into. I tried breathing through my mouth but the odor was so bad you could taste it. Nearly vomitted. Other than that, it was an awesome campground. The stars at night are some of the brightest I've ever seen and the sites are really spaced out. There are very few sites so make sure you get there early. They don't take reservations. There is a trailhead to the canyon right from the campground. Make sure you bring your own firewood as they don't sell it at the campground. And there are no showers. The RV park in Hotchkiss has $5 showers but they kinda suck.
Small 13 site camping area in the seasonal North Rim Unit of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, accessible from Co. 92. Less developed than the facilities on the South Rim, this campground has water, but no electricity or other amenities, such as a dump station. Striking area near the edge of the canyon, nearby the Painted Wall. Access to Chasm View Trail, a 1/3 mile loop offering excellent views of the Painted Wall and Serpent Point. Small seasonal area that does not take reservations--so plan accordingly.
