Black Canyon of the Gunnison set for South Rim Campground partial reopening in 2026

If you are planning a Black Canyon of the Gunnison trip, the big question is not whether the park is open. It is how much of the South Rim you can actually use. The South Rim Campground is scheduled to partially reopen on May 18, 2026, but the campground itself and the Rim Rock Trail segment from the Uplands Trail junction to the South Rim Campground remain closed because of fire damage.

That mismatch matters because the South Rim is the park’s most developed side, the place most visitors use for the scenic drive, overlooks, visitor center and park store. After the 2025 South Rim Fire, the park spent months reopening pieces of access in stages, and the campground reopening now adds another step forward for spring and early-summer travel. Even so, the recovery footprint is still real enough to change how campers, hikers and scenic-drive visitors should plan.

The fire began on the morning of July 10, 2025, when lightning struck both the North Rim and South Rim, forcing the evacuation of visitors and staff and closing the park until further notice. The National Park Service said the South Rim fire was still active in its July 18, 2025, update, and the total estimated loss was still unknown. Officials also said drinking water supplies were not directly impacted. Colorado Governor Jared Polis verbally declared a disaster declaration that same day for fires in Montrose, Delta and Mesa counties tied to the same weather event, while the Colorado Department of Public Safety and the Division of Fire Prevention and Control supported suppression efforts.

Access has returned in stages since then. The North Rim reopened to the public on July 30, 2025, with the 13-site North Rim Campground open on a first-come, first-served basis and park staff scheduled at the ranger station from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. The South Rim Road reopened on August 29, 2025, restoring the full 7.3-mile drive from the entrance station to High Point, all park overlooks, the visitor center and the park store. When that happened, the park returned to 24-hour access with no nighttime closure.

The current condition report still warns that burned land areas will remain closed, and violations can bring citations. On the trail system, Rim Rock Trail is open except for the closed stretch near the campground, and the park says that section crosses heavily burned terrain where uneven surfaces and blowing ash remain concerns. Uplands Trail is open but also crosses burned ground, while Warner Point Trail, Oak Flat Loop Trail, Deadhorse Trail and North Vista Trail are listed as open and dry.

Practical planning now comes down to reservations and rules. Black Canyon operations are cashless. South Rim Campground reservations go through Recreation.gov. East Portal and North Rim campground sites are first-come, first-served and use Scan & Pay through the Recreation.gov mobile app. Camping is allowed only in designated campgrounds, wilderness camping requires a permit, and overnight use is not allowed on roads, trails, overlooks or other developed areas. For travelers who want a foothold on the South Rim again, May 18 is the date to watch.