Red Rock Canyon itinerary
Every published mile marker on the Red Rock Canyon route, in order, with the distance and elevation change between each one — and which permit each stretch needs. To watch dates and set alerts, go to the Black Canyon Red Rock Canyon Wilderness permit page.
Which permit covers this route
The Red Rock Canyon. One reservation is one date, one entry or one named site, issued by reservation.
The permit is issued for a named entry point. Red Rock Canyon parking area is the one on this list.
- Stops mapped
- 5
- Across the markers
- 3.5 mi
- Published route length
- 3.5 mi
- Published ascent
- 1,300 ft
How long it takes: 1-2 nights. That is the figure the permit publishes — this page does not divide the route into days, because no source records which stop you sleep at.
The stops below are the route's published mile markers, in order, with the elevations recorded against each one.
Distance and elevation change on each leg are the difference between the two published figures either side of it, so the legs are arithmetic on the markers and nothing more.
The Red Rock Canyon route, stop by stop
Mile 0.0
6,822 ft
Red Rock Canyon parking area
Entry point — the permit is issued for this trailhead
Small lot at the end of Bostwick Park Road. One vehicle per group and the permit number goes on the dashboard.
1.0 mile · 101 ft down to Trailhead
Mile 1.0
6,721 ft
Trailhead
End of the two-track double road where the route proper begins.
1.0 mile · 175 ft down to Creek crossings
Mile 2.0
6,546 ft
Creek crossings
Numerous crossings that make route finding a challenge and get your feet wet.
0.5 miles · 340 ft down to Poison ivy section
Mile 2.5
6,206 ft
Poison ivy section
The lower third of the route and the river bank, where poison ivy can be shoulder high.
1.0 mile · 725 ft down to Gunnison River campsites
Mile 3.5
5,481 ft
Gunnison River campsites
Established sites upstream and downstream. 1,300 feet below the parking area.
Getting a Red Rock Canyon for the dates you want
Planning the route is the easy half. Red Rock Canyon dates go fast, and the ones that come back are cancellations — they return to the booking system without warning and are gone again quickly. PermitSnag watches Red Rock Canyon around the clock and alerts you the moment a date opens.