Colorado · Hiking

Painted Wall Overlook

Painted Wall OverlookPhoto: NPS / public domain
0.1 mi
round trip
116 ft
climb
7,789 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Painted Wall Overlook open right now?

Alert in the area

The National Park Service lists an alert for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

  • No Water Available in Park

    Park alert covering Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park · NPS · Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

As of · Source: NPS · Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Painted Wall Overlook is an easy out-and-back hike in Colorado's Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, within the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness. The route is short, about 0.24 miles round trip, with a total elevation gain of 116 feet. The trail starts at about 7,778 feet, rises to 7,789 feet, and returns to its starting point, making it an easy addition to a day spent exploring the park. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 82°F with lows near 53°F, while winter highs there stay in the mid-30s. That station sits about 360 feet higher than the overlook, so temperatures at the trail run slightly warmer. A fee is charged to visit, according to National Park Service records. The trail is close to several other spots. South Rim Routes, a climbing area, is about 0.2 miles away, Cedar Point Overlook is about 0.4 miles off, and North Rim Campground is about half a mile away. Chasm View Trail is about 0.6 miles from the overlook.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Painted Wall Overlook

    Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      37° / 13°

    2. Feb

      40° / 16°

    3. Mar

      49° / 23°

    4. Apr

      56° / 29°

    5. May

      66° / 38°

    6. Jun

      76° / 46°

    7. Jul

      82° / 53°

    8. Aug

      81° / 52°

    9. Sep

      72° / 44°

    10. Oct

      60° / 33°

    11. Nov

      47° / 23°

    12. Dec

      36° / 13°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Black Canyon Of The Gunnison, CO, 2.5 mi away at 8,151 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

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Chasm View Overlook

Next door

The short walk to the overlook is on an unpaved trail.

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Cedar Point Overlook

Next door

The walk to the overlook is 303 yards on an unpaved surface, Guideposts describe the various plants along the way.

Chasm View TrailPhoto: Frans-Banja Mulder, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Chasm View Trail

~1 min drive

0.48-mile loop in Colorado with 1,088 ft gain and loss.

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Dragon Point Overlook

~1 min drive

The walk to the overlook is 100 yards on an unpaved trail.

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Rock Point Overlook

~2 min drive

The walk to the overlook is 234 yards on an unpaved trail.

North Vista TrailPhoto: joannapoe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

North Vista Trail

~1 min drive

6.64-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 2,192 ft elevation gain and loss.

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Devil's Lookout Overlook

~1 min drive

The walk to the overlook is 607 yards on an unpaved trail.

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Pulpit Rock Overlook

~3 min drive

The walk to the overlook is 134 yards on an unpaved trail.

Rim Rock Nature TrailPhoto: stevelyon, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Rim Rock Nature Trail

~5 min drive

1.68-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado with 445 ft elevation gain

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Cross Fissures Overlook

~2 min drive

The walk to the overlook is 357 yards on an unpaved trail.