Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - Quiz
  • 1. According to the Köppen climate classification system, what type of climate does Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park have?
A) Desert climate
B) Tropical rainforest climate
C) Mediterranean climate
D) Warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb)
  • 2. What is the main attraction of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park?
A) An indoor aquarium
B) A ski resort
C) A large amusement park
D) The scenic drive along US Highway 50 and Colorado Highway 92, as well as the south rim
  • 3. Where in the park is camping most developed?
A) The east end of the park, where it meets Blue Mesa Reservoir at Blue Mesa Point
B) Near the north rim
C) In the inner canyon
D) At the south rim
  • 4. What type of camping facilities are available at Blue Mesa Point?
A) Only tent camping without any amenities
B) Glamping tents only
C) Tent camping and RV camping with full hookups (private site)
D) No camping facilities
  • 5. What activities are available at Blue Mesa Point?
A) Golfing and tennis
B) Canyon tours, hiking, fishing and boat tours
C) Surfing and beach volleyball
D) Skiing and snowboarding
  • 6. What is the Curecanti National Recreation Area known for?
A) A large shopping mall
B) An amusement park
C) A theme park
D) It includes a visitor center, marina facilities and 10 campgrounds within the NRA
  • 7. What is unique about the west end of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park?
A) It has river access by automobile and guided tours of the canyon
B) It features a large amusement park
C) It is closed to visitors
D) It offers skiing facilities
  • 8. What type of hiking is required for accessing the inner canyon?
A) Biking skills
B) No special skills are necessary
C) Class 3 climbing and basic route finding skills are needed
D) Only swimming skills are required
  • 9. What is a challenge hikers face when descending into the canyon?
A) Flat terrain with no obstacles
B) Plenty of shade and rest areas
C) Smooth, well-marked trails
D) Steep talus and impassable ledges
  • 10. What is recommended for hikers to wear due to the presence of poison ivy?
A) Swimwear
B) Shorts and sandals
C) Winter coats
D) Long sleeves and hiking boots
  • 11. What should be considered when planning to camp in the inner canyon regarding the Gunnison River?
A) The temperature of the water
B) The presence of fish
C) The flow rate, as high river levels can wash out campsites
D) The color of the river
  • 12. What type of permit is required for inner canyon use?
A) No permit is needed
B) A free back country permit, except at the west end
C) A paid guided tour permit
D) A fishing license
  • 13. What type of water designation does the Gunnison River have from 200 yards downstream of Crystal Reservoir Dam to the North Fork?
A) Platinum Medal Water
B) Bronze Medal Water
C) Silver Medal Water
D) Gold Medal Water
  • 14. What fishing restrictions apply within 200 yards downstream of Crystal Dam?
A) All types of fishing are permitted
B) Fishing is prohibited
C) Fishing with nets only
D) Only fly fishing is allowed
  • 15. What type of rock climbing is the Black Canyon known for?
A) Traditional climbing
B) Sport climbing
C) Ice climbing
D) Bouldering
  • 16. Who are rafting opportunities in the park suitable for?
A) Only the best kayakers, due to difficult technical runs
B) Cyclists
C) Beginner kayakers
D) Swimmers
  • 17. What type of rapids are found downstream in the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area?
A) Class V - VI rapids
B) Class III - IV rapids
C) No rapids
D) Class I - II rapids
  • 18. Which symphonic composition was inspired by the Black Canyon?
A) The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi
B) Black Canyon of the Gunnison by Frank William Erickson
C) Boléro by Maurice Ravel
D) Symphony No. 9 by Ludwig van Beethoven
  • 19. Which author based the site of a city in her novel on Black Canyon?
A) Ursula K. Le Guin, in her novel City of Illusions
B) George R.R. Martin
C) J.K. Rowling
D) Stephen King
  • 20. What is the title of The Infamous Stringdusters' song about a trip related to Black Canyon?
A) "The Great Adventure"
B) "1901: A Canyon Odyssey"
C) "River Run"
D) "Mountain High"
  • 21. What year did Captain John Williams Gunnison lead an expedition that resulted in the first official account of the Black Canyon?
A) 1776
B) 1853
C) 1800s
D) 1881
  • 22. How long did it take to carve out the roadbed from Sapinero to Cimarron?
A) Two years
B) Three weeks
C) Six months
D) Over a year
  • 23. How much did it cost per mile to build the roadbed from Sapinero to Cimarron?
A) $100,000
B) $200,000
C) $50,000
D) $165,000
  • 24. When did the first passenger train pass through the Black Canyon?
A) July 4, 1882
B) August 13, 1882
C) January 1, 1883
D) December 25, 1881
  • 25. Who was sent by Palmer to explore the inner canyon of Black Canyon?
A) Rudyard Kipling
B) Bryan Bryant
C) William Jackson Palmer
D) Captain John Williams Gunnison
  • 26. How many men did Bryan Bryant start with for the inner canyon exploration?
A) 8-man crew
B) 12-man crew
C) 5-man crew
D) 20-man crew
  • 27. When was the connection to Salt Lake City completed?
A) August 1882
B) December 1884
C) January 1885
D) March 1883
  • 28. What year was an alternate route through Glenwood Springs completed?
A) 1890
B) 1885
C) 1879
D) 1900
  • 29. When was the Black Canyon Line finally abandoned?
A) Early 1950s
B) Early 1970s
C) Mid-1960s
D) Late 1940s
  • 30. When did the Gunnison River set its course through the Black Canyon area?
A) 3 million years ago
B) 15 million years ago
C) 70 million years ago
D) 26 million years ago
  • 31. What is the rate at which the Gunnison River carved through Precambrian gneiss and schist?
A) 1 inch (25 mm) every 100 years
B) 5 inches (127 mm) every 50 years
C) 3 inches (76 mm) every 150 years
D) 2 inches (51 mm) every 200 years
  • 32. How many miles of the Gunnison River are contained within Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park?
A) 24 miles
B) 48 miles
C) 12 miles
D) 30 miles
  • 33. In what year did the first expedition to explore the canyon using wooden boats take place?
A) 1901
B) 1902
C) 1899
D) 1900
  • 34. How many men were killed during the construction of the Gunnison Tunnel?
A) 26
B) 100
C) 10
D) 50
  • 35. In what year was the Gunnison Tunnel completed?
A) 1908
B) 1911
C) 1909
D) 1910
  • 36. What notable title did the Gunnison Tunnel hold at the time of its completion?
A) The tallest bridge
B) The widest railway tunnel
C) The world's longest irrigation tunnel
D) The deepest mining shaft
  • 37. What can be seen from the campground near the East Portal?
A) The diversion dam
B) The entire tunnel
C) An ancient ruin
D) A waterfall
  • 38. In what year was the Black Canyon of the Gunnison redesignated as a national park?
A) 1999
B) 1976
C) 1933
D) 2017
  • 39. Which organization built the North Rim Road between 1933 and 1935?
A) Bureau of Land Management
B) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
C) National Park Service
D) Civilian Conservation Corps
  • 40. When was about half of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison designated as a wilderness area?
A) 1976
B) 1935
C) 1999
D) 2017
  • 41. Which type of pine is native to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park?
A) Lodgepole pine
B) Eastern white pine
C) Douglas fir
D) Ponderosa pine
  • 42. Which large mammal is NOT listed as wildlife in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park?
A) Raccoon
B) Pronghorn
C) Coyote
D) Beaver
  • 43. Which bird species is known to be a resident in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park?
A) Mountain bluebird
B) Canyon wren
C) Peregrine falcon
D) American dipper
  • 44. Which bird species is known to migrate through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park?
A) Mountain bluebird
B) American dipper
C) Steller's jay
D) Canyon wren
  • 45. What type of oak is native to the park?
A) Black oak
B) Red oak
C) White oak
D) Gambel oak (scrub oak)
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