Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park & Curecanti National Recreation Area

Park Film

National Monument (Black Canyon)
1933
National Park (Black Canyon)
1999
 
National Recreation Area (Curecanti)
1965

Park Size
30,750 Acres (Black Canyon)
43,095 Acres (Curecanti)
 
Annual Visitors
1.3 million
 
Park Fee
$30 (Black Canyon)
​none (Curecanti)
 
Superintendent
Stuart West
 
Park Partner
Western National Parks Association
 
Location
Gunnison and Montrose Counties, CO

These two parks are adjacent to one another on the Gunnison River in Colorado and managed jointly. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is famed for being deep, narrow, and sheer. Curecanti National Recreation Area includes three reservoirs and a variety of riparian habitat. A now-outdated park film, featuring only Black Canyon, informs visitors about white settler history of the area and excludes Indigenous stories. There is no park film at all for Curecanti. A new film to orient visitors to the natural resources and full history of both parks is greatly needed. 

Filmmaker Steve Bumgardner, who has created a number of highly effective park films, will capture footage and interviews that highlight the unique geology of Black Canyon, the power of the Gunnison River, the treasures of dark night skies, and the wildlife and ecology that depend on these public lands for existence. The human story of Native peoples' relationship to the land and the current conservation challenges facing park managers will also be featured.

The new film will be available in English, Spanish, audio-description, and captioned. It will be available to view in the two parks, on their websites, and in local school programming. To enhance the viewing experience, the park's cooperating association, Western National Parks Association, will provide funding for a revamped audiovisual system, accessibility improvements, and new benches for the Black Canyon visitor center.

Filming will take place over several seasons between 2024 and 2025, with an expected film release date in early 2026.
 
Project Cost: $73,230                                                            Project Begun: 2024
     The Fund for People in Parks: $50,000
     National Park Service: $15,000
​     Western National Parks Association: $8,230