Hiking the Pinyon Draw Trail (S.O.B. Draw) in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Distance (One Way): 1.6 miles / 2.6 km
Elevation Change: ~1,860 ft. (567 m)
Pinyon Draw, formerly known as S.O.B. Draw, is the most visited route to reach the Gunnison River on the North Rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park because it is often seen as the 'easiest.'
Now, take the word 'easiest' lightly, as Pinyon Draw is steep nonetheless, which should be obvious from the significant elevation change over just 1.6 miles (2.6 km). That being said, the difference is truly 1,700 ft. (518 m) over just 1.0 mile (1.6 km), as the first 0.3 miles (0.5 km) of the approach to the start of the Draw is mostly flat.
In any case, Pinyon Draw is the recommended route on the North Rim for first-time visitors because there is a lot less loose rock compared to others, like Long Draw, and the ledges to move up and down are shorter than those found in a number of other routes that descend into the canyon.
Why Did the NPS Change S.O.B. Draw to Pinyon Draw?
I often try to find answers to questions like this, which in the past included the Stone Storehouse in Canyonlands, as well as the Agate House Trail in Petrified Forest National Park.
That being said, the direct quote I received this time was, 'The change aimed to have a more neutral name.'
I don’t know, but I think I like S.O.B. Draw a little bit better—especially because I slammed my head into a large log on the hike up!
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
Pinyon Draw Trailhead Parking
The Pinyon Draw Trailhead is a bit obscure, like others on the North Rim, which is why parking is best in one of two places.
The first and closest place to park is in the same area as the Chasm View Nature Trail, just before the North Rim Campground. Alternatively, hikers can park at the North Rim Ranger Station, where wilderness permits are issued, and walk the short distance along the road to the start of the trail.
Google Maps Directions: Pinyon Draw Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Black Canyon
Black bears are known to be found everywhere from the plateaus along the canyon rim to the steep routes that lead down to the Gunnison River, and everywhere in between.
That being said, here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Bear Spray & Holster - If you aren’t flying, don’t rent bear spray! It’s a waste of money. Prepare ahead of time by buying your own, as this may be one of the most important items on this list.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Pinyon Draw Trail
The Pinyon Draw Trailhead is located on the north side of North Rim Road, about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) before the Chasm View Trailhead, further up the road.
That said, wilderness permits are required to hike down Pinyon Draw or any route into Black Canyon, which is mostly due to safety and accountability concerns, given the steep trail’s inherent risks and difficulty.
Pinyon Draw
After the mostly flat 0.3-mile (0.5 km) approach, the steep drop into Pinyon Draw begins here and continues to the bottom of the canyon.
If you’re curious about the trail runners/ approach shoes that I trust for a steep adventure like this, you can learn more using the link below.
That being said, sturdier shoes than these would more than likely be appropriate for this type of scrambling, which is where my second recommendation comes from.
For the most part, the steeper ledges require fairly easy Class 3 moves, but as with any gully in Black Canyon, height can be a big advantage for getting up and down some of the taller ledges.
Whether you start early to hike down in the shade, or begin late to start in the sun and hike back up in the shade, the vegetation will do very little in terms of providing natural protection when the sun is directly overhead.
For this reason, I highly recommend wearing a hooded sun shirt when hiking Pinyon Draw and many other trails in Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
There’s truly no breaks from the constant elevation changes, whether on the hike in or out!
As Pinyon Draw began to reach the halfway mark, Poison Ivy started to dominate the gully, which proved to be very tricky to navigate in some narrow areas.
This is all Poison Ivy lining the left side of the trail.
This rock was fun to slide down, but even then, there’s Poison Ivy tucked away in the lower left corner at the bottom to stay clear of.
This may have been the trickiest section to navigate, on account of all the Poison Ivy lining both sides of the narrow trail.
The one safety concern that I’ve left out thus far is whether or not it’s necessary to wear a helmet in Pinyon Draw, and what I can say is that there is a lot less scree in Pinyon Draw compared to others, like Long Draw.
However, the route is still very much a Class 3 scramble, and some in the outdoor community live by the rule that helmets are a must on anything Class 3 or higher. So, I say it’s truly up to your own discretion.
Rockfall can happen in any Black Canyon gully at any time, especially when there are other groups moving up and down.
This 'V' between the rocks was a fun little scramble that was a bit different from the rest.
'17 Rock'
'17 Rock' is not a named feature, but it is one of the most notable natural features in Pinyon Draw when everything starts to look the same.
That said, the ledge beneath the rock is one of the steepest and trickiest to navigate, which is why I find it easiest to go around to the right.
This is the view looking back up toward the '17 Rock,' and while it might not seem like a big ledge, it definitely is in person — and I’m 6' 4"!
This is what Pinyon Draw looks like when you look back up!
Gunnison River
When Pinyon Draw reaches the Gunnison River, go right to find the campgrounds, about 0.2 miles (0.3 km) downstream.
This area along the Gunnison, just prior to the Pinyon Campground, is definitely an easier stretch to fish compared to the area where Pinyon Draw first reaches the river.
Pinyon Campground
Compared to other campsites at the bottom of Black Canyon, the Pinyon Campground is smaller in comparison, due entirely to the topography of the area. This is why I wouldn’t be surprised if sharing the space is common practice among different groups.
That being said, if you’re interested in a larger area to spread out with more fishing opportunities, consider the Warner Route on the South Rim.
On the other hand, Pinyon Draw leads to an extremely beautiful corridor along the Gunnison River, and one of my favorite things about it is all the shade throughout the day, thanks to the steep and narrow canyon walls along this stretch!
More Black Canyon Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
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Discover Cars!
Safety
Most obviously, be careful around the rim of Black Canyon! It happens all too often at places like this—the Grand Canyon, Angels Landing, etc.—that someone falls in!
On a different note, if you decide to hike into Black Canyon, take it slow, and stagger yourself from the other people in your group and others on the trail, as many of the gullies are filled with loose rock that can be problematic for those below.
Additionally, learn how to identify Poison Ivy, as there is not one area along the Gunnison River where I haven’t seen it.
Finally, be aware that Black Canyon of the Gunnison is Black Bear and mountain lion territory, and while hiking in Black Bear territory usually presents less danger as opposed to grizzlies, hiking with bear spray is never a bad idea. However, it’s really up to your own discretion and comfort level.
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official National Park website.
National Park Service: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
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