Gunnison River Map

Gunnison River
The Gunnison River in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Map of the Gunnison River, its tributaries and major cities
Location
Country	United States
State	Colorado
Cities	Gunnison, Grand Junction
Physical characteristics
Source	East River confluence with the Taylor River
• coordinates	38°39′49″N 106°50′50″W / 38.66361°N 106.84722°W / 38.66361; -106.84722[1]
• elevation	8,008 ft (2,441 m)[2]
Mouth	Colorado River
• coordinates	39°3′42″N 108°34′42″W / 39.06167°N 108.57833°W / 39.06167; -108.57833Coordinates: 39°3′42″N 108°34′42″W / 39.06167°N 108.57833°W / 39.06167; -108.57833[1]
• elevation	4,552.56 ft (1,387.62 m)[2]
Length	180 mi (290 km)[3]
Basin size	7,923 sq mi (20,520 km2)[4]
Discharge
• location	USGS Station 09152500 GUNNISON RIVER NEAR GRAND JUNCTION, CO [5]
• average	2,741 cu ft/s (77.6 m3/s)[4]
• minimum	533 cu ft/s (15.1 m3/s)[4]
• maximum	16,500 cu ft/s (470 m3/s)[4]
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Tomichi Creek, Cebolla Creek, Lake Fork Gunnison River, Cimarron River, Uncompahgre River
• right	Smith Fork, North Fork Gunnison River, Kannah Creek

The Gunnison River is located in western Colorado, and it is one of the largest tributaries of the Colorado river. The 180-mile (289-km) long river flows east to west, and it has a drainage area of 7,923 square miles (20,520 km²) according to the USGS.^[6][3] The drainage basin of the Gunnison River collects water from different habitats, such as forests and alpine meadows, located the along Continental Divide. As the river flows westward, it carves through the San Juan Mountains. It flows into the Colorado River at Grand Junction.

The Gunnison River Basin is popular for recreational activities such as fishing, rafting, boating, camping, hiking, and rock climbing.^[7]

Contamination of the Gunnison River with selenium and mercury results from irrigation of high-selenium soils derived from the Mancos Shale and from mineral mining. The region surround the Gunnison River is also part of the Colorado Mineral Belt. Contamination of the Gunnison River with selenium and mercury is a conservation concern for the bonytail chub, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, and the razorback sucker, whose critical habitat includes the lower Gunnison River.^[8]