A Denver man has been found dead at the bottom of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The Montrose County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) announced the discovery Wednesday, stating that deputies were alerted on October 27 to an abandoned vehicle near mile marker 10 along the park's South Rim.
Deputies found personal belongings near Devil's Lookout, a steep viewing point within the park. A drone team was deployed to search the remote canyon for a possible missing person connected to the vehicle but was unable to locate anyone before nightfall. The following morning, the drone team confirmed the presence of human remains on the canyon floor.
The deceased was identified as John N. Countryman, 57, of Denver. His body was recovered two days later and transferred to the Montrose County Coroner's Office. The cause and manner of death are currently under investigation.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is known for its steep, narrow gorges carved by the Gunnison River. The park's rugged terrain and sheer 2,000-foot drop-offs present challenging conditions for search and rescue operations.