A Survey of the Recreational Resources of the Colorado River Basin

Cover

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Summary

The Colorado River Basin

Geology

Plant and Animal Life

Prehistory of Man

Recreational Benefits of Reservoirs

Potential Reservoirs

The Grand Canyon

Canyon Lands of Southeastern Utah

Dinosaur National Monument

Conservation of Recreational Resources

Life Zone Map

Bibliography

A Survey of the Recreational Resources of the Colorado River Basin

OUTSTANDING AND UNIQUE SCENIC SECTIONS (continued)

Wahweap area.—The old trail from Kanab to the Crossing of the Fathers crosses Wahweap Creek and Warm Creek almost on the Utah-Arizona State line and then swings northeast across Cottonwood Canyon to the crossing at Kane Creek. In this highly colored desert section of buttes, mesas, and canyons would be the only wide water of the lake formed by the potential Glen Canyon Damn. At spillway level, 3,528 feet, the lake would extend 7 miles up Wahweap Creek, spreading out north of the State line to form a body of water about a mile wide and 2 miles long. Two miles northeast of Wahweap Bay would be Warm Creek Bay 4 miles long and very irregularly shaped. Five miles northeast of Warm Creek would be the wide water at the Crossing of the Fathers averaging about 2 miles wide and 3 miles long. A long, narrow promontory and a bend in the Colorado River would separate this wide water from the Last Chance wide water which would be about 1.5 by 1.5 miles at the Colorado and extend 7 miles up Last Chance Creek. Opposite Last Chance is West Canyon. The water would back up this canyon more than 6 miles and be only 300 or 400 feet wide. The mouth of Navajo Creek is 2.5 miles south of Warm Creek. At high water it would be possible to boat up this deep narrow canyon for 14 miles. In the canyon of the Colorado River the lake will average between 1,000 and 1,500 feet wide from the dam to Last Chance wide water. The mouth of Wahweap Creek and the mouth of Warm Creek are about 12.5 and 23.5 miles, respectively, upstream from the dam site. The Crossing of the Fathers wide water would be between 34.5 and 38.5 miles above the site. Last Chance is between 45.5 and 47.5 miles above the site. West Canyon and Navajo Creek are 41.5 and 21 miles, respectively, above the site and Aztec Creek is 65 miles above it. The high water would extend up Aztec and Bridge Canyons about 3 miles to within 1 mile of Rainbow Bridge.

With a boat making about 20 miles per hour it would be possible to make a pleasant 1-day trip from the dam to Rainbow Bridge and return, spending about 3 hours in the vicinity of the bridge. This trip would be about the same length as the boat trip on Lake Mead from Boulder Beach up into Grand Canyon.

Wahweap and Warm Creeks provide the first two places above the dam where there will be a comparatively gradual slope to the shore of the reservoir. With the feasibility of constructing a road from Kanab to the shore on the reservoir and the variety and interest of this section it appears to be a logical and desirable place for recreational boating and housing facilities, and for headquarters for boating operations and parties wishing to explore this section of Glen Canyon by land or water.

Goosenecks of the San Juan River, located 9 miles from Mexican Hat, have impressed all who have seen them. They are possibly the finest example of entrenched meanders in the country, interesting to geologists and certainly spectacular to the layman.

Arch Canyon.—This is a distinctive and outstanding feature to be seen by all visitors on their way to the Natural Bridges at the observation point on Elk Ridge not far from the Kigalia Ranger Station. Arch Canyon, approximately 15 miles west of Blanding at the head of Comb Wash and extending into La Sal National Forest, is a chasm of superb beauty with an unusual variety of color and a multitude of interesting towers and pinnacles. Because of its inaccessibility it is little known, but is one of the scenic jewels of the entire area. The upper and most scenic end of the canyon lies within the boundaries of La Sal National Forest. The Forest Service is cognizant of its recreational and scenic value and has planned for a camp and picnic area near the observation point and a trail leading into the canyon.

Figure 104.—Arch in Willow Creek Canyon in Hole in Rock area.

Figure 105.—Arch in Coyote Canyon in Hole in Rock area.

Fisher Towers are approximately 24 miles by the river road from the bridge crossing of the Colorado at Moab and directly north of the La Sal Mountains. From a distance, this detached and majestic group of pinnacles and spires rising 800 to 1,500 feet suggests a great architectural skyline of huge towers with elaborately sculptured facades. Some have dominant, unbroken vertical lines of the modern skyscraper, while others resemble great Gothic cathedrals with their wealth of delicate natural carvings. The towers of light red sandstone rise from a great base of elaborately sculptured, deep red or maroon mudstone. They are eminently different and distinct in a region where such erosional land forms are abundant.

NEXT >>>

Last Modified: Mon, Sep 6 2004 10:00:00 pm PDT
http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/colorado/chap8f.htm