310 Rockwell and Wetmore, Birds of Golden, Colorado. [jiUy 



the south resembles Bear Creek, but the canon through which it 

 flows while deep and rugged supports more vegetation than either 

 one of the other two. 



A peculiar rock formation known as the "Hogback" of which 

 the Table Mountain forms a part, extends approximately north 

 and south parallel to the line of the foothills, making a valley here 

 averaging two miles in width. Golden itself, lies right at the base 

 of the foothills, and has an altitude of 5655 feet, while Clear Creek 

 east of there is perhaps one hundred feet lower. The Table Moun- 

 tains rise to 6550 feet on the north and 6300 feet on the south, 

 and the foothills go up abruptly to 7600 feet, on the highest point 

 of Lookout Mountain. Along the foothills are numerous gulches 

 winding out of the mountains and of these. Chimney Gulch, im- 

 mediately west of Golden, affords the readiest access to the higher 

 country. In the lower portions the sides of these gulches were 

 covered with plum brush, ninebark, mountain maple, and other 

 shrubs, while higher up were groves of quaking aspens and pines. 

 South of Chimney Gulch comes Dead Man's Gulch, Coon Gulch 

 and Mount Vernon Capon, the first two very steep and rocky, and 

 the latter descending to the plains more gradually. Magpie 

 Gulch opens into the north wall of Clear Creek Canon, and is 

 barren with hardly any trees or shrubs, while Tucker's Gulch north 

 of here, opening on the plains directly, is equally barren and little 

 of interest was found in these two. 



This district has (subsequent to the period covered by these 

 notes) taken on added interest through the creation of the " Denver 

 Mountain Parks" which include practically all the territory 

 covered in this list. By means of a special tax levy funds have 

 been made available for the purchase of extensive acreage at vari- 

 ous places best adapted for scenic view-points, and at the present 

 time (1913) an extensive system of splendid roadways is being 

 constructed, which when completed will form a network of beauti- 

 ful driveways making the entire district easily accessible to auto- 

 mobiles and other conveyances. A remarkable "Funicular Rail- 

 way " operated by electric power which rises to a vertical distance 

 of eleven hundred feet in twenty-seven hundred feet of track from 

 the valley back of Golden to the top of Lookout Mountain is now 

 in operation, and is widely patronized. The city now owns over 



