(Koclty (mountain TUonbttfonb 



Hayden Valley in the Yellowstone National 

 Park is another large grassy opening in a moun- 

 tain forest. This valley apparently was once a 

 vast arm of Yellowstone Lake. 



Estes Park, in Colorado, is one of the most 

 attractive as well as the best known of the 

 mountain parks. Although much smaller than 

 Middle or South Park, it is much larger than 

 hundreds of the other beautiful mountain parks. 

 The Estes Park region embraces about one 

 hundred square miles, though only one third of 

 this is open. The approximate altitude of the 

 ragged lowland park is a trifle less than eight 

 thousand feet. This is entirely surrounded by 

 high mountains which uphold a number of 

 rocky, snowy peaks. In 1875 Dr. F. V. Hayden, 

 father of the Yellowstone Park, wrote of this 

 region: "Within the district treated we will 

 scarcely be able to find a region so favorably 

 distinguished as that presented by Estes Park. 

 Not only has nature amply supplied this valley 

 with features of rare beauty and surroundings of 

 admirable grandeur, but it has thus distributed 

 them that the eye of an artist may rest with 



232 



