FOREST RECREATION DEPARTMENT 



141 



t 



BALANCED ROCK 



At the head of Nigger Bill Canyon, Northern Division of the 

 La Sal National Forest, is this queer member of the Balanced 

 Rock Family. As a background is seen one of the multitude of 

 wind-fretted rock cliffs of the region. 



the Natural Bridges, three of them within a short 

 distance of each other, being included in a 

 National Monument. 



These three natural bridges, and the great 

 Rainbow Bridge, several miles to the westward, 

 are easily the largest yet discovered in the United 

 States. The first three are within a distance of 

 five miles and are called "Edwin," "Caroline" 

 and "Augusta," in the order in which they are 

 usually approached. Later names assigned to 

 them by officials of the United States Land 

 Office, but not generally used, are, respectively, 

 Owachomo, Kachina and Sipapu Hopi Indian 

 names. 



Sloping as the country does, from the higher 

 peaks of the Blue Mountains, where 12,000 feet 

 elevation is attained, to the low level of the Colo- 

 rado River, it is not hard to imagine the cutting 

 and polishing forces of the currents of moun- 

 tain waters as they rushed through the irregular 

 cracks and crevices in surging eddies. In this 

 manner sharp corners were rounded off, deep 

 caverns and recesses were dug out of the cliffs, 

 and soft places in the yielding sandstone were 



sought out. This process continued so long that a series 

 of perfectly formed buttresses and arches is left, having 

 particularly graceful curves and pleasing proportions. 



The "Edwin" bridge is a slender and delicately pro- 

 portioned structure, particularly pleasing to the eye. It 

 has a span of 194 feet and a height of 108 feet. The 

 long arch is only ten feet thick in the center and thirty 

 feet wide across the top. 



Approximately three miles down the canyon near the 

 junction of White and Armstrong Canyons, is found 

 the "Caroline," having a more massive and less well 

 finished arch than the former, but none the less imposing. 

 So large are the parts of this bridge and so close the 

 surrounding walls and cliffs that the successful photo- 

 graphing of it presents a difficult problem. It's span is 

 186 feet from side to side and 98 feet high in the center. 

 The total height of the bridge is 205 feet with a width 

 on top of 49 feet. Beneath this great structure is a cool, 

 clear spring of water, inviting the traveler to refresh him- 

 self and rest in the majestic splendor of the situation. 



Proceeding up White Canyon, whose lofty cliffs, domes 

 and caverns become more and more impressive, one 

 approaches the great "Augusta" bridge, the span of which 

 is 157 feet high and 261 feet long. The total height is 

 222 feet and the width at the top is 28 feet. It is a 

 fitting climax to this series of natural wonders, com- 

 bining massiveness with gracefulness of proportions in 

 an unbelievable manner. 



The crowning glory of the scenic attractions is their 

 coloring. The rock formation is a sandstone of rich red 



MRS. UTE SQUAW AND FAMILY 



While along the sides of the many canyons of this land of mystery are ruins of 

 pre-historic cliff-dwellers, In other places may be seen members of Indian tribe* 

 whose reservations are nearby. These later Americans are not a bit less interesting 

 than the ruins which speak mutely of a very early civilization. 



