Outdoor Life in the 

 Page Thirteen C 



The Big Thompson Canyon, at its entrance, has abrupt walls 

 of solid granite and, although there are open places along its course 



through the Forest from the mouth to Estes Park, 

 Canyons. . , i , .... 



m general the slopes are rocky and precipitous and 



the canyon narrow. At the Forks the North Branch comes in 



through a beautiful but much less rugged gorge. A new highway, 



w^hich will make this one of the finest canyon trips in Colorado, is 



being constructed up the Big Thompson. 



The canyons of St. Vrain and Boulder Creeks are fully as attractive 

 as those of the Big Thompson, but are not so widely known. Along 

 the automobile roads which traverse these streams are cascades and 

 rapids of exquisite charm, and evergreen forests, bluffs, and crags 

 that lend diversity of interest to the scene. 



The North and Middle Forks of St. Vrain Creek come out of the 

 hills and unite at Lyons, Colo. From this town a road follows North 

 St. A>ain through a beautiful canyon to a point where it angles to 

 the northwest over the hills toward Estes Park. The Middle St. 

 Vrain is a fine scenic canyon. In places it narrows to such an extent 

 that there is barely passage way for the road; in others it broadens 

 out with sloping walls, gi\4ng a \4ew of the rugged foothills on either 

 side. This canyon is passable by automobile to the Peaceful Valley 

 region, where it connects with the main highway from AVard to Estes 

 Park. 



The Cache La Poudre Canyon in some regards surpasses all 

 others in natural beauty. The \4ew is more open, the cliffs are 

 higher, and the volume of water in the stream greater. On the 

 Upper Poudre is a cliff named the "Old Man's Face," and others of 

 unusual form and character are found here and there. The auto- 

 mobile road tunnel, cut through solid rock at the Little Narrows, is of 

 special interest. 



The canyon of Middle Boulder Creek begins at the city of Boulder 

 and extends back into the foothills i8 miles to the famous tungsten 

 camp at Nederland. Along its course are a number of interesting 

 featin-es, including the stream itself with its rapids, falls, and cas- 

 cades, and the " Perfect Tree " and Castle Rocks. 



