Mountain Playgrounds 
Of the Pike National Forest | Page Six 
camping sites may also be reached by wagon, distance 5 miles, from 
Empire on the Clear Creek Division of the Colorado & Southern Rail- 
way. Fishing is fairly good in upper Clear Creek, and there is a 
plentiful supply of pure water and firewood. 
North Fork of South Platte River. This region is one of the great- 
est tourist resort centers in the Rocky Mountains. A large part of the 
valley land is patented, but occasional camping sites are to be found 
along the river and near the small towns that dot the valley. Fishing 
in the Platte is good, and supplies and mail facilities are close at hand. 
The ‘“‘South Park Highway,’ from Denver via Morrison to South 
Park and Leadville, enters the North Fork Valley at Baileys (distance 
47 miles), and continues up the river to Kenosha Pass. The South 
Park Division of the Colorado & Southern Railway also runs the 
entire length of the valley. 
South Fork of South Platte River. The South Fork of the South 
Platte is the paramount fishing grounds of the Pike Forest, reached 
from Denver via the Colorado & Southern Railway to South Platte, | 
and thence up river by automobile stage or wagon, or by automobile 
via the ‘“‘South Platte Cut-Off’ from Sedalia to Deckers Springs, dis- 
tance 52 miles. This region is also accessible from Colorado Springs 
via the ‘‘ Pikes Peak Ocean to Ocean Highway” to Woodland Park, 
thence north through Manitou Park to West Creek and down the 
creek to Deckers, total distance 55 miles. The South Fork of the 
South Platte is well stocked with trout, and the scenery along the 
river is especially pleasing. Camp sites abound, and firewood and 
good water are everywhere close at hand. 
Chicago Lakes. The Chicago Lakes country, located on Chicago 
Creek directly under the north face of Mount Evans in what is locally 
known as the ‘‘Frying Pan Basin,’ is one of the most beautiful and 
spectacular camping spots in the northern part of the Pike Forest. 
The lakes, two in number, are set just above the dense Engelmann 
spruce forests of timber line, and are walled about on the south and 
west by stupendous cliffs rising sheer 2,000 feet from the water’s 
edge, while along the north and east shores excellent camping sites 
are available. This lake region is 15 miles from Idaho Springs on the 
“Midland Trail” and Colorado & Southern Railway, and is accessible 
for about 10 miles by a fair mountain automobile road, the remainder 
