Report on King's River Canon and Vicinity. 117 



feet, while there are many points on the corresponding divide 

 south of the King's River Canon which are over 11,000 feet high. 

 Avalanche Peak is 11,265 feet in altitude, and is but two miles 

 distant from the canon walls. We have gone thus into detail to 

 indicate to even the casual observer the tremendous advantage 

 the region surrounding King's River Canon possesses over the 

 similarly situated Yosemite region by reason of the greater 

 depths and heights of the former and its consequent wealth 

 and variety of mountain sculpture. 



The King's River Canon has no falls that compare in grandeur 

 with the Yosemite, Nevada, Vernal, and Bridal Veil of Yosemite 

 Valley, nor any gigantic rock forms that are as wonderful as 

 Half Dome or El Capitan. However, the cliffs of the Grand 

 Sentinel in King's River Canon compare favorably with anything 

 else in Yosemite, and the Roaring River Falls and Mist Falls of 

 the canon will not suffer by comparison with any falls in Cali- 

 fornia outside of Yosemite, and are unique, possessing a rare 

 picturesqueness and local color of their own. Mist Falls in 

 particular are as remarkable an exhibition of dashing spray, 

 leaping foam, and driving mist as can be found anywhere. 



In short, Yosemite and the King's River Canon are both 

 tremendous valleys sunk in the middle of the including drainage 

 basins of each; but while the Yosemite is by far the more won- 

 derful valley, the surrounding mountain-peaks which guard 

 the King's River Canon to the north and south tower in im- 

 posing masses almost 2,000 feet higher above its floor than do 

 the corresponding and less impressive points which deHmit the 

 Yosemite drainage basin. 



PARADISE VALLEY. 



Proceeding up the South Fork, or Paradise branch, of the 

 King's River, which turns at almost a right angle at the head 

 of the main cafion, we pass several beautiful falls, including Mist 

 Falls, and after a lively scramble over talus from the inclosing 

 cliffs, and through brush, the lower end of Paradise Valley is 

 reached in the short space of three miles. This valley in many 

 respects bears a similar relation to the King's River Canon that 

 the valley of the Little Yosemite does to the main Yosemite. It 

 is about three miles in length, having rather a narrow floor, 

 carpeted with several charming velvety meadows through which 

 winds the crystal river, forming at every turn emerald pools 

 that make the fisherman's heart beat with thought of the trout 

 that might lurk in their depths. Beautiful groups of fir and 

 pine are scattered throughout. The walls of this valley are 

 Yosemite-hke and are flanked on the west by Goat Mountain 



1 



