Report on King's River Canon and Vicinity. 123 



for power purposes, nor should the limited grazing area be used 

 by others than the campers and travelers who journey thither 

 to view the natural wonders of the park. In this limited region 

 the aesthetic and scenic features are of paramount importance. 

 Their commercial value even, in attracting the countless numbers 

 who some day will visit this scenic area, will outweigh all other 

 considerations. This area should be permanently set aside "for 

 public use, resort, and recreation." The wild animals within its 

 borders should also be preserved as they are in National parks. 

 Whether all this can be accomplished under the existing forest 

 reserve laws and regulations, and sufficient protection afforded, 

 is a question the determination of which can best be left to the 

 officials directly concerned. In view of the fact that it seems 

 highly probable that the management and care of the National 

 parks will be transferred to the Department of Agriculture in 

 the near future, this question may readily solve itself. 



We do not wish to be misunderstood and to arouse unnecessary 

 opposition on the part of private owners, who might get a false 

 idea of just what we wish to accomplish and who might imagine 

 that we were attempting to impair their rights. At the present 

 time we have in mind the creation of a park area which shall not 

 extend much farther west than the lower end of the "King's 

 River Canon" and of the Tehipite Valley, and which shall 

 embrace the major portion of the drainage basin of both the 

 Middle and South forks of the King's River to the east of 

 these points. 



RECOM MENDATIONS. 



Aside from our main recommendation that this region be set 

 aside as a park area, there are several minor suggestions which 

 we most respectfully present to the Forest Service and request 

 that favorable action be taken thereon and that the suggestions 

 be carried out in the near future. It is most desirable that this 

 should be done before the State road has been completed. 



I. We consider of utmost importance the construction of a 

 trail leading from the King's River Canon up to Paradise Val- 

 ley, following along the north side of the river. By constructing 

 this trail of some three miles in length, the necessity of a detour 

 of nearly ten miles and a climb of nearly 4,000 feet will be 

 obviated. While portions of this trail will be expensive to con- 

 struct, it is very short, and the difficult sections constitute only 

 a small part of the entire length. It will open up a most won- 

 derful region, and its importance cannot be too greatly em- 

 phasized. A bridge should also be constructed in Paradise Val- 

 ley over the main river a short distance above the mouth of 

 Wood's Creek. 



