A Survey of the Recreational Resources of the Colorado River Basin

Cover

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Summary

The Colorado River Basin

Geology

Plant and Animal Life

Prehistory of Man

Recreational Benefits of Reservoirs

Potential Reservoirs

The Grand Canyon

Canyon Lands of Southeastern Utah

Dinosaur National Monument

Conservation of Recreational Resources

Life Zone Map

Bibliography

A Survey of the Recreational Resources of the Colorado River Basin

ROADSIDES

One of the pleasant features of the basin at present is the opportunity to drive for miles along roads that are not paralleled by fences and pole lines. However, more and more fences are being built along roads as part of the Bureau of Land Management program of range management. Admittedly, it is essential to fence high-speed highways against the danger of wandering livestock, but there are many miles of secondary roads which need not be fenced. It is suggested that, wherever possible, grazing allotments or grazing units be adjusted so that they include both sides of secondary roads. This would eliminate the necessity of unit boundary fences paralleling such roads. An occasional cattle guard and fence across the road make the traveler feel he is in the range, whereas continuous paralleling fences set him apart from the country he is traversing.

On the same basis, the clearing and grading for roads should be limited to the narrowest possible width compatible with good road construction. A great wide gash across the country sets the traveler apart from the landscape just the same as a high wire fence. He may get the fine views of country but he does not have the feeling of being in it. This is particularly true in a forested area.

Figure 119.—Signs, pole lines, and wide right-of-way clearing detract from the enjoyment of the natural scene.

SCENIC ROADS

While there is hardly a road in the basin that does not afford some scenic interest, there are certain roads or sections of roads which during the course of the survey have been noted as outstanding and worthy of special attention. They are described below and are indicated on Plate 16 (in pocket).

ARIZONA

United States Highway 89, from Nogales to Florence, passes through fine desert country and cultivated valleys. Points of interest include: Tubac, the oldest town in Arizona; Tumacacori Mission, built in 1690; San Xavier Mission, built in 1692; and the cities of Tucson and Nogales.

State Highways 82 and 83, from Nogales to Vail Junction on United States Highway 80, have fine desert mountain scenery and pass old Fort Crittenden.

United States Highway 84, from Redrock to Gila, is in open desert country. Interesting features are: Picacho Pass, Casa Grande Mountains, and Maricopa Mountains.

United States Highway 70, between Apache Junction and the head of San Carlos Lake, passes through the Crook National Forest and the mining towns of Superior, Miami, and Globe. Where it crosses the Coolidge Dam, it opens to view a wide variety of Arizona scenery.

State Highway 88 the Apache Trail—is a spectacularly scenic drive through the Tonto and Crook National Forests, and along the shores of Canyon, Apache, and Roosevelt Lakes.

United States Highway 60, between Globe and Showlow, passes through the Crook National Forest and the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. The crossing of Salt River Canyon is a spectacular feature.

State Highway 77, from Showlow to White River, is in the impressive Mogollon Rim country of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.

State Highway 73, between McNary and Springerville, is through fine White Mountain scenery, the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, and Apache National Forest.

United States Highway 666, from Springerville to Clifton, is part of the Coronado Trail.

United States Highways 89 and 89A pass through the Prescott and Coconino National Forests and by such interesting features as the Granite Dells, Oak Creek Canyon, San Francisco Mountains, Verde Valley mining towns, and Tuzigoot, Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater, and Wupatki National Monuments.

United States Highway 66 passes through the Kaibab and Coconino National Forests. The high, forest-covered plateau, with splendid contrast to the (moun)tains and desert valleys, is a pleasant contrast to the long desert sections of the highway.

United States Highway 89, from Cameron to Kanab, Utah, passes through the Navajo Indian Reservation and over the Kaibab Plateau. The colorful Painted Desert, Marble Gorge of the Colorado River, House Rock Valley, and vermilion cliffs of the Paria Plateau are interesting features.

Rainbow Trail, in the Navajo Indian Reservation between Tonalea and Rainbow Lodge, offers views of spectacular canyon scenery.

The road from Kayenta, Ariz. to Mexican Hat, Utah, is through the fantastic Monument Valley.

UTAH

State Highway 95 from Blanding to Natural Bridges National Monument crosses Elk Ridge, affording fine views of Arch Canyon and Grand Gulch Plateau.

United States Highway 160 and State Highway 47 from Moab to Monticello pass through highly colorful sandstone country and offer fine views of Abajo and Elk Mountains.

State Highway 128 from Moab to Dewey Bridge follows the Colorado River through an impressive canyon.

United States Highway 89 and State Highway 15 from Kanab to Toquerville pass through Zion National Park and other spectacular scenery.

The road from Escalante through Boulder to Torrey is one of the most scenic drives in Utah.

State Highway 44 from Vernal to Linwood, through the Ashley National Forest, crosses the Uinta Mountains. There is unusually fine scenery in the vicinity of Sheep Creek.

COLORADO

United States Highway 550 between Durango and Ouray is in the spectacular high mountain country of the San Juan and Uncompahgre National Forests.

State Highway 82, Glenwood Springs to Twin Lakes, crosses the Continental Divide at Independence Pass, elevation 12,095.

State Highway 135, from Almont to Somerset, climbs over the scenic Elk Mountains.

United States Highway 160, between Pagosa Springs and Baxterville, climbs over the beautiful San Juan Mountains.

ROADLESS AREAS

While it will be necessary to construct new roads and improve existing ones in order to develop the resources of the basin, it must not be forgotten that the large areas in which there are no roads comprise one of the basin's great recreational assets. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Forest Service, and the National Park Service have recognized this by establishing roadless areas. Other roadless areas might well be established. The point is well stated in the Order of the Bureau of Indian Affairs dated October 25, 1937, establishing roadless and wild areas on Indian reservations:

Mechanization is growing in America with unprecedented acceleration. Activity after activity which for countless generations have been performed directly by manpower and area after area which have been subject only to the forces of nature are now dominated by machinery. To millions of Americans this constitutes an unmitigated blessing.

There are other millions who, while they appreciate the good which the machine can bring, also have an intense craving for another type of existence. They do not see why their life must be lived entirely in the world of machinery when there is ample space in this great country for another world as well. They cannot believe that with vast stretches which need not be used for the mechanical activities of our civilization, it is necessary to make every nook and corner of the country a part of the machine world and to wipe out all sizeable traces of the primitive.

It is perfectly feasible to reserve for such people something of those wilderness values which they crave. A little advance planning and a little balancing of the claims of genuine conflicting values will make it possible to save many areas from mechanization. In the past a great many ideal wilderness areas have been opened by roads which were of no necessity and which have never returned in value of service anywhere near the investment which has been put into them. Had there been a little prior thought about a reasonable balance between primitive and developed areas, these roads would not have been constructed.

National and State Parks and Monuments and National Forests in the Colorado River Basin

¹ Acreage figures indicate land in Federal ownership.
² 144,915 acres in Colorado and 45,883 acres in Utah.
³ 139 acres in Colorado and 160 acres in Utah.
⁴ Extends into Wyoming.
⁵ Extends into Colorado.
⁶ Partially in Colorado River Basin.
⁷ Extends into Wyoming.
⁸ Extends into Nevada.
⁹ Additional 889,698 acres extending into New Mexico.
¹⁰ Additional 124,988 acres extending into New Mexico.
¹¹ Partially in Colorado River Basin.

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Last Modified: Mon, Sep 6 2004 10:00:00 pm PDT
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