TRAIL NEAR TIMBER-LINE, INDIAN HENRY'S PARK, MOUNT RAINIERTRAIL NEAR TIMBER-LINE, INDIAN HENRY'S PARK, MOUNT RAINIER
At the primitive beaver house it takes a look as it crosses the expanded brook upon the beaver dam. A fallen tree gives it a way across the river. In a gorge it hears the ouzel from the rocks pour forth his melody—joyous notes of happy, liquid song.
It crosses a moraine to examine the useful débris that the Ice King formed while he was sculpturing the mountains and giving lines to the landscape. Clouds bound for definite ports in the trailless sky adorn its realm with floating shadows. It passes a picturesque old landmark, a pine of a thousand years. In this one spot the ancient pine has stood, an observing spectator, while the seasons and the centuries flowed along. His autobiography is rich in weather lore, full of adventures, and filled with thrilling escapes from fires, lightning, and landslides. During his thousand years,strange travelers and processions have passed along. He often saw victor and victim and the endless drama of the wilderness.
The trail is followed by wild life, and along it the wild flowers fill the wild gardens. It has the spirit of the primal outdoors. It extends away ever to the golden age. Many a night this way across the earth is as thick with fireflies as the great Milky Way across the sky with stars. The moon, the white aspens, and the dark spruces pile it with romantic shades, and on a sunny day it is often touched by the fleeting shadow of an eagle in the sky.
This old acquaintance would have you carry your own pack, and, like your best friend, expects your best on every occasion. The trail compels you to know yourself and to be yourself, and puts you in harmony with the universe. It makes you glad to be living. It gives health, hope, and courage, and it extends that touch of nature which tends to make you kind. This heroic wayconducted our ancestors across the ages. It should be preserved. It has for us the inspiration of the ages.
A dim trail led our wandering primeval ancestors out from the twilight. It was a trail ever winding, shadowy, and broken, but ever under the open sky and ever from "yesterday's seven thousand years." It had its beginning in the walks of beasts that prowled the solemn primeval forests. Over it our half-lost ancestors painfully advanced. A fallen tree was their first bridge and a floating log their first boat. They wondered at the strange alternating day and night at which we still wonder. With joy they watched the shining dawn, and with fear and dread they saw the dusk of dying day. They learned the endless procession of seasons. The mysterious movements of wind and water aroused their curiosity, and with childlike interest they followed the soft and silent movements of the clouds. The wide and starry sky appealed strangely, strongly, to their imagination, and in this luminous field of space their fancy found a local habitation and a name for the thousand earthly fears and factors of their lives. They dared the prairie, climbed the hills, but long kept close to the forest.
After hard and fearful ages—after "a million years and a day"—the camp-fire came at last. This fragment of the Immortal Sun conquered the cold and the night, and misery and dread gave way to comfort and hope. No more the aspen trembled. It became a dancing youth, while the strange, invisible echo was a merry hiding child. The fireflies changed to fairies, and Pan commenced to pipe the elemental melody of the wild.
Nature ever showed her pictures and interested her children in fairylands. Winter, cold and leafless; spring, full of song and promise; the generous wealth of summer; and autumn with its harvest and color, came and disappeared, and came again through all the mysterious years. Lightning, the echo, with roar and whisper of the viewless air, the white and lonely moon, the strange eclipse, the brilliant and fleeting rainbow,—Nature's irised silken banner,—the mystery of death, these seeds of thought bloomed into the fanciful, beautiful myths and legends that we know.
Once, like a web of joy, trails overspread all the wild gardens of the earth. The long trail is gone, and most others are cut to pieces and ruined. The few broken remnants are but little used.
The traveler who forgets or loses the trail will lose his way, or miss the best of life. The trail is the directest approach to the fountain of life, and this immortal way delays age and commands youth to linger. While you delay along the trail, Father Time pauses to lean upon his scythe. The trail wanders away from the fever and the fret, and leads to where the Red Gods call. This wonderful way must not be buried and forgotten.
APPENDIX
An Act to set apart a Certain Tract of Land lying near the Headwaters of the Yellowstone River as a Public Park.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,—That the tract of land in the Territories of Montana and Wyoming lying near the headwaters of the Yellowstone River and described as follows, to-wit: Commencing at the junction of Gardiner's River with the Yellowstone River and running east to the meridian, passing ten miles to the eastward of the most eastern point of Yellowstone Lake; thence south along the said meridian to the parallel of latitude, passing ten miles south of the most southern point of Yellowstone Lake; thence west along said parallel to the meridian, passing fifteen miles west of the most western point of Madison Lake; thence north along said meridian to the latitude of the junction of the Yellowstone and Gardiner's Rivers; thence east to the place of beginning, is hereby reserved and drawn from settlement, occupancy, or saleunder the laws of the United States, and dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people; and all persons who shall locate, or settle upon, or occupy the same or any part thereof, except as hereinafter provided, shall be considered trespassers and removed therefrom.
Sec. 2.That said public park shall be under the exclusive control of the Secretary of the Interior, whose duty it shall be, as soon as practicable, to make and publish such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary or proper for the care and management of the same. Such regulations shall provide for the preservation from injury or spoliation of all timber, mineral deposits, natural curiosities or wonders within said park, and their retention in their natural condition.
The Secretary may, in his discretion, grant leases for building purposes, for terms not exceeding ten years, of small parcels of ground, at such places in said park as shall require the erection of buildings for the accommodation of visitors; all of the proceeds of said leases, and all other revenue that may be derived from any source connected with said park, to be expended under his direction in the management of the same and the construction of roads and bridle-paths, and shall provide against the wanton destruction of fish and game found within said park and against their capture or destruction for the purpose of merchandise or profit. He shall also cause all persons trespassing upon the same after the passage of this act to be removed therefrom, and generally shall be authorized to take all such measures as shall be necessary or proper to fully carry out the objects and purposes of this act.
Approved March1, 1872.
Signed by:
James G. Blaine,Speaker of the House.Schuyler Colfax,Vice-President of the United States and President of the Senate.Ulysses S. Grant,President of the United States.
ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY IN THE ORDER OF THEIR CREATION
(Number, 17; total area, 9776 square miles)
National ParksLocationArea in square milesDistinctive characteristicsHot Springs (1832)Middle Arkansas1½46 hot springs possessing curative properties—Many hotels and boarding-houses—20 bathhouses under public control.Yellowstone (1872)Northwestern Wyoming3348More geysers than in all rest of world together—Boiling springs—Mud volcanoes—Petrified forests—Grand Cañon of the Yellowstone, remarkable for gorgeous coloring—Large lakes—Many large streams and waterfalls—Vast wilderness inhabited by deer, elk, bison, moose, antelope, bear, mountain sheep, beaver, etc., constituting greatest wild bird and animal preserve in world—Altitude 6000 to 11,000 feet—Exceptional trout-fishing.Yosemite (1890)Middle eastern California1125Valley of world-famed beauty—Lofty cliffs—Romantic vistas—Many waterfalls of extraordinary height—3 groves of Big Trees—High Sierra—Large areas of snowy peaks—Water-wheel falls—Good trout-fishing.Sequoia (1890)Middle eastern California252The Big Tree National Park—12,000 sequoia trees over 10 feet in diameter, some 25 or 36 feet in diameter—Towering mountain-ranges—Startling precipices—Fine trout-fishing.General Grant (1890)Middle eastern California4Created to preserve the celebrated General Grant Tree, 35 feet in diameter—6 miles from Sequoia National Park and under same management.Mount Rainier (1899)West central Washington324Largest accessible single peak glacier-system—28 glaciers, some of large size—48 square miles of glacier, 50 to 500 feet thick—Wonderful sub-alpine wild-flower fields.Crater Lake (1902)Southwestern Oregon249Lake of extraordinary blue in crater of extinct volcano, no inlet, no outlet—Sides 1000 feet high—Interesting lava-formations—Fine trout-fishing.Mesa Verde (1906)Southwestern Colorado77Most notable and best preserved prehistoric cliff dwellings in United States, if not in the world.Platt (1906)Southern Oklahoma11⁄8Many sulphur and other springs possessing medicinal value, under Government regulation.Glacier (1910)Northwestern Montana1534Rugged mountain region—250 glacier-fed lakes—60 small glaciers—Peaks of unusual shape—Precipices thousands of feet deep—Fine trout-fishing.Rocky Mountain (1915)North middle Colorado400Heart of the Rockies—Snowy range, peaks 11,000 to 14,250 feet altitude—Remarkable records of glacial period.Hawaii (1916)Hawaiian Islands117Vast volcanoes—Craters—Tropical plants and birds.Lassen Volcanic (1916)Northern California123Active volcano, volcanic records, lakes, hot springs, and forests.Mount McKinley (1917)Central Alaska2200"The Great One"; highest peak in North America, 20,300 feet; vast big-animal range; enormous glaciers; wild flowers.
Other National Parks are:—Sully's Hill (1904) North DakotaWooded hilly tract on Devil's Lake.Wind Cave (1903) South DakotaLarge natural cavern.Casa Grande Ruin (1892) ArizonaPrehistoric Indian ruin.For National Park booklets and other Park information address The Director, National Park Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.
Other National Parks are:—
Sully's Hill (1904) North DakotaWooded hilly tract on Devil's Lake.Wind Cave (1903) South DakotaLarge natural cavern.Casa Grande Ruin (1892) ArizonaPrehistoric Indian ruin.
For National Park booklets and other Park information address The Director, National Park Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.
RegionLocationCharacteristicsGrand CañonArizonaThe Grand Cañon.Mount EvansNear Denver, ColoradoMagnificent peak, primeval forests, lakes, and alpine flora.Mount Baker (the Indian Kulshan)Northwestern WashingtonExtinct or sleeping volcano; thirty square miles of glaciers, forests, and wild flowers.Sawtooth MountainsCentral IdahoPrecipitous mountains, alpine lakes, heavy forests, flowery meadows, clear streams.Ozark MountainsNorthern ArkansasRare river and mountain landscapes.Mount McGregorNortheastern IowaRare combination of river, hill, forest, bluff, and plains.Pajarito Cliff CitiesPajarito Plateau, near Santa Fé, New Mexico.Many vast prehistoric ruins of wonderful Indian civilization.Mount MitchellWestern North CarolinaHighest peak east of the Rockies, 6711 feet high; quiet scenery of the South Appalachians.Pike's PeakCentral ColoradoThe most frequently climbed 14,000-foot peak in the world; excellent view-point, rising abruptly from the plains.DunesNorthern IndianaLake Shore; extraordinary aggregation of plants from warm, cold, wet and dry zones.San JuanSouthwestern ColoradoMagnificent mountains, individual in form and color, with large scene-commanding plateaus.Grand MesaWestern ColoradoLake-dotted plateau that towers near splendid horizons.Bighorn MountainsNorthern WyomingA towering, rocky, scenic alpine-island area in the sea of plains.Niagara FallsInternational Park between Canada, and New York near BuffaloStupendous waterfall; might well become an international park.Mount ShastaNorthern CaliforniaHighest peak in northern California; alpine flowers; lava deposits; scenery.Mount HoodNorthern Oregon, near Columbia RiverVolcanic peak; icefields and forests.Roosevelt ProjectArizonaEnormous dam; vast reservoirs; desert areas; cactus park; historic ground.Cañon de ChellyArizonaTowering monolithic rocks; high vertical colored cañons; cliff dwellings.Sierra MadreNear Los Angeles, CaliforniaSierra Madre mountains; rare plant life; commands unusual scenes.
ADMINISTERED BY THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT
NameLocationWhen createdArea (acres)DescriptionDevil's TowerWyomingSept. 24, 19061152Remarkable natural rock tower, of volcanic origin, 1200 feet in height.Montezuma CastleArizonaDec. 8, 1906160Prehistoric cliff dwelling ruin of unusual size, situated in a niche in face of a vertical cliff; of scenic and ethnological interest.El MorroNew MexicoDec. 8, 1906160Enormous sandstone rock eroded in form of a castle, upon which inscriptions have been placed by early Spanish explorers; contains cliff dweller ruins; of great historic, scenic, and ethnological interest.Chaco CañonNew MexicoMar. 11, 190720,629Contains numerous cliff dweller ruins, including communal houses in good condition and but little excavated.Muir WoodsCaliforniaJan. 9, 1908295Contains one of the most noted redwood groves in California; was donated by Hon. William Kent, Member of Congress; located seven miles from San Francisco.PinnaclesCaliforniaJan. 16, 19082080Contains many spirelike rock formations, 600 to 1000 feet high, which are visible for many miles; also numerous caves and other formations.TumacacoriArizonaSept. 15, 190810Contains ruins of Franciscan mission dating from sixteenth century, until recent years in fair preservation, but now rapidly disintegrating.MukuntuweapUtahJuly 31, 190915,840Contains magnificent gorge, depth from 800 to 2000 feet, with precipitous walls and many waterfalls. Of great beauty and scenic interest.Shoshone CavernWyomingSept. 21, 1909210Cavern of considerable extent, located near Cody.Natural BridgesUtahSept. 25, 19092740Contains three natural bridges, among largest examples of their kind. Largest bridge is 222 feet high, 65 feet thick at top of arch; arch is 28 feet wide; span 261 feet; height of span 157 feet. Other two are only slightly smaller.Gran QuiviraNew MexicoNov. 1, 1909160One of the most important of earliest Spanish mission ruins in the Southwest. Monument also contains Pueblo ruins.SitkaAlaskaMar. 23, 191057Park of great natural beauty and historic interest as scene of massacre of Russians by Indians. Contains 16 totem poles of best native workmanship.Rainbow BridgeUtahMay 30, 1910160Unique natural bridge of great scientific interest and symmetry. Height 309 feet above water; span is 278 feet, in shape of rainbow.Lewis and Clark CavernMontanaMay 16, 1911160Immense limestone cavern of great scientific interest, magnificently decorated with stalactite formations. Cavern now closed to public because of depredations by vandals.ColoradoColoradoMay 24, 191113,883Contains many lofty monoliths and is wonderful example of erosion; of great scenic beauty and interest.Petrified ForestArizonaJuly 31, 191125,625Contains abundance of petrified coniferous trees, one of which forms a small natural bridge. Is of great scientific interest.NavajoArizonaMar. 14, 1912360Contains numerous pueblo or cliff dweller ruins, in good preservation.Papago SaguaroArizonaJan. 31, 19142050Contains splendid collection of characteristic desert flora and numerous pictographs. Interesting rock formations.DinosaurUtahOct. 4, 191580Contains deposits of fossil remains of prehistoric animal life of great scientific interest.Sieur de MontsMount Desert Island, MaineJuly 8, 1916About 5000Beautiful island scenery, mountains, lakes, meadows, numerous varieties of birds and plants. Historical Associations.CapulinNortheast Corner New Mexico1916681Magnificent specimen of a volcanic cinder cone, 8000 feet high; crater 1500 feet in diameter, cone-shaped; numerous "blister cones."
ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
NameLocationWhen createdArea (acres)DescriptionGila Cliff DwellingsNew MexicoNov. 16, 1907160Contains numerous cliff dweller ruins of much interest and in good preservation.TontoArizonaDec. 19, 1907640Contains numerous cliff dweller ruins of much interest and in good preservation.Grand CañonArizonaJan. 11, 1908806,400Contains the most wonderful portion of the Grand Cañon of the Colorado.Jewel CaveSouth DakotaFeb. 7, 19081280Contains a limestone cavern of much beauty and considerable extent, limits of which are as yet unknown.WheelerColoradoDec. 7, 1908300Of much interest from geological standpoint as example of eccentric erosion and extinct volcanic action. Of much scenic beauty.Oregon CavesOregonJuly 12, 1909480Extensive caves in limestone formation of much beauty. Magnitude not entirely ascertained.Devil PostpileCaliforniaJuly 6, 1911800Spectacular mass of hexagonal basaltic columns, like an immense pile of posts. Said to rank with famous Giant's Causeway, in Ireland.Mount OlympusWashingtonApr. 17, 1912299,370Contains many objects of great and unusual scientific interest, including many glaciers. Is summer range and breeding-ground of Olympic elk.Walnut CañonArizonaNov. 30, 1915960Contains cliff dwellings of much scientific and popular interest.BandelierNew MexicoFeb. 11, 191618,000Contains vast numbers of cliff dweller ruins, with artificial caves, stone sculpture and other relics of prehistoric life.
ADMINISTERED BY THE WAR DEPARTMENT[1]
Big Hole Battle-FieldMontanaCabrilloCalifornia
[1]"Lincoln National Park or Reservation" in Kentucky, Abraham Lincoln's birthplace, was established in 1916 and is administered by the War Department. It might well become a regular National Park.
[1]"Lincoln National Park or Reservation" in Kentucky, Abraham Lincoln's birthplace, was established in 1916 and is administered by the War Department. It might well become a regular National Park.
(Number, 11; total area, 7945 square miles)
Name of parkLocationDate of creationArea in square milesDistinctive characteristicsRocky Mountains ParkAlberta18861800Scenic park; Banff Hot Springs; Hoodoos; Lake Louise; Victoria and Lefroy Glaciers; Lakes in the Clouds; Mount Temple, 11,626 feet; Valley of the Ten Peaks; Mt. Assiniboine, 11,860 feet; Bow River Valley.Yoho ParkBritish Columbia1886560Yoho Valley; Lakes O'Hara and MacArthur; Takakkaw Falls; Twin Lakes; Emerald Lake; Natural Bridge; President Range and Glacier; Kickinghorse River, Ottertail Range and Valley; Fossil Beds.Glacier ParkBritish Columbia1886468Mount Sir Donald and highest peaks of the Selkirks; great Illecillewaet and Asulkan Glaciers; Nakimu marble caves; Marion Lake, Rogers Pass.Revelstoke ParkBritish Columbia191495Mount Revelstoke; Clach-na-coodin Range and Ice-Field; Automobile Road building to summit of Mount Revelstoke; Lake Eva.Jasper ParkAlberta19074400Athabasca River and Valley; Yellowhead Pass; the oldest route across the Rockies; historic associations; Maligne Lake and Cañon; Fiddle Creek Cañon; Punchbowl Falls; Mount Robson, 13,036 feet, and highest peaks of the Canadian Rockies; Miette Hot Springs.Waterton Lakes ParkAlberta1895423Waterton Lakes; Cameron Falls, Bertha and Beaver Lakes; beautiful Wilson Range; exceptional fishing; great game preserve.St. Lawrence Islands ParkOntario1905140 acresAmong the Thousand Islands of the St. Lawrence; especially for summer campers.Fort Howe ParkNew Brunswick191319 acresHistoric park; old fort; memorials of United Empire Loyalists, French régime, Lady Latour.Buffalo ParkAlberta1907162Animal park; home of the Canadian government buffalo herd, numbering over 2000 head.Elk Island ParkAlberta189916Animal park; established for the protection of the elk, moose, deer; also herd of buffalo.Maple Creek Antelope ReserveSaskatchewan191419Animal park; established for the preservation of the antelope.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
National Park Publications issued by the Department of the Interior(To be had from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.)
Geological History of the Yellowstone National ParkArnold HagueGeysersWalter Harvey WeedGeological History of Crater Lake, OregonJoseph S. DillerSome Lakes of Glacier National ParkM. J. ElrodSketch of Yosemite National Park and an account of the origin of the Yosemite and Hetch Hetchy ValleysF. E. MatthesOrigin of the Scenic Features of the Glacier National ParkMarius R. CampbellThe Secret of the Big TreesEllsworth HuntingtonGlaciers of Glacier National Park WilliamC. AldenThe Glacier National Park; A Popular Guide to its Geology and SceneryMarius R. CampbellExcavation and Repair of Sun Temple, Mesa Verde National ParkJ. Walter FewkesFossil Forests of the Yellowstone National ParkF. H. KnowltonMount Rainier and its GlaciersF. E. MatthesForests of Mount Rainier National ParkG. F. AllenFeatures of the Flora of Mount Rainier National ParkJ. B. FlettForests of Yosemite, Sequoia and General Grant National ParksC. L. HillForests of Crater Lake National ParkJ. F. Pernot
The National Park Service, Interior Department, is constantly issuing special publications that deal with particular phases of one or more National Parks. A bibliography may be had from the Department of the Interior giving a pretty complete list of all books, pamphlets, and magazine articles which contain information concerning any one or all National Parks. There are also a number of government publications which touch upon special phases of plant and animal life and geology. All issues of theSierra Club Bulletin,Mazama, andThe Mountaineer, contain more or less interesting matter that pertains to one or more National Parks.
Books Concerning Many National ParksNature and Science on the Pacific Coast
Wild Animals at HomeE. T. SetonOur National ParksJohn MuirWestern Wild FlowersMargaret ArmstrongFlora of ColoradoRydbergMountain Wild Flowers of AmericaJulia HenshawRocky Mountain Wild FlowersClementsHandbook of Birds of Western United StatesFlorence Merriam BaileyWild Animals at HomeE. T. SetonThe Mammals of ColoradoWarrenThe Adventures of James C. AdamsHittelIn Beaver WorldMillsManual of the Trees of North AmericaSargentField-Days in CaliforniaTorreyTrees of CaliforniaJepsonThree Wonderlands of the American WestThomas D. Murphy
Books Concerning the Yellowstone National Park
The Yellowstone National ParkGen. H. M. ChittendenCatalogue of the Flora of Montana and the Yellowstone National Park. Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden, vol. 1RydbergOur National Recreation ParksNicholas SennSouthern California, Grand Canyon of the Colorado River, Yellowstone National Park. Lectures, vol. 10John L. StoddardU. S. Geological Survey, Monograph 32, part 2. Descriptive Geology Petrography, and Paleontology of the Yellowstone National Park.
Books Concerning the Rocky Mountain National Park
A Lady's Life in the Rocky MountainsBirdWild Life on the RockiesMillsThe Spell of the RockiesMillsIn Beaver WorldMillsThe Story of Estes ParkMillsRocky Mountain WonderlandMills
Books Concerning the Mesa Verde National Park
Cliff Dwellers of Mesa VerdeG. NordenskiöldThe Land of the Cliff DwellersChapinGovernment publications:Antiquities of Mesa Verde National Park, Bulletin Nos. 41 and 51, together with Excavations and Repair of Sun Temple.
Books Concerning the Glacier National Park
The Ascent of Chief Mountain, inHunting in Many Lands, edited by Theodore Roosevelt and George B. Grinnell.Henry L. StimsonBlackfeet Tales of Glacier National ParkSchultz
Books Concerning Yosemite National Park
Indians of the Yosemite ValleyGalen ClarkIn the Heart of the SierrasHutchinsMountaineering in the Sierra NevadaClarence KingThe YosemiteJohn MuirMy First Summer in the SierrasJohn MuirThree Wonderlands of the American WestThomas D. MurphyA Yosemite FloraHall
Books Concerning Mount Rainier National Park
The Mountain that was GodWilliamsMount RainierMeany
Bibliography of the Dominion National Parks of Canada
Through the Heart of the Canadian RockiesFrank YeighCanada's West and Farther WestFrank CarrelThe Fair DominionR. E. VernedeThe New Garden of CanadaF. A. TalbotAmong the Canadian AlpsLawrence J. Burpee, F.R.G.S.Climbs and Explorations in the Canadian RockiesNorman Collie, F.R.S.The Canadian RockiesProf. A. P. ColemanIn the Heart of the Canadian RockiesSir James OutramAmong the Selkirk GlaciersW. S. GreenThe Selkirk RangeA. O. Wheeler, F.R.G.S.The Selkirk Mountains; A Guide for Mountain ClimbersA. O. Wheeler, F.R.G.S.
Published by the Dominion Parks Branch, Department of Interior, Ottawa
Glaciers of the Rockies and the SelkirksProf. A. P. Coleman, F.R.G.S.Handbook to the Rocky Mountains Park MuseumHarlan I. Smith, Geological Survey, OttawaGeology of the Canadian National ParksCharles Camsell, Geological Survey, OttawaNakimu CavesFish and Their Habitat in the Rocky Mountains Park.