Show Sheep Creek Canyon i Is Geological Area Spectacular Sheep Creek Canyon near Utah's Flaming Gorge has been designated a geological area by Regional Forester Floyd Iverson of the theU theU U S Forest Service Inter Inter- Intermountain mountain Region Compared In in scenic beauty to some of the southern Utah canyon lands the new geological area Is possibly the only place in inthe inthe the world where tourists can cover millions of years in fn only 15 13 minutes driving time Part of the Drive Through The Ages on the Ashley Na lIonal Forest in northeastern Utah the acre area is cleft by an Immense earth fracture the Uinta Crest Fault Its south side once scraped the sky at over feet and along its northern line sedimentary strata lies exposed like the ruffled pages of a book each page replete with history Sheep Creek originates south of the geological geological area In quartzite uplifts estimated to be 2 2 12 billion bUllon years old THE EARLIEST fossils in inthe inthe the area are trilobites mar me ine crustaceans ans in the and sandstones near the Pall Pali Campground Moving down Sheep Creek from this point the traveler discovers progressively younger forma forma- formations formations containing fossilized gas brachiopods corals sponges and sea urchin spines as reminders that this land was once a part of the briny deep Among the numerous Lea fea Continued on page 5 3 or Sheep Creek Continued from page 1 tunes tures of interest are Sheep Creek Cave within the can can- canyon's canyon's yon's west wall near the road tracks and other evidences of like crocodile reptiles and petrified wood andI I The Regional Forester said it will be carefully protected and managed so 0 as to pre pre- preserve preserve I serve its unusual characteristics character character- Off road use of scooters and other mechanized vehicles Iles cles will be banned Timber I cutting will be restricted to that necessary for insect and disease control and the re- re removal removal moval of trees for pUblic sal sal- salt safety ety t I Fish and game abound within and adjoining the area and Sheep Creek itself will become a major access to excellent boating and fish 1 ing when the nearby Flaming Gorge reservoir is filled Stor- Stor Storage Stor-I Stor age is scheduled to begin this fall faU AS AS IN VARIOUS other special forest areas such as wilderness and scenic recreation will wUl be a prominent prominent ent use multiple activity Pre Pre- Presently the geologic area con con- contains twins a campground and pic- pic picnic picnic nic site with 17 11 and 10 fam- fam family family ily units respectively Two other camping sites with a total of 30 family units have recently been completed near near- nearby by Last visits were made to the Sheep I Creek Geological Geologic l Area a fig fig- figure ure expected exp to increase percent within the next few years The Forest Service plans to establish Interpretive services there in the near future in- in including including outdoor exhibits on history and geology and na ture trails with signs identifying various scenic features formations and native vege vege- I tation A folder on the area will be prepared fOllowing the establishment of these facilities THE AREA IS DOUBLY significant because of its ac- ac accessibility accessibility Lying about 10 miles southwest of Manila Utah on State Highway No 44 it is easily reached from major highways in Utah and Wyoming and is part of a spectacular scenic loop tak- tak taking log ing in views of Flaming Gorge Red Canyon and the High The new geological designation nation is part of a major For For- Forest est eat Service reC recreation under under- undertaking taking in that vicinity Recen- Recen Recently Recently bids were sent out by the Intermountain Region for a boat marina to help stimulate aquatic sports on the forth forth- forthcoming forthcoming coming reservoir Plans calling call call- callIng Ing for enough camp and pic- pic picnic picnic nic facilities to accommodate people Sn in that locale are fast becoming a reality |