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Show Puffer Lake, Southern Utah Scenic Spot.... ? -y l ''-s,.--' , . 1 , K- ' -- -- " J rpik--t ' - - ' W ' Tit ! hy. s, .iiy ' y-Si Puffer Lake, 20 miles east of Beaver, with Mounts. Belknap and Delano in the background. Both mountains ore over 12,000 feet elevation and in years of normal water hold the snow most the summer. The lake at the time the picture was taken was about 6 feet below normal level. that does not leave them until after af-ter the first of September. It is a pretty drive to the lake and in the evenings many deer can be seen. Ten miles out of Beaver you reach the upper Telluride power plant and start on five miles of dugway with quite a steep climb. The scenery, if you can take your eyes off the road, is very pretty, with many trees, steep rock walls, and views back dowrn the canyon from which you have just left. You go through a series of switchbacks that are slow and double back and forth. The next section is Merchant valley val-ley which opens out into a very pretty valley. Fishing is good thru here, but they are much smaller than those lower, so that many of them have to be put back. With careflil fishing through here you can easily catch your limit in 3 hours when the creek is not crowded. crowd-ed. Merchant creek comes from the north and it is also a favorite stream with the upper stretches having many native trout. A road also takes off to Big John flat that is a very scenic road. Leaving Merchant valley you go through a rock box canyon with almost straight-up cliffs with the rocks highly colored and sprinkled generously with columbines. After box canyon the road comes out into in-to Three Creeks and after crossing the bridge a small spring is at the side of the road in which you can I quench your thirst. It is very cold I water. You then go through another box canyon that is almost a replica of the first one and then start up another an-other grade to reach the lakes. You pass one small lake and then on rounding the curve you come to Otter Lake on which the Puffer Lake Lodge and cabins are situated situat-ed where you can stay if you have made reservations far enough in advance. One quarter mile further is Puffer Lake with camping grounds in the cove in the center of the above picture. Camping out reguires plenty of bedding so be sure to put in all you think you will need and then double it. Fishing is fair at the lake, with trolling the principal method. Fishing Fish-ing from the bank with bait is done, and from now on fly fishing will be fair in both the mornings and evenings. The fish are small with very few longer than 12 inches. in-ches. A road takes off to the right just before reaching the lake that goes to the Big Flat. A drive up there between sundown and dark will result in seeing many deer, but -not nearly so many as in former for-mer years. The road goes on to Junction and meets Highway 89 there, so that you can drive over the mountain if you want to. The area is a very pleasant place to spend a vacation and to get away from the hot weather. Most of the time you are around 10,000 feet elevation so that strenuous work is out of the question as your breathing Is difficult. Funer Lake, 2U miles east oi Beaver, is reached after a drive through one of the prettiest canyons can-yons in the state. The lake is situated sit-uated in a rather deep basin and is surrounded by mountains, which on the north reach an elevation of about 12,240 feet, affording a very scenic view. Trails surround the lake and up the mountain so that hikers or horsback riders may climb the mountains. . The section is heavily wooded with conifers and quaking aspens. In normal years of rainfall there are several small lakes and many small, very cold streams in the same area which add to the pleasure pleas-ure of campers. The highway leaves Beaver at the north side of the high school. The lower part of the canyon is mainly cottonwood and willows, ind not especially pretty. The fishing fish-ing is usually good in this area and large trout can be caught. A-bout A-bout seven miles out of Beaver a road takes off to the right to Pon-derosa Pon-derosa park, which is a very well built picnic grounds with grass, running water, tables and fire places. pla-ces. Nine miles out of Beaver a road takes off to the right that goes to the Little Reservoir and Kent's Lake. The little reservoir contains exceptionally large German brown trout, but catching them is difficult. diffi-cult. Kent's Lake has very good camping camp-ing facilities and is usually good fishing, but when it is at low stages sta-ges the trout have a muddy flavor |