Show wayne gorge 4 ell 7 4 r I 1 11 S NI N V th s la Is one of it eer ser es of articles to appear in this newspaper newa paper sponsored by the sa t bake lake advertising club alsoe abed a vie via clubs of 0 southern and central utah and chambers of 01 commerce part of a program to pant po nt out utah s resources so a that local people will know utah better by MARION C NELSON one of most recently recognized scenic areas Is wayne wonderland lying almost entirely in wayne county in the south cen aral part of the state right at our doorstep less than a days drive from any part of the state is this wonderful playground ot of nature so unusual that the federal government is at present considering setting aside the entire area as a national park favorite entry to those who have familiarized themselves with this strange country Is by way of 0 fish lake the usual route Is highway 24 which branches off from highway 89 at sigurd a few miles north ot of richfield fish lake Is well known to every fisherman ns as well aa as being a recognized beauty spot this mountain lake is about seven miles long and a mile and a halt half wide its waters are icy ley cold and in many places its depth is unknown here some ot of the finest fishing in the state is to be bad had to those who seek a fisherman s paradise as well as those who love the outdoors this lake has become a favored vaca tion spot because of its beauty and accessibility together with its fine lodge and cabin accommodations A good highway leads south from fish lake through loa the coun ty seat into the wonderland wonderland is indeed the long word that begins to describe nature s handiwork in wayne county the road winds through beds of multicolored multi colored clay past huge balanced rocks and in and out among a most amazing jumble of 0 colored sandstone cliffs three hundred miles of sparkling trout filled mountain streams wind down from the mountains from the road can be seen remnants of once mighty forests the fallen trees now petrified trees which grew 50 years ago some of them five feet in diameter many of them are well over a hundred feet long but in order to fully appreciate what confused contused artistry nature can produce one must leave the road and take to the pack horse and sad die tor for a halt half day journey horses may be obtained from any ot of the settlements along the road and one is well repaid for his efforts the country is a series of surprises as one picks his way through an inconceivable jumble of colored rocks and cliffs within two miles of fruita a picturesque little town on the main highway one comes quite suddenly in the very midst of a confused contused maze of gigantic cliffs upon the mammoth hickman natural bridge this magnificent arch is feet high with a span of feet and yet is not the largest ot of the natural bridges in utah the saddle traveler Is also able to see the deserted homes of cliff dwellers and ancient pictographs which they chiseled on the face of the cliffs dozens of huge rocks balanced precariously on small bases and many small natural bridges make even a short hike on toot foot in this region a never to be forgotten experience go ng south from fruita the road leads to grover which is at the very edge of the great powell national forest area for those who like nature in its wild state a horseback trip along the aquarius plateau will richly reward all who undertake it few of the residents of the intermountain region real ze that the aquarius plateau carries the highest forest in the world th s remarkable forest begins at 11 feet and continues to 11 feet almost a halt day journey by packhorse along this flat tableland the traveler reaches a point where the plateau drops away on three sides leaving the observer I 1 on top of the world with a most beautiful array of color spread everywhere below him the amazing visibility and the beauty of the panorama alone well reward the traveler tor for his efforts on a clear day from this vantage point the rich crimson ot of the sandstone cliffs in zion national park or the bril llant ilant orange reds of the walls of bryce canyon may be seen and with the aid of binoculars even the distant grand canyon of the colorado is discernable on the horizon MR READER da do your part ta to advert se utah please send th A s art cle ta to some ft fr end or ve or bus ness assoc ate out of the stale state |