River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-02-09
lArFeRTys LOVELY CANYON.
Beautiful Falls IN California That Have
Been Hitherto Almost Unknown.

Beautiful Fails IN California That Have
Been Hitherto Almost Unknown.
1t will be remembered that the Re
port, about two months ago, gave a
brief description of lovely canyon tha5
had kept hidden from the world for all
these many years, though not one hum
bred miles away from the metropolis it.
self and scarce an hours walk from the
little villa of Glen Ellen. in Sonoma
county. 1t had been the roaming
ground of stray cattle and vagrant
sheep, and it was only when some
hunter or herdsman made his way with
in that meager knowledge of its many
attractions was obtained. This was
at best but brief and unsatisfactory,
but when the commissioner for the
Worlds fair. Mr.. Hatch, the forest ex-
pert, and his party explored the valley
and told of what they had seen, then
the public curiosity became aroused
and few struggling parties have
already gone to gaze upon the beauties
of the place.
The waterfall that makes the inclos-
ure roar with its echoes had never been
properly examined and measured until
about one week ago, when Mr.. Hatch
returned to the valley. properly
equipped for his work. The place is
now known to the few who know IL all
as 'Lafferty's Canyon" and the fall, of
course, is Lafferty's as well, but we pre-
diet that when the fame of the spot and
its sights has become more general. a
name at least more expressive will be
given 1t.
The fall by actual measurement from
the bosom of the lake to the place where
it tumbles over and makes a sheer de-
scent is one hundred and thirty-two
feet, and the width of the sheet of wa
ter at that time was about sixty feet.
1t is said that IN the winter time this
is increased to nearly one hundred and
fifty feet. Under the fall, and easily
entered at all times of the year, there
is a cave which is one hundred and
thirty-five feet in width and running
aclS into the face OF the cliff distance
of sixty feet. Below this fall described
there is another and lesser one about
twelve feet in height, and below this
the stream is found TO be well stocked
with fish. The bank at the right-hand
side of the larger fall, looking up
stream. is at least one thousand feet in
height, and a sheer descent from the
top down. The pool or lake at the bot
tom of the fall is described as being an
especially fine place for swimming.
Above the great fall in the
stream flowing over it are to
be found at regular inter-
walls big pools that in some cases have
been found almost bottomless A story
is told of party of hunters who re-
Gently shot deer standing near the
brink of one of these large holes. The
shot was well aimed, and the deer
sprang into the air only to fall into the
pool-and his body sank out of sight in
an instant. This was surprise to the
hunters indeed, and they proceeded to
cut long poles-the longest that could
be had-but they found neither bottom
nor deer.
These two falls are only few of the
attractions of the canyon, for the entire
district is richly endowed with beauti-
full scenery. Recently a good wagon
road has been built leading toward the
place, 50 that now there only remains
to be made on foot about mile and a
half to take one into the valley. The
entire trip from this city to the place
can be made with little or no fatigue.
and it will well repay every admirer of
the beauties of nature to undertake it.