Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-02-26
ONE OF NATURES MARVELS
Rogue Rivers Natural Bridge" q
Wonderful Bit OF Scenery.

There is probably no section in the
state of Oregon or on the Pacific
coast more rich in natural attractions
and scenes of grandeur and beauty
than is the upper Rogue river country
Here are located the famous Mill
creek falls, the picturesque "Hole-in-
the ground, the wildly grand Rogue
river canyon, the stream and canyon
of Redblanket, itself river, the
pinnacle studded and grandly deep can
yon of Castle creek, and many other
places of delightful and wonderful
interest. Sharp cut and symmetrical,
Mt. Pitt looks down from its snow
clad eminence; to the northward the
"Cowhorns" lift their sharp decliv-
titles, while all the eastern bound of
vision Is filled with the rugged beauty
of the Cascades Tho whole region is
rich in scenic grandeur and the ap-
preciativo tourist may spend weeks
of delight amid the diverse scenes
Of interest. The grand climax Of
Rogue river scenery is Crater lake.
The natural bridge" of Rogue
river is one of the wonders of this re.
gion Of which little has ever been
written or said. This marvel of
nature is located on the river abou /
10 miles above the little hamlet Of
Prospect and about two miles below
the mouth Of Union creek. The re-
gion hereis u high plateau, formed by
lava flow from dead Mt. Mazama,
Crater lake mountain. At the lower
end of this lava deposit is situated
Rogue rivers wonderful canyon,
where the stream breaks abruptly
downward seeking the lower level,
where for a mile the churning watser
are white with f0nm. Mill creek,
coming in lower down, makes a
sheer leap Of 200 feet, forming one Of
the most beautiful cataraots in the
world. Above the canyon, the river S
descent Is not abrupt, but the fantas-
| tic contour of the surface of its lava
bed breaks up the flow into an inter.
esting roughness, The area Of the
plateau is covered with volcanic soil
Of varying depth and storility. In
places it supports n magnificent
growth Of timber, while in others II
Is almost barren.
The "bridgo" Is situated some two
niles from the road and the way IL
through shifting volcanic sand and
ashy soil, amid the blackened remains
Of fire murdered forest. As you
near the river, you descend slight
ldeolivitv to the baro lava rock. You
hear the roar Of the river as II tear
its way over the ragged rock bed.
suddenly you find yourself standing
in what seems TO be huge trough OF
rock, and you wonder, where's the
rivery" Above and below you may
see the flying spray and hear the vio
lent roar, but the place where you
stand is dry aA a bone. The riyel
bed is there but the river itself hal
disappeared. For a space Of about
hundred feet. the river leaves the sur
face and plungcs down through subter
ranean cavities in the lava. The
river runs vigorously right up to th'
dry rock and checks itself in fierce
whirlpool, while the water turns sud
denly aud sharply to the right anC
disappears. Below, 1t emerges tur
: bulently from the left hand side,
Along the dry intervening channel
the seams and fssures and holes ii
the rock hiss and whistle, blowing icl
breaths Of air and spurts OF spray
like little cold water geysers. Tn
lair in filled with the roar OF tn
plunging waters and the strang
noises OF the subterranean flow.
Some idea Of the size Of the under
ground channel may be gained by th
statement that pieces Of timber 80 fee
in length go through without lodginI
or breaking. though the way is no
straight, as the river leaves its cours
on one side and returns to the surfac
from the other, swinging around AM
beneath the dry channel. Once
horse slipped into the whirlpool at th
end Of the bridge" aud was carrie
through, the drowned carcass rear
pearing in due time where the rive
returns TO the surface below