- Chalk Creek
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Chalk Creek[1] 
Chalk Creek west of US-285 to St.ElmoOrigin 38°36′20″N 106°21′32″W / 38.60556°N 106.35889°W Mouth Confluence with Arkansas
38°44′27″N 106°04′00″W / 38.74083°N 106.0666667°WCoordinates: 38°44′27″N 106°04′00″W / 38.74083°N 106.0666667°WProgression Arkansas—Mississippi Mouth elevation 7,602 ft (2,317 m) Chalk Creek is a 27.3-mile-long (43.9 km)[2] river flowing east from the Collegiate Peaks mountain range in Chaffee County, Colorado. Mount Antero borders the southern side of the river, while Mount Princeton borders the northern side. The headwaters of the river are located at the Continental Divide. The river empties into the Arkansas River at the town of Nathrop, Colorado.
The river is named after the magnificent white kaolinite cliffs that stand at the entrance to the Chalk Creek valley, and are a result of hot spring deposits. These white cliffs are visible for miles in all directions, and stand in stark contrast to the otherwise wooded surrounding mountains. Stands of aspen trees and evergreens of various species surround the river for its entire length.
The river is surrounded by a mix of privately owned and US forest service land. Campgrounds and public trails, including the Colorado Trail, are located along the length of the river. Several hot springs emerge in this valley.
Contents
History
The river has a history tied to the gold and silver rush in Colorado in the 1800s. Along the river, several towns sprouted along with the influx of gold prospectors. St. Elmo, Hancock, and Alpine are towns that were founded and flourished with the gold rush. The Mary Murphy Mine, one of the most productive mineral mines in Colorado, is located in Chalk Creek canyon.
The Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad had a rail route that wound up Chalk Creek canyon into the Alpine Tunnel. The tunnel was built to allow trains to transport ore and supplies to and from the town of Gunnison, Colorado, located on the western side of the Continental Divide. The rail route was closed once the gold rush declined, and the Alpine Tunnel has since been sealed to prevent injury.
With the decline of the gold rush in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the towns in Chalk Creek canyon withered and became ghost towns. St. Elmo, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been transformed into a tourist destination and has several intact historic buildings.
Fishing and camping
Camping along Chalk Creek near Nathrop, CO
Chalk Creek provides habitat to several species of fish, including brook trout, cutthroat trout, brown trout and rainbow trout.[citation needed] Camping is available at local commercial campgrounds and free[3] public National Forest campgrounds.
See also
References
- ^ "Chalk Creek". Geographic Names Information System, U.S. Geological Survey. http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:189333. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed March 31, 2011
- ^ US Forest Service: Chalk Creek Canyon
- Original source for this article has not been found, 1/29/11.
External links
Categories:- Rivers of Colorado
- Tributaries of the Arkansas River
- Geography of Chaffee County, Colorado
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