Before proceeding to the end of the paved road, let us take an
unimproved side road, which turns south about a third of a mile beyond
the last stop, in order to see more of Salt Valley and to visit Klondike
Bluffs in the northwestern part of the park. After descending 2.3 miles
of winding road we reach the normally dry bed of Salt Valley Wash, and
turn abruptly to the northwest. For the next three-fourths of a mile the
“road” is simply two tracks in the loose, sandy bed of the wash, which
obviously should not be travelled when flooded or when there is even a
hint of rain. In dry weather, however, this road may be travelled by
ordinary passenger car. This stretch of the wash cuts through an
intruded block of the Paradox Member of the Hermosa Formation consisting
mainly of gray and brown gypsum, the common salt having been dissolved
out by ground water. Such an intrusive block of salt-bearing rock is
known to geologists as a diapir—not to be confused with the garment
(diaper) worn by infants.
From here on the road traverses a rather uninteresting stretch of valley
north of Salt Valley Wash. Eleven miles from the starting point, the
road reaches an intersection from which a side road leads southwestward
three-fourths of a mile to a parking area at the foot of Klondike
Bluffs, which form the south side of Salt Valley. From here, one may
make a strenuous hike over a primitive trail about 1½ miles long to
beautiful Tower Arch (fig. 47).
The valley road continues northwestward from the intersection to and
beyond the northwest end of the park and connects with roads to Crescent
Junction, Thompson, and the Yellow Cat mining district, north of the
park (p. 14).
Let us return to the paved road and continue our tour of the park.