A MASTERPIECE IN ENGINEERING, THE 1889-1891 CONSTRUCTION OF THE HANGING FLUME WAS SIX MILES WITH A SEVEN MILE DITCH TO FEED WATER THROUGH THE 4' X 6' CHANNEL.  THE FLUME WAS SUSPENDED 150 FEET ABOVE THE DOLORES RIVER AND 500 FEET BELOW THE RED ROCK BENCH FROM WHERE WORKERS WERE LOWERED TO WORK ON THE PROJECT.
This page was last updated on: July 21, 2009
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Water did flow down the flume channel for seven miles.
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See the horses and supply wagon being driven on the flume floor.
July 6, 2005, Randy Aragon of Grand Junction climbed to the top of the cliff where remnants of "The Ladder" once stood. Colorado State Highway 141 is in the background and below the cliff. The Hanging Flume is suspended above the Dolores River and below the state highway.
REDROCK CLIFFS-HANGING FLUME
DLS   1-15-2000
AFTER AREA RANCHERS STRIPPED THE FLUME BED OF LUMBER AND TIMBERS,  LEAVING TIME  TO CLAIM THE HISTORIC HANGING FLUME.
PRIMITIVE SMELTER
THIS LITTLE "BEEHIVE"  WAS USE TO FORGE THE ARM BRACES FOR THE FLUME FLOOR.  THE INTERIOR STILL SHOWS SMOKE  BLACKENED ROCK WALLS.  IT CAN BE SEEN AND ACCESSED FROM COLORADO HIGHWAY 141 JUST NORTH OF THE SECOND SET OF CLIFF CURVES.
EIGHT MILLION GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY WENT CRASHING DOWN THE $173,000 PROJECT TO PLACER GOLD DEPOSITS AT THE LONE TREE PLACER SITE.  THE OVERALL COST HAD DOUBLED THE INITIAL BUDGET.  
THE HANGING FLUME HAD LIMITED USE.   THE TOTAL PROJECT
NEVER WAS  COMPLETED.   IT WAS FINALLY ABANDONED.
Trestles were built in several areas of the flume project in order to maintain a continual grade for water flow. See the trestled areas in this photo and the above photo.
Trestles were built to span across gaps and inlets along cliff facings. See the trestles in the two photos below.
Lone Tree placer site. Water can be seen cascading from the flume at the top of the photo.
  A SPECIAL THANKS TO ROGER CULVER, PUBLISHER-EDITOR OF FORUM NEWSPAPERS, INC. OF NUCLA, COLORADO; MARIE TEMPLETON, HISTORIAN REPORTER OF NUCLA, COLORADO, AND TROY WALLACE, REPORTER FOR THE FORUM.  SHARING THEIR PHOTO ARCHIVE IS APPRECIATED.
PHOTO POSTED IN THE FORUM NEWSPAPER,  MAY 6, 2004.

A REPELLING TEAM IS SUSPENDED FROM THE REDROCK CLIFF FACE.  THEY ARE STUDYING AREAS OF THE HANGING FLUME THAT REMAIN SOMEWHAT INTACT.  PLANS ARE TO RESTORE AND PRESERVE
SOME  SEGMENTS OF THE 114 YEAR OLD MASTERPIECE. 

PHOTO CREDIT-PETE RUSH OF NUCLA, COLORADO.   
CURSOR ON PHOTOS