Images of America: Poudre Canyon

Images of America: Poudre Canyon
128 Pages
ISBN 978-1467133708

Carved eons ago by the Cache la Poudre River, the Poudre Canyon, north and west of Fort Collins, Colorado, has long been a favored recreation place, for fishing, hiking, camping, and more, of area residents and tourists. The canyon has many colorful tales to tell; this book takes readers on a drive through that history, milepost by milepost, stopping at historic places and taking some side trips along the way. Beginning with trappers and mountain men, the canyon has been traveled since the early 1800s, and Native Americans roamed here for times unknown before that. Explorers came, as did seekers of gold and silver. The expanding railroads resulted in logging enterprises, and mining interests brought about better access to mining towns. Near the end of the 19th century, tourists began to enjoy the hunting and fishing of the area. In 1920, the road, which had been blocked from either direction by a place in the canyon called the Narrows, finally went through all the way, bringing resorts and tourists.

Barbara Fleming

About Barbara Fleming (Fort Collins, Colorado Author)

Barbara Fleming

Barbara Fleming, a native of Fort Collins, Colorado, has always been interested in history. Her last job before retirement was as a contract training coordinator for EPA Region 8 in Denver; before that she taught English and related subjects at both high school and college levels. After retiring she and her late husband, Tom, returned to her hometown, where she soon began writing its stories. To date she has authored or co-authored seven books of local history, including one novel, Journeying, and another book will come out in October.

She writes a weekly column on local history for the Fort Collins Coloradoan newspaper, has given numerous presentations about her hometown's colorful characters and rich history, and enjoys learning ever more about her town. Her columns are sometimes based on reader comments or inquiries.

A prolific reader, she has three grown children and two grandchildren. She lives in the older part of the town she grew up in with her cat, Shadow.