Head of Cherry Creek

Once across the prairie plateau, the trail struck a small stream then called the head of Cherry Creek. This stream marked the southern limits of today’s Russellville Gulch, an area of trees and hills that worked its charm on many an early traveler. Water was abundant. Rosebushes bloomed in the meadows. Majestic fir and pine crowned the high promontories.

Philip St. George Cook, 24 July 1845.

“July 24th...We marched early, still up Cherry Creek. From Mount Pike, a spur of mountains runs out to the east in a vast table, - the highland between two great rivers, - the Arkansas and the Platte. This stream has its spring where the table-land breaks off into promontories, and these are crowned with lofty pines and rare and welcome oaks.

“Following it up, at last we were rewarded by discovering the long valley's highest secret chamber, its court of fountains; these gave an emarald verdure to its gentle grassy slopes; and shrubs and rose-bushes were in blossom, majestic firs and oaks gave arches which excluded the sun's heat and glare; all was fresh and pure; man had made no mark, and doves alone were there ....

“This sudden transition from long, dreary marches to this matchless spot, gave it a heightened inexpressible charm. I threw myself on the soft sod - apart .... Silence...was only broken by natural music, - a wild but matchless harmony of three voices: of the winds... of the babbling and murmuring fountains -of the cooing doves ....How dissonant here the clamor of rude troopers and the clang of arms!”

Source: Scenes and Adventures in the Army, by Philip St. George Cooke. (Philadelphia, 1859).

Francis Parkman, 16 August 1846.

“...we were passing now through rough and savage glens and among hills crowned with a dreary growth of pines. We encamped among these solitudes on the night of the 16th of August. A tempest was threatening. The sun went down among volumes of jet-black cloud, edged with a bloody red. But in spite of these portentious signs, we neglected to put up the tent, and being extremely fatigued, lay down on the ground and fell asleep. The storm broke about midnight, and we erected the tent amid darkness and confusion. In the morning all was fair again, and Pike's Peak, white with snow, was towering above the wilderness afar off.”

Source: The Oregon Trail, by Francis Parkman. (New York: Airmont Publishing Co.).

T.C. Dickson, 22 June 1858.

“The next day we again broke camp and traveled to the head of Cherry Creek where we stopped. At this place Green Russell took his pan and shovel and began prospecting for gold. The first pan of sand he washed he found a good sample of very fine gold, which created great excitement in the camp, and for a day every man was panning for gold. We did not succeed in saving much as it was very fine and not in sufficient quantity to pay. We remained in this camp three or four days, washed our clothes and made some tar to use on our wagons, which were of the old style wooden axle, with an iron linch pin. We found a flat rock and then took some pitch pine knots, which were plentiful in the vicinity, put them in a pile, set them on fire and covered them with dirt to the depth of ten or twelve inches. Very soon the tar commenced to flow and we filled all our tar buckets, so that we had enough to last us for six months or more.”

Source: "Early Day Experiences of of Col. T.C. Dickson," related by J.D. Miller. The Trail, Vol.III (March, 1911).

David Kellogg, 30 October 1858.

“Reached the head of Cherry Creek. While making camp Campbell came running back and said he had seen four grizzlies down the creek; a number of us hastily grabbed our guns and made for the spot where they had been seen. As we reached the vicinity I had one eye out for the bear and one out for a tree; others of the party seemed to be taking the same interest in the trees as myself. We found the tracks and followed them until darkness ended the chase. I washed a pan of dirt from the creek and found a few colors.”