in the San Miguel and Dolores River canyons, built between 1888 and 1891 by very determined miners working a gold placer deposit further up the canyon. Imagine trying to build this incredible project today!
Remains of the five mile-long wooden flume above the San Miguel River, still clinging to the sandstone cliff after more than 130 years.
Closer view of a section of the wooden flume as seen from an overlook from above, on Colorado 141 north of the former townsite of Uravan.
View from below at a partially restored section of the historic flume. The flume only operated several years after its completion, following which the wooden beams and planks were scavenged and re-purposed for other uses.
Around the nose of a meander bend, the hanging flume hugs the escarpment above the San Miguel River, a short distance above its confluence with the Dolores River.