Balancing rock

Chamberlain, W. G. (William Gunnison) · [ca. 1886–1920]

Several of the views in this locality serve to illustrate some of the effects of the might convulsions that in far remote periods agitated our globe. The remnants of the upheaval after ages of erosion, have left the massive Gateway, forming walls of sandstone running up 359 feet; leaving a roadway between 200 in width. Just inside, to the right, is a cave in the solid rock, narrow, but of considerable depth; and to the left, are the Cathedral Spires, a detached mass of pinnacles of the prevailing sandstone, the tallest being 150 feet. The summit of the south wall of the gateway is easily reached from the rear, and the view of the "rift" of rock were obtained from near this point. The Balancing Rock, a huge boulder of similar formation, reduced by erosion to spherical form, is near the west rim of the garden, directly on the road to Manitou. In view of the Gateway, distant in air line tea miles, is the snow clad summit of Pike's Peak. Distance from Denver to the Garden, via Colorado Springs, is 80 miles.