Picture remnants of a colossal wooden structure. This is the Granite Flume Ruins. Imagine a time long ago when this wasn’t just a trail but a vital artery. A lifeline for power generation in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
The Granite Flume wasn’t just any flume. It was a marvel of 19th-century engineering. This 1.5-mile waterway carried water from the Stairs power plant. The water powered generators at two different locations. The same water created power in two separate plants. This remarkable feat of ingenuity involved nine trestles and a tunnel.
The flume’s journey wasn’t always smooth. Sections failed. Water cascaded down. Rocks and debris followed creating quite a spectacle. The winter brought another kind of drama. Massive icicles hundreds of feet long hung from the trestles. Can you imagine the breathtaking beauty and potential danger?
The wooden flume served its purpose for over a century. But by 1998 it was replaced. An underground pipeline took over. Most of the old flume was salvaged. But not all. Scattered remains of wood and metal linger. Concrete foundations still stand. They are silent witnesses to the flume’s legacy. They mark the path where the colossal wooden structure once stood.
Explore the Granite Flume Ruins. Find the remaining lumber. Spot the U-shaped metal bands. Notice the concrete foundations. Some are enclosed in their original wooden forms. These remnants tell the tale of a bygone era. They remind us of the flume’s vital role in the area’s history. They whisper stories of engineering triumphs and nature’s powerful forces. The Granite Flume Ruins are more than just ruins. They are a testament to human ingenuity and resilience. They are a legacy that continues to fascinate and inspire.