bout 11,000 years ago, early man ventured into these valleys and mountains, hunting for food. Later, the Ute Indians and other tribes would travel through this area in summer months, with the Utes dominating the others in their hunts, fishing, and searches for food. In 1803, the U.S. government acquired this land through the Louisiana Purchase, however, most explorers and fur trappers bypassed the area due to its ruggedness.
