North Cheyenne Canon: Helen Hunt Falls Visitor Center: Wild Life

This three-section mural was created by Ruthie Lowen in 2012 as part of the new Helen Hunt Falls Visitor Center.

The new building replaced previous structures that occupied the same location since the 1880’s. The original oil on canvas painting(s) were photographed, enlarged and printed on foam core board. All the fauna and flora in the mural are found in the park.

The left section, which is approximately six feet high and five feet wide, depicts the dry side of a mountain slope. Included are Rocky Mountain blue columbine flowers (the Colorado state flower), mountain blue bells, iris, a black bear, an Abert’s squirrel, a broad-tailed humming bird, an American dipper (which is the only aquatic song bird), ponderosa pines, greenback cutthroat trout (the Colorado state fish), and brown trout.

The right section, in two panels, shows a shady slope in Buffalo Canon and specifically depicts Silver Cascade Falls. Included in this panel include: a Magpie, a Steller’s Jay, a female broad-tail humming bird, a western tanager, a red tail hawk, a northern saw-whet owl, a tiger swallowtail butterfly, asters, aspen, scrub oak, Douglas fir, white fir, a red fox and two mountain lions.

The two panels of the connecting center section include: a king fisher, a raccoon and greenback cutthroat trout. See additional photos below for details. (Source: Helen Hunt Falls Visitors Center staff)