The old roadway into the Ruple Ranch Ferry crossing, as seen on Google Earth, is a distinct route leading from the river up and over the small saddle to the south (river left). But how the route could remain so distinct was a mystery until recently. The old roadway is inaccessible by any type of vehicle, not to mention that the ferry has been out of operation for well over 50 years. The riddle became clear last week when we were floating down the Green River. We had passed the ferry crossing in Island Park and were about 150 yards downstream when we heard a loud crashing and splashing behind us.
Looking back upriver, we saw that a herd of elk had just begun swimming the river at the ferry crossing (swimming from north to south). The approximately 15 elk exited the river at the old ferry landing and proceeded to run up the old ferry road until they disappeared over the saddle. Since the old ferry road is located at the only site without riverside cliffs for over a mile of shoreline, any large animals swimming the river are funnelled directly to the old ferry road. It seems as if Mother Nature has decided to maintain the old ferry road for us.