Railroad Canyon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Railroad Canyon |
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| San Jacinto Canyon | |
Railroad Canyon, cut through the Temescal Mountains by the lower San Jacinto River, from 6 miles south-southwest of Perris to Lake Elsinore. The middle of the canyon contains Railroad Canyon Reservoir.
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| Length | 7 mi (11 km) |
| Geography | |
| Location | United States, California, Riverside County |
Railroad Canyon is a valley in Riverside County, California. It was first called San Jacinto Canyon. People also knew it as Cottonwood Canyon or Annie Orton Canyon. This valley is where the lower part of the San Jacinto River flows.
The river travels south through the Temescal Mountains. It starts about 6 miles southwest of Perris, California. Then it goes through Canyon Lake, California and finally west to Lake Elsinore, California. The canyon got its current name from the California Southern Railroad. This railroad was built through the canyon in 1882.
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What is Railroad Canyon?
Railroad Canyon is a long, narrow valley. It was carved out by the San Jacinto River. Valleys like this are often formed over many years by rivers. The canyon is about 7 miles long.
The middle part of the canyon now holds a lake. This lake is called Railroad Canyon Reservoir. It is also known simply as Canyon Lake.
A Look Back: The Canyon's Past
The history of Railroad Canyon includes some interesting events. It also shows how the area changed over time.
Early Days and a Wild West Story
In 1865, the canyon was still called San Jacinto Canyon. On September 14, a group of outlaws was camping there. They were led by a person named James Henry. The local sheriff, Benjamin Franklin Mathews, and his team found them.
The sheriff's team surprised Henry at sunrise. Henry fired shots, hitting one person. He was then defeated. His body was taken back to town. This event shows a bit of the "Wild West" history of the area.
The Railroad and the Lake
In 1882, the California Southern Railroad built its main line. It went right through San Jacinto Canyon. This railroad connected areas like Perris to Lake Elsinore. This is how the canyon got its name, "Railroad Canyon."
However, the railroad line did not last forever. In 1927, a big flood damaged the tracks. The railroad company then stopped using that part of the line.
A year later, in 1928, a dam was built. This dam is called the Railroad Canyon Dam. It was built to create a reservoir. This reservoir flooded the canyon. That's how Railroad Canyon Reservoir, or Canyon Lake, was formed.
How the River Flows Now
The San Jacinto River used to flow differently. It used to cross the Elsinore Valley. It went through a wetland area near Lake Elsinore.
But in more recent years, things changed. A project was done to control floods. This project built a barrier at the end of the lake. It also moved the river's path. Now, the river flows into a special boat channel. This channel is right at the mouth of the canyon.
