Big Cottonwood Regional Park : Holladay Lions Area - Back Loops

 Big Cottonwood Regional Park in Millcreek is a series of 4 somewhat adjacent parks that, as I understand it, will eventually be connected by a multi use path one day. The Holladay Lions Area is one of the bigger, more wild sections that features nice mountain views, nice forests and a nice little wetland area. But my favorite thing about this park is that it is currently a great place to see foxes! Last time we were here we did the main loop. Today I explored some of the back areas off of the main loop.

Quick Details:

Length: The main loop is about 1.25 miles. We did a weird 1.39 mile balloon.
Trail Type: Balloon, with loop and out and back options.
Difficulty: DR3. It’s pretty flat and easy going.
Elevation Gain: About 16 feet.
Restroom: Yes, but I don’t know if it is open in winter.
Dogs? Yes, but they should remain leashed at all times.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

Take i15 to 4500 so. Head east to 13th east go right. Go about 6/10s of a mile and turn left on Murray Holliday Blvd. You can turn a little earlier, but it requires another left turn. Anyway, go about 4/10ths of a mile and turn left on 1590 east. You can go about .15 of a mile and park by the restroom, or go to the end of 1590 east.

The Trail:

I was really mostly here for the foxes today so we took the quickest path out to them.

Heading north through the woods.

A right at the first trail split. Left will keep you on the main loop around the north field and wetland.

Nice view of Mount Olympus.

Again.

The farm, where the foxes primarily hang out has had trouble with their horses eating the food people are giving to the foxes, and it can kill their horses. So they resorted to putting up a fence. So far, they are leaving this viewing area open, and have put up a sign, that states pretty much what I said above. You can help by not feeding the foxes. You aren’t helping the foxes by doing so anyway so just don’t.

 

Before long we saw our first friend.

I love these guys.

Magpie. 

The foxes were being pretty shy, so we decided to walk around the back (east) areas of the park.

Its a little wild and thick through here.

Mount Olympus.

There appear to be some garden beds back here?

Oh, that explains it.

Somebody also built a big spiral 

That's neat! I kind of wish I had explored it a little more. I see that it alternates between grass and bark, but can't really tell where the switch off occurs, so I assume on the other side. 

Panoramic.

There is a small patch of woods in the far northeast corner that has a bunch of trails all through it. It looks like a play area for the local kids. It is refreshing to see that those still exist.

Mount Olympus again.

Back to the little farm.

Back to the main loop. We decided to head back towards the foxes again.

Found another one of those hand painted dispose of your dogs waste signs. I think they are cute.

Back through the thick woods.

Back to the foxes.

I just love them!

Bye cutey!

Our next visitor was a little more shy.

Bye!

One last run by. I am starting to think I only saw one fox four times tonight.

He is a fast little bugger.

Make that 5 times.

Alright, the foxes were being pretty shy tonight, and it was starting to get dark so we decided to head on back.

Mount Olympus again.

Little bonus extra that I did not count in the mileage today we decided to walk out to the little pond. This maybe added 2/10th of a mile out and back.

Mount Olympus across the wetland.

The little pond is quite frozen. I understand one of the improvement projects planned is to expand this pond by clearing out the invasive weeds.

Duck on the ice.

The pond and Mount Olympus.

That was a fun little adventure. I am happy we got to see some (or 1) foxes. I also enjoyed the random spiral, and the wild areas and great views. It also wasn’t too busy today. 9 out of 10 squirrels.

As for difficulty, it’s pretty flat and easy going. DR3.

Dogs are allowed, but should remain leashed at all times.