Sunnyside Park

 Sunnyside Park is a small park along Sunnyside Avenue in Salt Lake City. It features your general park amenities, soccer fields, tennis courts, playground, etc. But also offers a very short natural area along Red Butte Creek. I am working on exploring all public areas I can along our creeks, so that is what I was after today.

After a frustrating trip around the U of U campus, failing to locate a few redwood trees, we decided to come out here. We didn't find anything so I did not post that failed adventure, I guess that why I mentioned it here.

Quick Details:

Length: We did about 3/10ths of a mile loop. There is a slightly longer paved loop around the area we did, or there are even longer areas around the park as well.
Trail Type: Loop.
Difficulty: DR3 for the loop we did, but there is also a fully paved short loop option that would be DR2.
Elevation Gain: Meh, maybe 15 feet or so.
Restroom: Yes, but I am not sure if they are open in winter. So, otherwise look for a gas station.
Dogs? Yes, Leashed. Please clean up after your furry friend.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

From i15 take either 6th South or 9th South (depending on what direction you are coming from). Once you have exited, make your way over to 8th South. Head east. After 13th East 8th South will curve slightly to the south, then back east and become Sunnyside Ave. Continue heading east for about 2 blocks, and it will be on the left.

The Trail:

The park. We focused on the creek area which was the southeast side of the park.

I am not sure how it came to this today, but we had to cross the tennis courts today. Luckily they were not in use. Looking back at the map we took the middle trail. You want to use either trail at the southeast or northeast corners of the parking lot for a more direct route.

Red Butte Creek in a smaller gully.

Hogle Zoo is just a smidge uphill on Sunnyside Avenue. I like the sign with the burrowing owl.

Steep staircase down into the gully. There is also a paved path without steps just a smidge to the east, but, we wanted some good nature.

There is a wonky broken step, so mind your footing.

Red Butte Creek. Sadly, this creek does not have a lot of public access. Above here there is the canyon the creek originates from, which is closed to public access. There is the Red Butte Skyline Trail which skirts around Red Butte Gardens. Then of course there is Red Butte Gardens, but that is a fee area, that we have yet to do. We probably will one day, just haven't done it yet. Below here, the creek flows through some private areas, then Miller Park before going underground at about 13th east. It emerges just a bit above The Jordan River at the 3 Creeks Confluence.

The creek again.

Again.

We followed a thin trail on the east side of the creek.

Then the trail appeared to stop.

Downstream.

So we crossed over this crumbling structure of some sort. It was a little sketchy, but held us.

There are a couple waterfalls upstream.

Little waterfall.

Creek and forest.

Bridge above.

Warning about seasonal high flows.

The bridge over the creek for the outer loop that is fully paved.

Upstream.

Downstream.

There is a thin trail that continues upstream a bit.

However, it is a little sketchy looking right now. Maybe a little later when it is warmer and green.

The wooded area around the creek.

Afterwards we attempted to locate another redwood tree that is supposed to be somewhere nearby on Sunnyside Avenue. We did not have any luck finding it.

That ended up being a little shorter than I thought it might be, but it was nice and wild. Plus I enjoyed getting to explore some more of Red Butte Creek. Plus, it was not very busy today. 8 squirrels today.

As for difficulty, it was super easy going. DR3. You also have a completely paved option that would be a DR2, but might not see the creek very well for some of it.

Dogs are allowed, leashed. Please clean up after your furry friends.