Little Cottonwood Confluence & Upstream

 The Little Cottonwood Confluence is where Little Cottonwood Creek joins the Jordan River. Murray has done a great job in balancing development and a nice little park to allow us to enjoy it. I decided today that I wanted to follow the creek as far upstream as I could. I figured I would start at the very familiar Arrowhead Park and then follow the trail east.

Quick Details:

Length: Currently, the official trail is about 3/10ths of a mile out and back. The unofficial will be about a half mile out and back so 8/10ths of a mile out and back.. I did a random 1.3 mile balloon.
Trail Type: Out and back, balloon, connector options.
Difficulty: The official trail is completely paved, DR2. I did some extra exploring DR3.
Elevation Gain: The main trail is probably pretty negligible, but I did about 20 feet today.
Restroom: Yes, flush toilets at Arrowhead Park.
Dogs? Yes on the official trail. Probably on the unofficial, but beware it is foxtail city! I removed about 20 little stowaways when I got home.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

If coming from the north, take i15 to 4500 S, go west. Turn left on 500 west. Take that to Murray/Taylorsville rd (4800 s) hang right, then immediately left.

If coming from the south, take the 5300 S exit. Go west, turn right on Murray Blvd. Turn left on Murray/Taylorsville rd (4800 s), then immediately left.

The Trail:

Arrowhead Park. So we start out along the Jordan River Parkway for just a bit.

Some history of the area. Somewhere near here was the cottonwood tree that Peter Toth decided to carve “Chief Wasatch” out of, which now resides in Murray Park. I have been meaning to check it out, but it just hasn't happened yet. I have decided next yucky weather day, or this winter it will happen!

The bridge over Little Cottonwood Creek.

The Little Cottonwood Confluence. Where Little Cottonwood Creek flows into the Jordan River. I don’t really know why, but I have been obsessed with confluences ever since I found Colliding Rivers in Oregon, and then the Ogden Weber Confluence in Ogden.

Upstream Jordan River.

Upstream Little Cottonwood Creek.

Right after the bridge is this trail split. Right continues down the Jordan River through the Hunters Woods. Left is a little path between the creek and these townhomes. I went left to follow Little Cottonwood Creek upstream.

Creek to the left, condos to the right.

What the heck do we have here? This duck is yellow, like solid yellow. I know that is the trope, yellow ducky and all, but I have never seen a full grown yellow duck around here. What is this?

Otherwise it looks like a regular mallard, and this boy mallard doesn’t seem to mind that he/she looks off. So… I donno.

He/she marched right up to me, I think hoping for some food. Sorry cutey, I didn’t bring anything for you today.

But you are cute! Now that he/she is closer it is looking more white than yellow. According to the bird group I follow it is a domestic mallard, and this is a normal expected color.

Super cute!

The creek.

It is mostly hidden by the trees right now. It might be better seen before it greens up so much.

Before long I reached Murray Boulevard, which is currently the end of the official trail. Here is the creek flowing downstream from the bridge.

Murray Boulevard aka 5th West. There is no official crossing here, but it’s not super busy. At least it wasn't right now.

The creek on the other side, looking upstream.

Now I am following the creek next to this old parking lot. There were no ‘No Trespassing’ signs. So I think I am good.

The creek behind heavy foliage.

Mountains.

Old bridge that has been fenced off. I’d like to think even if it was not I would have been smart enough not to scope it out.

The creek below.

More of the old parking lot.

The creek again.

I noticed a faint desire trail through the weeds and decided to follow it. 

Beware though, there are a ton of foxtails through here. I pulled out a ton of them when I got home.

A nice view of the creek.

Another.

Again.

The parking lot.

Some old maintenance shed that is just  canvass for local teens now.

Holy MASSIVE cottonwood tree!

My pictures just do not do it justice.

The creek again.

Upstream.

Downstream.

The parking lot.

The creek.

Here is where the creek emerges from underneath Galleria Drive and i15. So… the only way to follow the creek further upstream would be via canoe. The next place upstream you can visit the creek is Murray Park.

From here you have a few options. You can return the way you came (about 8/10ths of a mile out and back), go left towards Murray Holladay Boulevard for a shorter loop, or go right for a slightly longer loop. Well, there was something I wanted to see to the right, so we went that way.

Well, that ended up being a bit longer than expected to I separated it into it’s own post, but it was the former site of the 49th Street Galleria aka Utah Fun Dome. This is what the abandoned parking lot we have been following was.

So after that random excursion, we were back to the creek.

Mountains.

Back on the official trail next to the creek.

The creek.

So lush.

Back to the Jordan River Parkway.

Upstream Little Cottonwood Creek.

We will get to downstream in just a moment.

But first I was a little distracted by this beaver! Hello cutey!

This is only the 2nd time that I have been 100% confident that I am looking at a beaver. They are quite a bit larger than muskrats. Oddly enough the only other time I have been 100% certain was here as well.

Then he/she went into the river.

Alright. Downstream Little Cottonwood Creek, where it enters the Jordan River at the Little Cottonwood Confluence.

From the north, with a lot of plant life in the way.

The Jordan River.

Canada geese and goslings.

I was a little surprised to see that they decided to climb up this steep bank.

But adults, and babies alike seem to be handling it just fine. Wow.

Arrowhead Park again.

I made a quick run to where Murray Holladay Boulevard crosses the river, just in hopes of seeing the beaver again. No luck. Meh.

Well, this ended up being a kind of neat adventure, I am glad I decided to check it out. Here is to hoping the developers make the upper section along the creek something really enjoyable, but time will tell. After the Jordan River Trail I didn’t run into very many people. Meh, 7 out of 10 squirrels.

As for difficulty, it is mostly paved, but I deviated down off the pavement a few times. DR2.

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