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The Murray Canal Trail is a short section of the Jordan and Salt Lake Canal in Murray Utah. This part of the canal has a wide dirt path that follows it from Wheeler Farm to Fontaine Bleu Drive. It features a canal, some nice wooded sections, birding, and some mountain views. My walking group of friends and I have noticed this trail coming out of Wheeler farm for a little bit now and have been meaning to check it out, and well, today was the day!
Quick Details:
Length: From what I can tell, it is about 3 miles out and back plus about 4/10ths of a mile through Wheeler Farm to get to the trail (one way, from this direction). We did about 2.59, but we also took a wrong turn. So, 2.3 out and back for the section we did.
Trail Type: Out and back, connector.
Difficulty: It is pretty flat and like paved. DR3.
Elevation Gain: About 20 feet.
Restroom: There are a few at Wheeler Farm. I’m not sure if they have specific hours, or if they are not open for the season yet though as we tried one of them and found it locked.
Dogs? Yes, leashed. Please clean up after your furry friends.
Other Info:
To Get Here:
Take i15 to exit 9. head North to the light. Turn left (West) on Winchester (6600 S). Turn right on 900 East (heading North again). Turn right into Wheeler Farm.
We started from the east side of the parking lot today through the Central Lawn.
We decided to meet at our regular meeting spot near the Activity Barn.
Neat bench made from old barn equipment.
Fun gloomy clouds.
We arrived a few minutes early so while waiting for our friends we decided to explore the back of the barn.
The Trail:
Amazing mountain views at the beginning of the trail.
Little Cottonwood Creek.
We decided to go along the west side of the creek thinking it might connect. Spoiler; it does not.
That is the Education Center on the right.
Little Cottonwood Creek again. I am still a little sad they cut down a bunch of trees here.
Again.
The creek again.
I knew this was a working farm, but this is the first time I have seen them running actual farm equipment. Fun!
Ducks and geese.
Continuing along this dike with the mountains above.
Pretty sure this is dyers woad. A noxious weed.
Little low head dam.
The trail got a little thin through here. I was pretty sure we had done this part before, and were able to cross the creek, but it wasn’t looking super familiar right now. I kind of pushed that down with the thought that I think we did it in winter.
Well, here is where the Jordan and Salt Lake Canal crosses Little Cottonwood Creek. much like it did upstream where it crossed over Dry Creek.
Here my brain clicked back in. We did cross here once, but the canal was dry due to it not being farming season. It is currently very much not dry.
Anyway, all but one of us agreed we are much too old to try to balance across the thin wall of the canal above the creek. The one who disagreed I am pretty sure was being silly, but then again, she is the more adventurous one of the group. Anyway, whoops, time to head back.
The Jordan and Salt Lake Canal coming from the south.
Little Cottonwood Creek.
Again, with more dyers woad.
The dam which assisted in filling the ice ponds below it. It also serves to help control flood waters during run off season.
Canada geese.
Back to the main trail. That random oopsie trail only added about 3/10ths of a mile out and back.
The Ice Ponds.
Little pond on Little Cottonwood Creek.
Where it enters the control gate.
Downstream.
Mountains.
The wetlands. Which also work as a flood control basin like Sugar House Park.
The little creek pond again.
Little forest.
These are cute. Google lens is saying honeysuckle.
Sign about the wetlands.
The wetlands.
Little low head dam.
More forest.
The Jordan and Salt Lake Canal. It provides irrigation for the east side of the valley, and also falls into creeks to replace water pulled from them for drinking water.
This is what we will be walking next to. I am not sure why they called it the Murray Canal Trail. But I guess, it is a trail next to a canal that flows through Murray, so… yeah.
Lovely forested area.
We reached the west end of the Murray Canal Trail. Which is on the east end of Wheeler Farm. Using google maps, it appears to be about 4/10ths of a mile from the parking lot.
The canal. It is surprisingly kind of nice through here.
Again.
Duckies and ducklings.
Mom and dad.
With the babies. Oh goodness they are so cute!
So stinking cute!
The first crossing at 1130 East is super easy. There are not a lot of cars on this quiet road.
Trail rules.
The duck family is following us.
I love this one baby that is more yellow than the others. I don't know if that means anything.
Oh wow! This is really nice! This was my favorite part.
It almost looks like a creek through here.
Pretty area.
A little more narrow, but still pretty.
Mountains.
The canal.
I didn’t get a better picture for some reason, but the 2nd crossing is at 13th East, which is quite a bit busier. There is a crossing light you can activate to make it a little bit safer.
On the other side.
Still pretty.
The canal.
Duck.
Continuing along.
Momma with a bunch of babies. We wondered if the previous duck was dad.
The next crossing at 64th South. Its a little busier than the 1st crossing, but not nearly as busy as the 2nd. There are visibility flags you can use if you feel so inclined.
She has… quite the brood.
I just love them!
She has more yellow colored ones than the previous family.
Continuing along.
Again, the family was following us along. I count 12 babies here, but I am not sure if I ever caught all of them. but wow, a dozen! That’s a lot of babies to care for.
Yep, 12 again.
12 again. I am starting to feel like that is all of them.
Spoke too soon. I count 14 here. Holy crap!
I love when they get too far behind and do the zoom zoom zoom to momma that makes them kind of look like they are running across the water.
Continuing along.
We were all quite enamored with the adorable little ducklings. 11 babies here.
I took a quick video of them “running” back to momma.
14 again. Okay, I am going with that is the final count lol.
Continuing along.
It’s a little less amazing here, but still pretty.
We pushed on to this little bench at a bend in the trail. Where we decided to take a break.
Pretty little bend.
If I have my bearings right, this is about 6255 South. And there is about a half a mile (one way) left of the trail ending at Fontaine Bleu Drive, with one final crossing at Vine Street. We decided we might try it from the other direction next time.
Well. Here comes the rather large duck family, that has fanned out across the entire canal like an army across a field.
Still 14. Good job momma. We were debating if the entire brood belonged to her, or if she adopted some. However, from what I can see they can have 5-15 eggs. But usually about 7-10. Although the possibility of adopting some is not out of the real of possibilities.
Passing by.
14 again. I really feel confident saying that is the final count. I want to take them all home.
She only has 1 darker duckling, with the rest of them being more yellow. Interesting.
Okay, bye!!!
That was really a treat. Baby duckies are so stinking cute.
Alright. Time to head on back.
Continuing along.
Awful shot, but we wondered if this was dad heading back to his family.
Or maybe this is dad, continuing to be a deadbeat haha. We like to anthropomorphize a bit.
Continuing along.
I know they don’t intend to, but I love that the anti crossing guards make the pipes look like tie fighters.
The canal again after the 64th South crossing.
Super pretty.
Someone installed a rope swing. I’m pretty sure that is not technically allowed, but whatever.
Pretty forest.
Triple tree stump.
The 13th East crossing. See, there is a light you can activate to cross more safely.
Continuing along.
Another duck family. Hello cuties!
More pretty trees.
We took a break and these guys caught up with us. They are swimming against the current, so they are making a pretty good pace!
The really pretty corner.
Again.
Back to the 1130 East crossing.
Still super pretty.
Someone is apparently using the canal water. Aside from Wheeler Farm, I know there are still a couple other farms in the area.
Another part of the canal that looks like a natural creek.
Back to Wheeler Farm. There is a trail that follows the canal a little further so we took that.
The canal.
It is super pretty through here.
More forest.
Oh no! Little duckling, where is your momma?
Oh good, there she is.
Back to the main outer loop of Wheeler Farm.
It’s pretty through here too.
Mountains above the wetlands.
Back to the dam.
Double duck butts!
Canada geese and some goslings.
Mountains.
Again.
Geese and goslings again.
Downstream Little Cottonwood Creek.
The ice ponds.
Again.
The Activity Barn.
Neat totem poles.
Fun sign.
Well, that was a fun adventure. None of us has done it before so it was new to all of us. I found it to be surprisingly prettier than I expected. There were people, but quite a few less than the farm. Meh, 7 out of 10 squirrels.
As for difficulty, it it flat, and like paved. DR3.
Dogs are allowed. Please clean up after your furry friends.
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