Big Cottonwood Regional Park - Holladay Lions Area

 Big Cottonwood Regional Park is a series of 4 parks in the Murray/Holladay area (only 3 of which are currently accessible). The Holladay Lions area is my favorite one because there is a skulk of foxes that live there. Aside from the foxes, the park features some your usual park things (playground, sports fields, etc.) plus a little pond and wetland area, and really great views of the mountains. I tend to come out here at least once a year or so.

Quick Details:

Length: We did about 1.5 miles today, but you have shorter or longer options.
Trail Type: Loop, Loop de Loop, out and back options.
Difficulty: DR3. All trails are flat and pretty easy going.
Elevation Gain: About 16 feet.
Restroom: Yes, but I don’t think it is open in winter.
Dogs? Yes, leashed. Please clean up after your furry friends.
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.

Mount Olympus (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP).

The Trail:

Into the woods.

Mount Olympus again.

Gnarly grove of trees.

Mount Olympus again. It’s not the tallest peak you can see in the valley, but it certainly is the most prominent one.

The little window the farm owners have left in the fence.

It used to be all wire fence, which allowed you to see the foxes a lot more, but people insist on feeding them, and what they were feeding them is not good for the horses on this farm, so they resorted to putting in the wood fence. They were nice enough to leave this little viewing section open. However I suspect if people continue to be a nuisance they could close it off too. So you know, enjoy the wildlife, but do not feed them.

Well, we did not have any luck seeing them at the moment. Foxes are more active at dusk and dawn, so we were a little early for them I guess. So, we decided to walk around the south end of the park.

Little back loop.

Well, we had a very, very brief sighting of a fox. This is the best shot I managed and is really sucks. I have had much better luck in previous years.

Forest.

Gnarly tree.

Fun trees.

Back on the main trail with a view of the mountains.

Mount Olympus.

We decided to do the back/east loop.

There is a little urban farm here.

They got bees this year.

The farm.

Mountains.

Another farm. There are a few little farms around here.

Gnarly old tree. I would have so much fun with this during Halloween if it was my yard.

The neat spiral is quite faded.

Panoramic.

Twisted trees.

Looping back the other way.

Little bridge over a ditch we just crossed.

Mount Olympus.

Panoramic.

Wetland.

Back on the main loop.

Where the stream goes into the wetland.

Trees.

Large chopped up tree.

Back to the front where the restrooms and playground are.

Boardwalk overlooking the wetland.

View of the mountains.

The little pond is frozen.

I didn’t take a picture of the signs today, but they plan to clear out some of the invasive phragmites and expand the pond, among other enhancements to the park.

The pond again.

With the mountains.

Panoramic.

Oh, they ripped out the playground.

Well, that would complete the loop for the most part, but we diced to try to see our fox friends one more time.

“When walking your dogs around the park or hood, remember to do something we all think is good.

Stop and take a moment to pick up your dog’s poo, because no one likes it when it’s stuck to their shoe!!!”

I love these little poems about cleaning up after your dogs.

The wetland.

Robins.

Back to the viewpoint.

Sadly, no fox activity. Poop.

Mount Olympus again.

Almost back to the parking lot.

Forest.

Well, that was a fun little walk. However, I am a little sad we didn’t have a good fox sighting today. But, we have definitely had good sightings in the past, which is why we come back. But, can’t win them all. haha. At least the rest of the park is pretty, and I enjoy the mountain views. The people we passed were all super friendly too. 7 out of 10 squirrels today.

As for difficulty, its pretty flat. The main loop is like paved, and the back loops are pretty good too. DR3.

Dogs are allowed, but should remain leashed. Be advised, a lot of people seem to think that does not apply to them. So there are off leash dogs. I am not saying you should too, just warning you of what I observed.