Scott M. Matheson Nature Preserve and Governors Groves

 The Scott M. Matheson Nature Preserve and Governors Groves is a small nature preserve on the This Is The Place Heritage Park grounds. It features some nice views, and nice quiet, easy nature path and the Governors Groves which is a neat grove that features a tribute to all of the Utah Governors. Our previous hike was a bust, so we decided to check out The Is The Place Heritage Park, only to discover it is closed on Sundays. But we found this little trail on the west end of the park that seemed to be able to be used, even if the park is closed.

Quick Details:

Length: The outer loop is about 6/10ths of a mile. Adding the inner loop, and some additional exploring and we did about a mile here.
Trail Type: Loop and inner loop.
Difficulty: DR3 Its pretty flat and pebble lined.
Elevation Gain: About 25 feet.
Restroom: I am sure there is at least 1 somewhere in the park, but if not, there is one at nearby Rotary Glen Park.
Dogs? Yes, Leashed.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

Take i215 to exit one, Foothill Dr. Head north of Foothill Go about 3 miles, and turn right on Sunnyside Ave. Go about a mile, and you should see the park on the left. Just across from the Zoo.

The trail is on the west end of the park.

This Is The Place Heritage Park sign. (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)).

The Trail:

The entrance to the preserve. You can just open the gate.

Into the preserve.

Monument to the people and groups that made this preserve possible.

Nice pebble lined path.

Looking across the valley.

This trackbed is believed to be be one of the last remaining remnants of the narrow gauge Salt Lake and Fort Douglas Railway. From 1888 to 1894 the railroad ran from its passenger depot at First South and Fourth West in downtown Salt Lake City up to Fort Douglas. The railroad had multiple branches. One branch ran up to the quarries of Red Butte Canyon and this branch ran to Wagner’s Brewery at the mouth of Emigration Canyon.

I wish I had put in something to show a size comparison, but it is a bit more narrow than regular rail lines.

The preserve.

Whoops. Took a wrong turn and ended up at a dead end.

Back on the main loop.

View to the south.

View to the east.

Nice little memorial bench.

Passing through the Governors Groves, well come back to this in a minute, but first lets complete the outer loop.

Outer loop is to the right. Its a little hard to see, but the splits all have a sign telling you which way to go to stay on the outer loop, as well as an update on the mileage.

Heading west again.

Little irrigation ditch.

Emigration Canyon.

Panoramic.

Monarch Butterfly Waystation. Or, well, some milkweed plants.

Heading east again.

They appear to have a gopher problem.

Irrigation canal again.

Nice bench.

Looking back to the Heritage Park.

Well, we finished the outer loop, now I wanted to explore the inner loop, which is the Governors Groves.

Park kiosk.

Utah has had 14 territorial Governors, and 18 Governors since statehood in January of 1896. The grove focuses on the latter group. It starts on the outside of the circle, and continues on the inside. I only made one loop, but I will try to keep them in order.

Heber M Wells

Terms: 1896 - 1905

John C. Cutler

Term: 1905 - 1909

William Spry

Terms: 1909 - 1917

Simon Bamberger

Term: 1917 - 1920

Charles R. Mabey

Term: 1921 - 1925

George H. Dern

Terms: !925 - 1933

Henry H. Blood

Terms: 1933 - 1941

Herbert B. Maw

Terms: 1941 - 1949

J. Bracken Lee

Terms: 1949 - 1957

George Dewey Clyde

Terms: 1957 - 1965

Calvin L. Rampton

Terms: 1965 - 1977

Scott M. Matheson

Terms: 1977 - 1985

Norman H. Bangerter

Terms: 1985 - 1993

Michael O. Leavitt

Terms: 1993 - 2003

Olene S. Walker

Terms: 2003 - 2005

Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.

Terms: 2005 - 2009

I was kind of surprised to see they had already placed one for:

Gary R. Herbert
Terms: 2009 - 2021

Even more surprised to see:

Spencer J. Cox
Terms: 2021 - current

They are really on top of it in the Governors Grove.

I don’t know if you caught the term vs terms here. But obviously terms means they served 2 terms. I find it interesting that they seem to have predicted 2 terms for Cox here. Although, it might have been someone just screwed up.

Then they have some stones placed for the next 3 or so.

That was a fun little walk through Utah’s history.

Looking over the preserve.

Little “train”. Looks like this is the Western Trail Ride at This Is The Place Heritage Park.

Old Barn.

Emigration Canyon again.

Starting sunset with gloomy clouds.

Well, this was not the most exciting trail in the world, but I did enjoy the Governors Groves. Although, I think it is currently a grove, but perhaps they are planning for the future. Anyway, I really did enjoy the walk through history, but otherwise this trail was pretty meh. Going with 5 out of 10 squirrel today. And kind of regretting not exploring the rest of the grounds, but maybe some other time.

As for difficulty, it was pretty flat, and almost like paved with a pebble lined path. DR3.

Dogs are allowed, but should remain leashed.