Big Cottonwood Regional Park - Creekside Park

 Big Cottonwood Regional Park is a series of 4 somewhat adjacent parks located in Holliday. We visited the one without a sub name, as well as the Big Cottonwood Area sections last week, so today the plan was to visit the other two, Creekside and Hillview. Yes, it is very confusing at first. The Creekside section features the creek, some woods, and a pretty epic looking disc golf course! The Hillview Area however, we learned does not appear to be accessible to the general public. So, we did not end up exploring that, and made alternate plans.

It was raining off and on, with a threat to really start coming down so I didn’t want to veer too far from the car today. So this seemed like a good option.

Quick Details:

Length: We did about a 0.73 mile loop. 
Trail Type: Loop
Difficulty: DR3 pretty easy going.
Elevation Gain: Maybe 20 feet.
Restroom: Yes.
Dogs? Yes, leashed.
Other Info: Pretty much the entire park is a disc golf course so, not really the best option for exploring.

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. go about 5/10 to the next traffic light, and turn right onto Kings Row Dr. Take the first right into the parking lot.

The mountains are obscured by low hanging clouds (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP))

The Trail:

The Walter Frederick Morrison Disc Golf Course. According to this sign, he invented the frisbee and was a local Utahan.

Weird drainage pipes.

Gnarly old tree.

Weird pavilion that matches the one we saw in Big Cottonwood Regional Park Big Cottonwood Area.

Inside.

Looking up.

Neat seating area. There is also a small playground to the left.

Into the woods.

One of the goals on the disc golf course.

Another one. I’ve only ever played disc golf once, and all other courses I have come across seem to be in more open areas. This course seems like it would be pretty challenging.

More forest.

Another goal. See, lots of obstacles.

More forest.

It never ceases to amaze me when I find random natural oasis’ hidden around the valley.

Big Cottonwood Creek. Of the 7 major creeks that come into the valley, currently Big and Little Cottonwood Creeks seem to have the most access to them as it does not appear either have been buried. Between here, the Big Cottonwood Canyon Trail and the Big Cottonwood Confluence on the Jordan River Parkway you actually are able to see quite a bit of Big Cottonwood Creek in the valley. 

During runoff, the creek can be quite dangerous. Be sure to keep an eye on your kids and pets.

The creek again.

More forest.

Looking back towards the park.

One of the disc golf tee pads. My non sports playing self had to look up the official term lol. I came up with something close though as t off point, so I am not completely hopeless.

More forest and another goal.

The creek again.

Duckies!

Forest.

The creek again.

Bend in the river.

More ducks.

Around the bend.

The other direction.

Where it flows under Kings Row DR.

Now we just need to make our way back to the parking lot.

Forest and another frisbee golf goal.

Looking towards the playground, pavilion, and is that a volleyball court? I think it is.

After this I decided to make a quick trip over to Big Cottonwood Reginal Park (BCRP) to see the foxes again.

I count 5 here before they took off.

Down to 3, almost 2.

Just before the last 2 took off. They are being a lot more skittish today than they were last week. But, this is more of what I expect with foxes. It’s still fun to see them.

After this the plan was to explore BCRP Hillview Area. Well, we ended up driving around the entire thing and could not locate a way to get in. Afterwards I found a google review that kind of confirmed that there is no public access. Weird to call an area not accessible to the public a park, but okay.

Well, back to BCRP Creekside Park, it was a nice little forested area with access to the creek which is quite nice. However, as I mentioned it was also mostly a disc golf course and we kind of felt in the way once or twice. I imagine on a nicer day that might be more of an issue. So, while I thought the area was pretty, I’m not sure if I would come back. 6 out of 10 squirrels.

As for difficulty, it was mostly flat, with a small hill. DR3.

Dogs are allowed but should remain leashed. Please clean up after your furry friends!