Jordan River Parkway: 54th South to i215

 This section along the Jordan River Parkway in Murray is pretty nice. It’s pretty green and pretty, but is a little set back from the river. After doing Murray Park I still had a bit of energy so we decided to add this on.

Quick Details:

Length: 2.16 miles.
Trail Type: Out and back, loop, loop de loop.
Difficulty: Flat and paved DR2.
Elevation Gain: NA
Restroom: Yes, at Walden Park.
Dogs? Yes, leashed.
Other Info: Cities: Murray, JRP Mile Markers: 27

To Get Here:

From i15 take exit 300 for 5300 south in Murray. Head west for approximately 1 mile as 5300 becomes 5400 south. Turn left on 1070 W/Murray Pkwy Ave/Riverside Dr. Turn right into Walden Park.

The Trail:

The Jordan River.

The trail.

There is a dirt equestrian trail that splits off and stays next to the river. Since that is what we did last time, I decided to stay on the main path today.

We were being rained on just a smidge. But it wasn’t too bad.

Oh. There is a neat little pond here. We didn’t notice that last time.

Red-winged blackbird.

Water just gushing out here.

This section has quite a few neighborhood connectors.

Historical marker for Hickman Fort which was west of here.

Now it’s houses.

Mountains.

Crossing at Bullion St. There is a flashing light you can activate if needed, but it doesn’t appear to be a very busy street. Also the equestrian trail ends here.

Moody skies.

I didn’t get a picture but there is a trail split to go on either side of Cottonwood Grove. We decided to take the right fork to stay near the river. Which is the main route. I generally seem to keep to the right when I experience trail splits like this, unless there is something I know is to the left.

The river with a pelican.

Both trails with the grove in the middle.

Pelican.

Little closer.

Again.

Mountains.

Approaching another grove.

The river again.

Upstream.

Mile Marker 27.

Tree’s greening up.

Cormorant.

Bridge to another neighborhood connector.

Mountains.

Panoramic.

Where the 2 trails join again.

Riverbend.

i215.

Underneath.

Well, this was our intended goal for the day, so we decided to head on back.

The river again.

Back to where the trail splits. We went right and did the east part of the loop.

Looking towards the cottonwood grove.

Little stream. I think this might come out of Willow Pond which is just on the other side of the road.

Meandering stream.

I smelled them before I saw them. These cute little purple flowers are actually a non native weed called cross flower, or purple mustard. They smell terrible, and if cows eat them it sours their milk.

Mountains. And Willow Pond Park is directly on the other side of that road. You just can’t see it because of the hill.

Little forest section.

Mountains. And you can see the playground for Willow Pond Park.

More forest.

Interesting old tree.

Closer. I like how the cut branches just decided to grow strait up.

From the other side.

Interesting mushroom.

Where the 2 trails reconnect.

Crossing Bullion St.

Of course the sun waited to pop out and give us a nice double rainbow when we got back to the residential part. Sigh.

 The main trail next to the equestrian trail.

Rainbow again.

I love this time of year when everything is all green and pretty.

Rainbow again.

Back to the gushing water.

More trail.

The little pond again.

Beautiful blue skies! I guess we should have just waited an hour or so to have nice walking weather.

Rainbow again.

The equestrian trail crosses the main trail here.

What’s left of the rainbow.

I am glad we added this trail on today to our other option. We got a little rained on, but it wasn’t that bad. It was good to get and enjoy nature. Also, the rain appeared to have chased most people away, as it wasn’t very busy. 7 out of 10 squirrels.

As for difficulty, it’s fairly flat, and the main trail is paved so DR2.

Dogs are allowed but should remain leashed.