Murray Park

 Murray Park is a large park in well, Murray. It features a creek, an arboretum, playgrounds, pavilions, and lots of sports amenities. It has a lot of trail options to get some exercise. Today we explored the east loop and middle section. I meant to do the full thing today but uh, there were a couple bridges that were out of commission.

Today was a day that was threatening rain on and off all day. So I wanted to do something that would be a little easier to scramble back to the car if the skies let loose.

Quick Details:

Length: We did about a 1.2 mile loop, but there is more to be explored.
Trail Type: Loop
Difficulty: DR3. Mostly flat and paved, with some unpaved sections.
Elevation Gain: NA. It is pretty flat.
Restroom: Yes, several.
Dogs? Yes, leashed.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

From i15 take exit 300 for 5300 south in Murray and head east. Go about 8/10th of a mile, cross state street and then take the first left onto Murray Park Lane. Go about 2/10ths of a mile and turn right. Go another 2/10ths of a mile and find somewhere to park.

The Trail:

Little Cottonwood Creek is a bit high right now.

Lots of trail splits! Today I decided to just keep right to ensure we did the outer loop.

When I first say this sign I assumed the bridge might have been inundated with the swollen creek…. We did have a record breaking snowfall this year.

But no, the bridge has been completely removed!

The creek again.

Another trail split. Again, we kept right.

Looking back towards the missing bridge.

The creek.

Nice forested section.

The problem with doing these big parks is that there are a lot of people, particularly on nice days. So I tend to take less pictures.

Some hills above the soccer fields.

Huh. I didn’t know about this little pond.

Where the creek rushes in.

One of the bridges that is still in service.

Upstream.

Downstream.

Little swampy area.

Crossing the creek took us off course from the loop and we ended up in this parking lot on the north east side of the park.

The creek again.

Little rapid.

Moody skies.

Before long we found our way back to the main loop. Our little detour couldn’t have added too much. Looks like it was about 2/10ths of a mile.

Pretty trees.

From the other side.

Closer view of the flowers.

The other side of the soccer fields.

Another little forested part. It looks like there might be volleyball courts up on the little mound.

The aquatic center.

 A baseball diamond.

I like the fancy stone bleachers.

Incoming storm.

Tulips. I like the purple ones.

Before long we found our way into the Joan M. Hardle Memorial Arboretum.

Closer look at the flowers.

The creek again.

Pidgeon's

Duckies!

Pretty tree.

Closer look at the blossoms.

Squirrel.

Little pond, with some ducklings!

Better view of the ducklings. Super cute.

More flowering trees.

Neat stairway into a little grove. There were people taking graduation photos in there so we did not go and explore it.

Well. My original plan was to cross the creek and explore the front (west) end of the park but uh… well the bridge is out. Dang. It looks like that would have added approximately a half mile, depending on how you decided to do it.

Looking back towards the out of service bridge again.

Ducks cruising down with the current. We have noticed that it appears that ducks may do this for fun. We have observed ducks fly upstream, just to ride the current downstream. Perhaps there is some other reason they do it, but it honestly just looks like its for fun.

Little side stream path.

The creek again.

Another bridge that is still in service. This really didn’t help the loop we were doing but we decided to get on and observe the creek.

Upstream.

Downstream.

Eventually there should be a trail that follows the creek from here all the way down to the Little Cottonwood Confluence. It does not appear to be done just yet though.

Continuing through the arboretum.

Pink and red flowering trees.

Creek, mountains, and storm clouds.

Pidgeon's.

We found the first missing bridge in the parking lot.

Pidgeon's and ducks. I didn’t know they hung out together.

Neat sign (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)).

Well, the day did not go quite as planned. I did not anticipate the bridge closures. But we explored more of the park than I have done before so that was fun. I also appreciate getting to enjoy one of our major creeks. The park is quite busy though! Wow, lots of people. Going with 7 squirrels today.

As for difficulty, It’s flat, and mostly paved so DR3. There are fully paved options that could make it a DR2 as well.

Dogs are allowed, but should remain leashed at all times.