Big Bend Habitat Preserve from 7800 S.

 Big Bend Habitat Preserve is a new preserve they have built along the Jordan River Parkway in West Jordan. The preserve features a nice pond and some great views of the mountains. Eventually it is expected to include a lookout tower as well. Currently the preserve can also be accessed from 90th south, which is a little shorter. I just wanted to do a nice evening stroll between the storms and had planned on going the other way but.. had to detour. 

Quick Details:

Length: It is about a mile out to the preserve and if you want to loop around the pond that is an additional 6/10ths of a mile.
Trail Type: Out and back, loop options.
Difficulty: DR2 for the JRP to to preserve because it is paved, then DR3 in the preserve.
Elevation Gain: About 22 feet.
Restroom: No. There are gas stations on 78th and 90th though.
Dogs? Yes, leashed.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

Take i15 to 7200 S. and head west for approximately 1 mile. The trailhead will be on the left.

The Trail:

I started today intending on going north….

Wow. The river is super high. I knew it would be because they are releasing water from Utah Lake right now because it is full and they need to make room for the spring run off. News article (outside link).

I suspected this tunnel would be flooded. Its not as high as I have seen it, and I probably could have made it if I REALLY wanted to but you know, why have wet feet? So, guess we will go south instead.

Bingham Creek confluence. It looks a little different with both bodies of water being a bit higher.

Mile Marker 24.

Crossing over the river.

This was the last bridge over the river that completed the trail placed in 2014. The final bridge that really completed the trail in 2017 is much further north near North Temple. That one doesn’t cross the river though, so I guess this sign is technically correct.

Before 2014 I guess you had to take the neighborhood connector to 7th west then come up 90th to reconnect to the JRP.

Upstream.

Downstream.

Entering West Jordan.

Loads of Canada geese hanging out on this field.

The mountains behind the Jordan Bluffs. Which is an environmental cap to cleanup an old steel mill and all of it's pollutants.

Clouds, power lines and starlings. By the way you can hear the power lines through here.

Mount Jordan.

From Left to right: Little Cottonwood Canyon, Bell Canyon, Middle Fork Dry Canyon, South Fork Dry Canyon, Rocky Mouth Canyon, Big Willow Canyon, Little Willow Canyon, Corner Canyon. Yep, we have explored almost all of the canyons on that mountain.

More starlings.

Mountains.

Panoramic.

About a mile later (excluding the failed detour) we reach Big Bend with the little pond.

Another panoramic.

Mount Jordan again.

The pond from the north end.

Big Bend Habitat Area.

This sign explains the purpose behind the area, that is half preserve, half recreation area. They want to recreate natural floodplains that the channelization of the Jordan River destroyed. Creating a habitat for local and migrating birds.

The river again.

Downstream.

The pond again. I decided not to walk around it today since it was starting to get dark, and I have done it before. Time to head on back.

Reflection.

Low clouds.

Loads of starlings.

It is so incredible to see their murmuration.

There have to be hundreds, maybe even thousands of them here right now. The sound of them all taking off at once it incredible.

They almost black out the sky.

Super cool.

I made a short video, and even managed to catch them all taking flight so you can hear that too.

It really is just a cool thing to see.

Back to the bridge.

Downstream.

Upstream.

Back into Midvale.

A little rock bench donated by the Rotary Club.

More geese.

Tree full of robins.

Back to mile marker 24.

The Bingham Creek confluence again.

High river bank with nesting holes.

The bridge that allows you to keep going north.

Weak sunset.

That was a fun little walk. I like the new preserve so far but I can’t wait to see it when they have completed it. Plus the starlings were fun to watch today. 7 out of 10 squirrels.

As for difficulty, the JRP out to the preserve is pretty flat and paved. DR2. The preserve is pretty flat and dirt, DR3.

Dogs are allowed but should remain leashed at all times. Be sure to clean up after your furry friends.