Willow Creek: Draper City Park to 300 East

 The Willow Creek Trail in Draper is a little neighborhood trail that follows Willow Creek. The trail features the creek, some nice views of Mount Jordan.

We have done part of this trail before, and it was not my favorite. But we are both recovering from a mild cold so we wanted something super easy, plus I was hoping to find a little Easter egg.

Quick Details:

Length: 3.54 miles out and back with a little extra neighborhood trail. 1.6 miles OOB for just the main trail.
Trail Type: Out and back, connector.
Difficulty: DR2. Paved, and fairly flat.
Elevation Gain: About 100 feet.
Restroom: There are year round restrooms in Draper City Park.
Dogs? Dogs are allowed on city sidewalks, leashed. Be sure to clean up after your furry friends.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

From i15 take the 123rd south exit in Draper, head east. Turn right on 13th east go through the roundabout and take the first right turn right afterwards (not the business, but Constitution Ave.). Then an immediate left for Draper City Park. 

Park towards the west end for immediate trail access.

The Trail:

Starting at the west end of Draper City Park. Follow the trail south.

Willow Creek.

Draper City Park below Mount Jordan. You can see The Tree of Light not lit up just yet.

The Draper Senior Center. I had heard that part of Rockwell the Trail Snake had been moved here, and I was hoping we would be able to see him from the trail today, but sadly no luck. If part of him is here, I guess you need to venture closer. The rest of Rockwell went to the Art Castle near Downtown. According to the Draper Journal (outside link).

Trail rules.

Following the creek along. Last time we were here they were still developing this neighborhood.

Minor crossing over Manfield Way.

Following the creek.

Pretty cat on the prowl.

The creek, and trail make an abrupt right turn here. I doubt it was the original, natural path of the creek. Early Utah settlers had a habit of channelizing, and often burying our creeks. Although, I thought I read somewhere that Draper was pretty swampy before that, but I can't seem to confirm that at the moment.

Heading west. With the beginnings of a sunset. Aside from the right angle curve, it is practically a strait line. Similar to Corner Canyon Creek along the Ebenezer Brown Trail.

Crossing Cindy Lane.

Continuing along.

1068 East.

Well, one of the farms is still hanging on. I am sure not without some pressure from the developers though.

Neat old buildings.

Lots of geese.

Little bit of sunset.

985 East.

Sunset.

Fort Street or 950 East. This one is a little busier than the other ones, but still not too bad.

At about 8/10ths of a mile I think this is the end of the official trail, however, the creek continues down through the neighborhoods, so we continued for a little longer.

Sunset.

Continuing down.

Epic sunset! Wow!

More.

The East Jordan Canal.

There is a trail along it called the Phoebe Brown Trail. Might have to add that to the list.

Sunset.

Again. Wow!

Above Corner Canyon Highschool, which is actually a pretty building for a newer (2013) government paid building.

Now the creek is in a median between the east and westbound lanes of Willow Springs Lane.

More sunset.

Crossing 700 East. It is a lot less busy down at this end of the valley.

Then Whisper Ridge Road.

Whisper Brook Way.

The creek in the median.

Whisper Creek Cv. Oof. Lots of little road crossing through here.

The creek bed again.

600 East.

Following the creek.

Long Tail Dr. That makes a total of 10 minor street crossings (4 along the official trail). And 1 major crossing.

The creek.

Last light.

This is a particularly cute decoration.

300 East.

We decided this was probably far enough for the day and we should head back.

I am not 100% sure, but it looks like there might be a path to follow the creek a little further downstream, and it looks more wild. I might have to come back. But, short of that, you can pick up the creek downstream again at the West Willow Creek Trail.

Alright, time to head on back.

The creek.

Mount Jordan.

Steep Mountain. It’s so steep they could only build on the top, and along the benches. As you can see from the house lights.

Continuing along.

Steep Mountain again.

Random thing I stumbled upon recently, there is a theory that Steep Mountain might be the result of a massive landslide. There isn’t really any other explanation for the random east/west mountain along the north/south Wasatch fault.

The creek, lit up by the stadium lights of the school.

Neat old house.

Crossing Fort Street again.

Continuing along.

Oop, looks like the Tree of Light has been lit for the night.

Curving towards the north.

Hah, one of the houses on this block has the leg lamp from A Christmas Story in their front window. Yay. That sparked a silly little conversation as to how without context, that would be creepy as hell. But, because the movie was such a hit, it is part of the culture, so it’s just funny now.

Back to Draper City Park with the Tree of Light. We just explored it last week, so we did not venture closer tonight, but from the sounds of it, it is probably just as busy as it was last week.

Closer.

Again. This is kind of a fun perspective.

Again.

Closer.

The Day Dairy Barn.

I decided we should go investigate closer.

Cute wreath.

Historical marker.

It was built in the 1920’s, and was moved to this location.

The barn again, It looks like there might be some more historical stuff around here. I guess we will need to come back to check that out sometime.

Fun holiday lights along 12300 south (PSP).

Well, considering being a little sick, that was a good trail to do, and we got to explore a little bit more of Willow Creek. I am a little sad we did not see Rockwell, but I mean, if I really want to do that I can try to come back sometime. The official trail had a few people, the unofficial trail had a few as well. Both were super easy going. Last time we were here I hated it and gave it 1 squirrel. I liked it a little better today, but not much more. 2 Squirrels.

As for difficulty, it is paved, and pretty flat. DR2.

Dogs are allowed, leashed. Please clean up after your furry friends.