Kaleidoscope Park

 Kaleidoscope Park is a very small park located in South Salt Lake. It features a short walking path, a butterfly garden, and a little bit of Mill Creek to enjoy. The park looked somewhat new, so, as I tend to do, I played around on google maps. It looks like the south side had a house prior to 2010, after that it was removed and the park came in. The north trail seems to have been here for a while. This is a very small micro park, I recommend adding it on to Fitts Park (we did that afterwards) or something else nearby.

Quick Details:

Length: Eh, about a tenth of a mile.
Trail Type: Loop, Loop de loop, connector.
Difficulty: Pretty flat and paved. DR2.
Elevation Gain: NA
Restroom: No
Dogs? Yes, leashed.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

From i15 take the 33rd South exit heading east. Turn left on 5th East. The park will be on the left about 2/10ths of a mile later. Street parking only.

The Trail:

Park sign and rules.

Mill Creek coming out from under 5th East.

Neat mural on the south side of the park, with the south loop. We didn’t bother with that today. I am sure once the garden blooms, that might be nice but right now, not so much.

Panoramic showing the full mural.

Neat pergola and bench next to the creek.

Pollinator Habitat and Monarch Waystation.

Mill Creek again.

Downstream.

South side again.

Downstream.

Looking upstream.

From here the channelized creek flows past a few more houses before coming out again at Fitts Park, which we will be doing next.

The north side of the park has this neighborhood connector, which has been here longer than the park. It also includes this kind of worrisome cement bridge over Mill Creek. I mean, its just a thick wedge of cement hanging over the creek.

Upstream.

Downstream.

Some duck friends on the other side. I am noticing that most ducks appear to be pairing up right now. Must be mating season.

Continuing along.

Duck friends again.

The park again.

Back to where the creek emerges out from under 5th East.

This looks like a storm water drain that exits into the creek here.

The creek from 5th East.

Playing with google maps. here is the property in 2007. The connector trail to the north (right) is there. 

2011, the house is gone, and it has been cleaned up, and new paths put in.

2022. Looking like what we saw today.

Well, it is a tiny little park, but it is not a bad little park. Plus, I always enjoy seeing the public reclaim access to our creeks, no matter how small they it may be. There was no one else here today either, so that was nice. 4 out of 10 squirrels.

As for difficulty, its short, flat and paved. DR2.

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

Bingham Junction Park

 Bingham Junction Park is a small park in Midvale that features your typical park offerings (playground, playfields, etc) and a small wetland. I decided to explore this park for that wetland which also appears to have a small pond. However, it was fenced off and didn’t have any trails into it. So, it was a wetland adjacent park, meh. My knee is still a little sore so I was looking for something easier.

Quick Details:

Length: We did the half loop, and 2 short spurs which came to almost a mile. The bigger loop would add a little bit more.
Trail Type: Loop with 2 spurs.
Difficulty: DR2. It is paved and flat.
Elevation Gain: NA
Restroom: Yes. I didn’t check to see if it is open in winter though.
Dogs? Yes, leashed.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

Take i15 to exit 297, 7200 S. Head west. for about 7/10ths of a mile. Turn right on River Gate Dr. Immediately turn left onto River Reserve Court. Take that to end where the park is.

The Trail:

I absolutely love the sculpture sign for the park though.

We decided to head directly towards the wetlands which are west of the parking lot.

The wetlands are fenced off.

You can still see into them though.

There are a couple covered picnic areas.

The wetlands.

After the trail reaches the Jordan River it swings south between the river and these apartments. It doesn’t appear to go beyond 70th south, So, we turned around here,

Mountains obscured by clouds.

I thought I caught a hint of water, and this is about where the little pond should be.

I was having a big meh moment but decided since we are here, we may as well finish the loop.

On the one hand, I definitely appreciate having this small section of wetland preserved, but on the other hand it’s a shame they didn’t put a boardwalk in to really enjoy it.

Looking into the park.

More wetland.

Little canal. This is what I saw on last weeks walk

.Another covered picnic table on the next spur.

Looking back towards the mountains. The peaks are covered by low hanging clouds.

The other side of the wetlands.

Here you can see the dirt piles from the canal they dug.

That is a lot of quails!

End of the spur.

The Jordan River.

Heading back.

More wetland.

Returning to the main park loop.

Love the low hanging clouds.

We noticed there was a path cutting through the park, so we decided to cut our losses and take the shortcut.

Fun clouds.

I liked the tables with the Midvale City logo.

Clouds again.

Well, meh. I was a little disappointed we couldn’t get to the pond I was after and access the wetlands. Again, I am happy to see a part of it being left to nature though. The rest of the park was pretty unremarkable. 4 out of 10 squirrels.

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

Dogs are allowed, but should remain leashed.