The Murphy Trail
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The Murphy Trail
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The Murphy Trail is a fantastic little hike in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park. This trail has stunning views and varying terrain. The Murphy Trail is a great choice for families with older kids who want to get out and spend an afternoon exploring the Utah Desert.
Getting there
From the Island in the Sky Visitor Center, follow Grand View Point Road for 8.6mi to the Murphy Trailhead on the west side of the road.
About
| Backcountry Campground | No |
| When to do | March to November |
| Pets allowed | No |
| Family friendly | Older Children only |
| Route Signage | Average |
| Crowd Levels | Moderate |
| Route Type | Out and back |
The Murphy Trail
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The Murphy Trail Description
The Murphy Trail is a 4.0mi, out-and-back style hike with gorgeous views of Canyonlands National Park. There is one section of this hike that is fairly exposed, so if you are afraid of heights, this trail might not be the best choice for you. If you struggle with steep sections, bring along the hiking poles to help your journey up and down the switchbacks. The Murphy Trail gets hot and sunny throughout the day, so wear good sun protection and bring lots of water for everyone in your hiking party. Don’t forget the camera either—The views from this trail are absolutely gorgeous!
From the trailhead, follow the path to a divide and take a left. Head down the switchbacks to the second divide in the trail. Take a right and follow the path a short distance to a viewpoint before turning around and heading back the way you came.
The Murphy Trail is a subsection of a larger trail network; if you want to extend your time exploring in this area, check out the Murphy Loop, the Murphy Hogsback, and the Murphy Wash trails.
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