Murdock Peak

Patriots Day 9-11-15

Murdock Peak is a 9602 foot mountain peak overlooking and adjacent to The Canyons Ski Resort.  Murdock Peak is located almost right on the border of Salt Lake County and Summit County but outside the Wasatch National Forest boundary.  Our hike begins at the very top of Millcreek Canyon where the road ends into a large parking area.  Here you will find the trailheads for Big Water to the right and Little Water straight ahead. Take the Little Water trail for a short distance until it branches left onto the Old Red Pine Road trail. (This is a short cut, I promise)  IMPORTANT REMINDER  For a more peaceful and enjoyable hike make sure you are hiking on an odd numbered day to avoid the many mountain bikers that zip down these trails on even numbered days. Also this area is only accessible from July 1 until November 1.  Follow the Old Red Pine Road trail as it crosses the bridge and gradually makes its way up to and connects with the Great Western Trail.  After about 2 miles you will arrive at the junction for the Big Water trail which is part of the Great Western trail system.

Arriving at GWT junction

Nice wide trail

Now you have a nice wide trail for approximately one mile until you come to the last junction of the hike which connects this trail to the Wasatch Crest trail.  Along this section of trail you have your first glimpse of the destination - Murdock Peak.

First look at the summit of Murdock Peak

At this huge triangle junction you find trails leading to the Wasatch Crest trail towards Desolation Lake and Mill D in Big Cottonwood and also down towards the Canyons Ski Resort. (Not a very good picture I'm afraid)  This is a ridge that looks down into the Park City area.
 

From this point the really fun bushwhacking begins.  There were several packed down game trails on the left side of the junction so pick one and start bushwhacking up to a higher ridge that will traverse towards the summit of Murdock Peak.  I dislike bushwhacking and avoid it unless absolutely necessary, but this wasn't horrible.  You mainly follow game trails through low-lying shrubs, but be prepared by wearing long hiking pants to avoid scratching up your pretty legs.

There are great views of the surrounding mountains!  Be sure to take time to appreciate the sights.

 

Once you reach this ridge you will come to the fenced ski resort boundary.  Most of the land in this area including Murdock Peak is privately owned.  

Another half mile or so and you will reach the summit of Murdock Peak.  There was a geocache container at the top with a hikers log inside.  Be sure to record your hike and leave some words of wisdom.

                       We climbed Murdock Peak on Patriots Day, 9-11-15.

We chose to take the Big Water then Little Water trail back to the parking area for a hike of about 9.6 miles.  Here is a map!

You might notice that some of the aspens in our area look sick.  There is a complex of fungal leaf diseases causing damage to the aspens.  The leaves turn spotted dark brown and then drop off.  I saw evidence of this at the beginning of the Little Water trail, but higher up near Murdock Peak the aspens were turning the normal beautiful gold.

Fungal disease on the aspen leaves.

 

These aspens are healthy and beautiful.

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Happy Hiking!