Murphy Loop Trail - 10.75 Miles Round-Trip

The Murphy Trail runs across open prairie on the Island Mesa before dropping into Murphy Basin and looping through a desolate backcountry wash and open brush flats linked by White Rim Road.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

Visitors will enjoy diverse terrain and exceptional views over Murphy Basin, Soda Springs Basin and the Green River from high points along the trail:

The Murphy Trail begins on Grand View Point Road, 8.9 miles from the visitor center. It heads west through grassy flats peppered with blackbrush, rabbitbrush and Mormon tea to the split for Murphy Point (.45 miles : 6,185’).

The Murphy Trail veers S-SW and drops steadily before twisting through cairn-marked washes and slickrock to the edge of the mesa (1.0 miles : 6,085’).  Enjoy magnificent panoramas over Murphy Basin and the Green River from this high vantage.

Here the trail plunges 845’ in just .95 miles down a cliff face to the basin floor and beginning of the loop. Tread carefully across loose rock and exposed ledges on this rugged descent. Cross a short wood bridge with no rails at 1.4 miles (5,732’).

Conditions moderate near the base of the cliff to the beginning of the loop (1.95 miles : 5,240’). The following description travels clockwise (see Worth Noting below for travel tips):

The trail drops into a wash, quickly exits and drops back in. It continues in the wash, rising above it twice to circumvent dry falls (2.5 miles and 2.8 miles).

Sparse vegetation dots this long corridor of open desert. You’ll pass nondescript ranching remains at 2.85 miles, and keep a fairly quick pace down the expanding wash all the way to White Rim Road (4.6 miles : 4,825’).

Turn right on White Rim Road, which heads NW and rises sharply up Murphy Hogback, an (in)famous climb no matter your means of transport. This rapid elevation gain offers useful topographic perspective across the landscape.

The road-trail levels abruptly on a plateau along the White Rim, whose light rock contrasts with the surrounding crimson desert (5.8 miles : 5,265’). A few steps off trail lead to the rim’s edge and great views over the Green River. 

The road continues past Murphy Camp A – B to the Murphy Trail split, which branches NE into an expansive flat. Anticipate this turnoff from the road (6.05 miles: 5,260’).

The trail moves quickly through 2 miles of open brush flats with views of the White Rim, Green River and Murphy Basin.

Use established paths to reach overlooks, and avoid trampling sensitive vegetation and cryptobiotic soil crusts. Look for snakes, lizards and rabbits on this compelling stretch.

The trail gradually bends back east and heads straight for the sheer cliff that led you down to the basin. It reaches the base of the cliff (8.05 miles : 5,253’) and threads a field of large, colorful boulders that have chipped away and fallen to the desert floor.

Remain vigilant crossing small washes that lead to the completion of the loop (8.8 miles : 5,240’). It’s a strenuous .95 mile - 845’ climb back to the mesa rim, where travel levels back through the flats to Murphy Trailhead (10.75 miles : 6,235').