Murphy Lake Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · Fishing · Lake · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Although in a suburban area, this park is big enough to make it feel as though you are hiking in a remote and peaceful wilderness. This route follows mostly singletrack dirt trails past Murphy Lake and through forest on rolling terrain in the central portion of this park. It provides a way to connect trails like the Razor Back Trail on the park's north end with those, like the Minnregs Lake Loop, at the park's south end.

It's helpful to download a summer trail map from the park's website. Major trail junctions are numbered and signed with a trail map keyed to these numbers. Vault toilets and drinking water are available at the trailhead. Pit toilets are available near the parking lot.

Summer trails here are not named; they simply run between signed and numbered intersections. This route starts from the Horse Trail Entrance parking lot just off unpaved Sunset Lake Road. To do this route clockwise, go from the trailhead to Intersection 30 and follow the trail going to Intersection 25, passing Murphy Lake along the way.

In the Spring, you may encounter standing water where the trail passes close to the lake. From Intersection 25, go right for a short distance on dirt Sunset Lake Road to connect with the wide trail going to Intersection 14. From there, continue on through Intersections 15, 16, and 17. From Intersection 17, cross the dirt road to return to the Horse Trail parking lot.

This park is a great place to spot woodland songbirds and has been designated an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. Murphy Lake is open to fishing. Expect mosquitos in the summer months.