Round Trip Distance: 3.6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 6064 - 6225 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 1 hr. 30 mins.
Trailhead: Murphy
Fee: $30/vehicle
Attractions: Scenic views
The Murphy Point Overlook trail is located in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah. The trail crosses a section of the expansive island mesa to an overlook that provides views of the canyons and mesas of the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park as well as glimpses of the Green River and many prominent buttes, spires and rock formations such as Cleopatra's Throne.
The Murphy Trailhead has been moved closer to the Grand View Point Road in recent years. The old road was so rough that most vehicles couldn't navigate it anyway.
Since the first part of the trail is the old access road it is pretty easy to follow and to hike.
At the old trailhead the trail splits with the left fork heading down the Murphy trail which takes you from the Island in the Sky mesa down to the White Rim area above the Green River. This post follows the right fork which leads out to the Murphy Point Overlook.
There are a few small hills as the trail crosses the mesa but they don't add much in the way of difficulty to the hike.
The last third or more of the trail is very pleasant red dirt hiking.
From on top of the mesa the views on either side of the trail begin opening up as the point of land that you are hiking on begins to narrow.
The trail reaches the cliff area of the point with nothing that really marks the end of the trail other than eventual death if you wander off the mesa. I say that because since the trail itself is no longer obvious and there is no 'End of Trail' sign you could spend some time hiking around the area and exploring. The Green River can be seen rounding a horseshoe bend below the point.
Cleopatra's Throne sits prominently across the canyons at about the same level as Murphy Point.
The area west of the Green River and north of the Colorado River is the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park. That area is a little harder to get to but it does have some very worthwhile trails.
Back near the trailhead is an old homestead that with its rustic appearance may be interesting to some people.
