Murphy Point

Start at the signed dirt parking area on Grand View Point Road. The trail crosses an open field of juniper and piñon, then passes an old corral about a quarter mile in. At a junction around half a mile from the trailhead, take the right branch toward the overlook. Beyond it, the route rolls over sandy rises before reaching slickrock; follow the cairns once the sand gives way.

The sandstone point opens onto a wide view of the Green River and White Rim Road below. Look for Candlestick Tower to the north, Junction Butte to the south, and Cleopatra’s Chair and the Henry Mountains to the west. For a photo that shows the scale, include the river and the thin road line beneath the rim.

The old corral along the trail is a physical reminder that this mesa was ranching country before Canyonlands became a national park. The corral’s builder and date aren’t established in the available sources, so the story is best kept at that: it’s a trace of the working landscape that came before the park.

The signed trailhead is on Grand View Point Road, south of the Island in the Sky Visitor Center. Dogs aren’t allowed on the trail; service animals are. Winter snow or ice can affect footing, and the park recommends traction devices when those conditions occur.