Lower Calf Creek Falls

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah, USA

About Lower Calf Creek Falls

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Lower Calf Creek Falls was one of those desert surprises that really made us wonder how such a harsh and arid environment could harbor such a lush and lovely oasis.

It was a gorgeous and colorful 126ft waterfall sitting in a very peaceful cove at the head of Calf Creek Canyon.

Lower_Calf_Creek_Falls_18_165_04022018 - People enjoying the cold plunge pool at Lower Calf Creek Falls
People enjoying the cold plunge pool at Lower Calf Creek Falls

The green and yellow colors that lined the contours of the column of water came from algae growing on the sandstone that thrived on the falls’ miraculous year-round flow.

To us, this was probably the highlight of the vast Grand Staircase National Monument.

This was especially the case given how much the whole family enjoyed the excursion (including the kids).

In fact, the kids really enjoyed playing in the cold plunge pool at the waterfall’s base.

Lower_Calf_Creek_Falls_18_256_04022018 - Native American pictographs seen along the hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls
Native American pictographs seen along the hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls

As if that wasn’t enough the Lower Calf Creek Falls hike also featured Native American pictographs to further add intrigue to an already memorable hike.

Hiking to Lower Calf Creek Falls – Beating the Desert Heat

In order to get to Lower Calf Creek Falls, we had to earn it with a bit of a long and deceptively tiring, sandy, but mostly flat 6-mile round-trip hike.

It typically took us around 3-4 hours to complete this hike.

Given the harsh environment of the desert, I’d recommend getting a pretty early start to minimize exposure to the desert heat.

Lower_Calf_Creek_Falls_086_09162006 - Hikers surrounded by neat sandstone formations on the trail to Lower Calf Creek Falls
Hikers surrounded by neat sandstone formations on the trail to Lower Calf Creek Falls

In fact, each time we were here, we started at as early as 7am or as late as 9am (when we brought kids along for this hike).

The early start had the added benefit of hiking in relative solitude while being one of the first (if not the first) people at the falls.

It also meant that the morning sun would shine directly on the falls, which really brought out the colorful sandstone wall underlying the waterfall itself for great photographs.

Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail Description – from the trailhead to the pictographs

After parking the car within the day use lot of the Calf Creek Recreation Area (see directions below), we then walked beyond about 300 yards to the far end of the lot.

Lower_Calf_Creek_Falls_18_024_04022018 - The Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail officially began before this road ford of Calf Creek
The Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail officially began before this road ford of Calf Creek

Along the way, we went past some of the first-come-first-served campsites before reaching the trailhead register and trail (just before the road went through Calf Creek via a concrete ford).

At the trailhead, I recalled we picked up a paper brochure that basically contained interpretive literature that was keyed to signposts throughout the trail.

For example, near the start of the trail, there was an area of tall grass that was said to once be a watermelon patch.

Right off the bat, the Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail started off sandy with a few stretches of sandstone or slickrock surfaces.

Lower_Calf_Creek_Falls_18_031_04022018 - Context of the Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail heading towards the head of Calf Creek Canyon where the sandstone cliffs would close in. Note the hikers on the lower left of this photo for a sense of scale
Context of the Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail heading towards the head of Calf Creek Canyon where the sandstone cliffs would close in. Note the hikers on the lower left of this photo for a sense of scale

When we first did this hike back in 2001, we had to watch for rock cairns (stacks of rocks) to help us navigate through those sections where the trail wouldn’t be as obvious.

In our latest visit in 2018, the trail seemed to be much more obvious to follow and the rock cairns weren’t as prevalent.

The sandy parts of the trail made it so that each step wasn’t as efficient as we’re used to as some of that forward momentum was lost in the sand.

Thus, we had to work a little harder for each step we took in those sandy stretches.

Lower_Calf_Creek_Falls_18_055_04022018 - The Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail can be deceptively strenuous despite being flat because it was on a sandy surface
The Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail can be deceptively strenuous despite being flat because it was on a sandy surface

That combined with the desert heat (which we faced back on our first visit here in June 2001) along with low humidity meant that we often found ourselves drinking lots of water while getting a good workout.

With kids coming along, we had to bring extra water since they generally didn’t appreciate how quickly the desert conditions can wreak havoc on the body.

As we proceeded along the trail, the interpretive numbered signposts spread out along the trail helped to keep our minds off the long sandy hike.

Quite a few of the signs discussed various aspects of Calf Creek Canyon from the history to some tidbits regarding the ecosystem here.

Lower_Calf_Creek_Falls_18_073_04022018 - This brief climb was probably about as much elevation gain we would get in one short stretch along the Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail
This brief climb was probably about as much elevation gain we would get in one short stretch along the Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail

However, at about the half-way point of the hike (by the signpost 8 as of our latest hike in 2018), we spotted Native American pictographs across the canyon.

Although they were easily seen with the naked eye, a pretty powerful zoom lens was needed to bring them in close enough to fill the frame properly.

The pictograph depicted a trio of figures looking somewhat robotic or spiritual.

According to the literature, their meaning remains unknown though the style of the pictographs suggested that the Native Americans of the Fremont area were responsible.

Lower_Calf_Creek_Falls_084_09162006 - Context of the Native American pictographs seen across Calf Creek Canyon along the hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls
Context of the Native American pictographs seen across Calf Creek Canyon along the hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls

A ranger told us that there were actually more pictographs nearby in addition to the obvious three figures, but I had trouble spotting them.

Beyond the pictographs, there were other Native American artifacts or traces sprinkled about Calf Creek Canyon.

In one such example, there was evidence of granaries perched high on the cliff walls of the canyon.

This reminded me of how resourceful Native Americans were in seemingly inaccessible places like in Mesa Verde or even in the Andes Mountains of Peru.

Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail Description – hiking beyond the pictographs to the waterfall

Lower_Calf_Creek_Falls_18_105_04022018 - The eye-shaped alcove fronted by horsetail shrubs which grew in the surprisingly damp environment
The eye-shaped alcove fronted by horsetail shrubs which grew in the surprisingly damp environment

The further along the trail we went, the tall sandstone cliffs were closing in to the point that the trail eventually skirted Calf Creek.

The combination of surprisingly lush vegetation (getting their moisture from the perennial stream) with the tall sandstone walls (providing some welcome shade) gave us the second wind needed to propel us along the latter parts of the hike.

Eventually, we’d reach the pretty Lower Calf Creek Falls, which plunged over the imposing and impassable canyon walls marking the turnaround point of the hike.

The oasis-like cove was a great place to wade in the very cold plunge pool to offset the desert heat.

Lower_Calf_Creek_Falls_18_119_04022018 - Calf Creek Canyon closing in as we were getting closer to Lower Calf Creek Falls
Calf Creek Canyon closing in as we were getting closer to Lower Calf Creek Falls

The colorful algae behind the falls combined with clear blue skies really made this waterfall photogenic.

And even though there were dozens of people when we were here on our latest visit in 2018 (we made it after about 11:15am), the amphitheater still didn’t feel crowded.

We easily spent an hour or more just basking in the miracle of Nature here as well as letting the kids enjoy the fruits of their labor in making it here.

Indeed, this was one place where we could’ve lingered for quite a while longer if we wanted to.

Lower_Calf_Creek_Falls_032_09162006 - Lower Calf Creek Falls
Lower Calf Creek Falls

The return hike went quicker than on the hike in.

This was mostly because the elevation profile was now predominantly downhill though the hills were barely noticeable.

When we returned to the car, at least 4 hours had elapsed.

I’d imagine you could spend less or more time away from the car than we did depending on pace and how much time you linger at the falls.

Lower_Calf_Creek_Falls_18_278_04022018 - The crew found this shady spot with natural sandstone benches to have a fruit snack and water break to re-energize for the home stretch
The crew found this shady spot with natural sandstone benches to have a fruit snack and water break to re-energize for the home stretch

Finally, note that the name of this waterfall – Lower Calf Creek Falls – implied that there was another waterfall on Calf Creek.

Indeed, there was one, but that would require starting from a separate trailhead and proceed along a different trail.

You can read about that excursion here.

There was no official way to link the two trails that I’m aware of.

Authorities

Lower Calf Creek Falls resided in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument near Escalante in Garfield County, Utah. It is administered by the Bureau of Land Management. For information or inquiries about the reserve as well as current conditions, visit their website.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: escalante, grand staircase, utah, waterfall, garfield, boulder, calf creek



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Favorite childhood spot 40 years ago (Lower Calf Creek Falls) February 22, 2014 8:38 am by Dan Wright - My family often went camping in southern Utah when I was a kid in the '70s. At that time, few people knew about Lower Calf Creek Falls. We backpacked the short distance in, set up small tents, and stayed overnight, falling asleep to the sound of the water. It was a favorite childhood memory, and… ...Read More

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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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