Explore: Cascade into Lower Calf Creek Falls, Escalante Canyons; STGnews Videocast

BOULDER, UTAH — With spring drawing near waterfalls come streaming over Southern Utah rocks and one of those worth a visit descends about 126 feet down the Escalante canyon in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument: the Lower Calf Creek Falls.


See the falls, click the play arrow  play-arrow  center of image above.


The Lower Calf Creek Falls can be accessed by a 6-mile round trip dirt and sandstone hiking trail, which begins from the Calf Creek Recreational Area within the Calf Creek Campground off state Route 12, also known as Highway 12, located approximately 11 miles south of Boulder Town and 15 miles east of Escalante.

The Lower Calf Creek Falls descends 130 feet down the Escalante Canyons, near Boulder Town, Utah, Feb. 16, 2015 | Photo by Holly Coombs, St. George News
The Lower Calf Creek Falls descends 130 feet down the Escalante Canyons, near Boulder Town, Utah, Feb. 16, 2015 | Photo by Holly Coombs, St. George News

Access to the campground is well marked from the highway and is open February through the late fall months with a $5 per day fee or a $15 overnight camping fee implemented by the Bureau of Land Management which manages lands within the national monument. The campground  includes 13 sites surrounding the Calf Creek, which runs south through the canyons before flowing into the Escalante River. 

The point-to-point trail  leads north after a mile of running parallel to Calf Creek through the canyon and Highway 12 above the canyon. At an elevation of 5,400 feet above sea level, the trail is easy for hikers to walk or run through white sand and over sandy rocks.

Glimpses of Anasazi and Fremont Indian civilization, including pictographs, or rock art, and structural remains estimated to be 800- to 1,000 years old, can be seen along the way, as well as plenty of cacti, cedar trees, and bamboo.

scenic sights along the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail, near Boulder Town, Utah, Feb. 16, 2015 | Photo by Holly Coombs, St. George News
scenic sights along the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail, near Boulder Town, Utah, Feb. 16, 2015 | Photo by Holly Coombs, St. George News

Depending on the time of day you hike into the canyon, your eyes can explore the canyon in different ways. Early to midafternoon hikes will showcase the sun crawling down the rocks. Night or midnight hikes will take away the heat of the day – even better when the moon is full and bright, shadowing through the canyon walls and dancing across the creek water alongside the trail.

At the end of the trail, a cascade pours into an 8- to 10-foot pool that swimmers may enjoy, with greenery and trees surrounding it along with sand rock canyon walls. On a hot day, water that can be around 52 degrees may be just the refreshment you need.

The Upper Calf Creek Falls, an 88-foot waterfall, can be accessed 3 miles south of Boulder Town off Highway 12. Further information for hiking can be found here.

Hike at a glance

  • Distance: 6 miles total, 3 miles up and 3 miles back to the campground parking area
  • Hiking time: Approximately one hour up and one hour back.
  • Elevation gain: 250 feet from the trailhead to the falls.
  • Trail characteristics: The hike has slight climbs along some sand rock. Mostly smooth sandstone with some intermittent natural steps to maneuver and a sandy dirt trail.
The sandy path and sand rock along the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail, near Boulder Town, Utah, Feb. 16, 2015 | Photo by Holly Coombs, St. George News
The sandy path and sand rock along the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail, near Boulder Town, Utah, Feb. 16, 2015 | Photo by Holly Coombs, St. George News

Notes

  • Restrooms and picnic tables are available at the recreational area.
  • Hikers are advised to be courteous and pack out the garbage they bring in on the trail.
  • The trail is pet friendly but dogs must be leashed.
  • Remember to carry plenty of water and at least basic safety gear when hiking.
  • Carry at least two liters of water per person. In the heat of the day, the length can draw much thirst.
  • See hiking safety tips here. This is a dry desert environment.
  • The Upper Calf Creek Falls is another addition to the view of the cascading Calf Creek as it runs 7 miles.
  • Lodging in Escalante

Driving Directions from St. George – 3 hours, 35 minutes, 200 miles

  • Travel north on Interstate 15 about 88 miles
  • Take I-15 Exit 95 onto state Route 20 East
  • Connect to US-89 South through Panguitch and travel 16.9 miles to state Route 12 East
  • Follow SR-12 East 75.5 miles through the towns of Tropic, Cannonville, Henrieville and Escalante
  • Turn left into the Calf Creek Campground just off SR-12 East just 13 miles east of Escalante
  • Park in the provided lot and pay the fee in the envelope on the board provided with information for hiking and camping

Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery. 

Resources

Related posts

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.