Spotlight: Escalante - Lower Calf Creek Falls

Spotlight: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument covers the last section of the continental United States to be officially explored and mapped. It is also the first National Monument managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) instead of the National Park Service. It is nearly double the size of the combined acreage Utah's five more popular and accessible national parks. The monument is divided into three distinct geographical regions: the cliffs of Grand Staircase, the Kaiparowits Plateau, and the Escalante Canyons.
     Located on the northern borders of the monument, waterfall enthusiasts will discover Lower Calf Creek Falls. As the name implies, there is also an Upper Calf Creek Falls, but we didn't have time to do both. The area was named after its use as a natural pen for calves in the late 1800's.

Location: Lower Calf Creek Falls are located in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, just off of Highway 12, about 11 miles south of Boulder and 16 miles east of Escalante.

Cost: There is a $5 parking fee for the campground parking lot. Camp sites cost $15/night.

Time: 3-5 hours

Description: The trailhead to Lower Calf Creek Falls is located on the north side of the Calf Creek Campground on Highway 12. The 3-mile trail (one way) is relatively flat, but because it crosses several extensive sandy patches, it is rated moderately difficult. The trail follows the stream through beautiful Navajo sandstone cliffs among interesting rock formations, including some natural windows. About 1 1/2 miles up the trail, you can spot some ancient granaries as well as some Native American pictograph panels dating to about 1200 AD. There are also a few beaver ponds along the route.

pictographs

     You can hear the falls before you see them. Lower Calf Creek Falls plunge 126 feet into a deep swimming hole that is the center point of this gorgeous desert oasis. The colorful algae behind the falls adds a unique contrast to the sandstone cliffs. The weather is nicest in the spring and fall, but the water is usually too cold to swim in except during the summer months.

Too cold to swim, so our daughters splash through the water hole

Rating: 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: - The best time to photograph Lower Calf Creek Falls is in the morning.
- You might want to wear a swimsuit under your hiking clothes if the weather is warm. If you are visiting the Falls in the summer, it would we wise to get an early start to avoid the desert heat. Also, make sure you bring plenty of drinking water.
- The canyon used to be inhabited by Native Americans from the Freemont and Anasazi tribes. You can pick up an informative trail guide at the trailhead.
-  The trailhead for Upper Calf Creek Falls is further north off Highway 12. It is only 2.2 miles round trip, but the trail is graded strenuous. The Upper Falls are 88 feet tall.
- Backcountry hikers are required to obtain permits for overnight hikes at the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center.

Nearby: Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, Anasazi State Park Museum, Hell's Backbone, Devils Garden