After visiting Bryce Canyon National Park, we continued our Utah Mighty Five Southwest road trip with a stop at the Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail in Escalante, Utah. Here, we hiked to Lower Calf Creek Falls, one of the few active waterfalls in the southern Utah desert, and were blown away by its beauty.
This post focuses on how to hike the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail, where it’s located, how much it costs, the best time to visit, where to stay, and more. Let’s dive in!
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Where is Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail Located?
Lower Calf Creek Falls is located in the Staircase-Escalante National Monument off of the Utah Scenic Byway 12 between Escalante and Boulder, Utah. The GPS coordinates forĀ Calf Creek Campground and the Lower Calf Creek Falls trailhead are (37.793186, -111.413820).
How Much Does Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail Cost?
There’s a $5 per vehicle fee for the Lower Calf Creek Falls day-use parking lot. Hiking the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail is free.
What’s the Best Time to Hike Lower Calf Creek Falls?
Most people hike the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail between March and June and in September and October. We hiked the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail in late October. In our opinion, this is the best time to visit Escalante and to hike the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail. There were no crowds during our visit, and we loved all of the fall foliage this time of year!
The weather at Lower Calf Creek Falls varies drastically by season. Temperatures can reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit or more in the summer and drop below freezing in the winter. Spring and fall offer milder temperatures and more pleasant hiking conditions.
When we hiked the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail, temperatures were in the 50s, since we arrived late in the day. This was great for hiking, but we were cold near the waterfall and didn’t do any swimming.
The Lower Calf Creek Falls trail is a popular hike, especially in summer months. If you’re visiting during this time of year, consider hiking during the week to avoid the crowds.
Lower Calf Creek Falls Map
If you’re doing a Southwest road trip to the Utah Mighty Five, you’ll likely pass the Escalante area on your way from Bryce Canyon National Park to Capitol Reef National Park (or vice versa). There are several ways to get from Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef. To pass through Escalante, you’ll want to take the route along UT-12 E.
Calf Creek is a stream located in the Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and there are two waterfalls, upper and lower falls. The Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail is right off the Utah Scenic Byway 12 and is easily accessible, making it the most popular of the two.
Where to Stay Near Lower Calf Creek Falls?
Lower Calf Creek Falls camping is available onsite at the Calf Creek Campground for $10 and is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Dogs are allowed in the camping area but must be kept on a leash at all times.
We stayed at the Red Ledges Inn (near Bryce Canyon National Park) the night before and the Broken Spur Inn & Steakhouse (near Capitol Reef National Park) the evening after our hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls. We usedĀ hotels.comĀ to book both stays and paid less than $60 for the Red Ledges Inn and just under $120 for the Broken Spur Inn.
Are Dogs Allowed on Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail?
Dogs are permitted at the campground and on the trails, as long as they’re leashed. We actually saw lots of folks walking their dogs here!
Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail Guide
To find the Lower Calf Creek Falls trailhead, start at the day-use parking area and follow the road through the campground for 0.2 miles. There are signs pointing in the direction of the Lower Calf Creek Falls trailhead and a prominent sign where it begins.
The Lower Calf Creek Falls trail is around 6 miles out-and-back and is relatively flat. It can become challenging at times, since much of the hike is over slick red rock and through sand. Note to self: hiking through sand is not particularly fun in hiking boots!
Personally, I felt that the beginning of the hike was most strenuous, as it’s rocky and uphill. We even contemplated turning back at one point, since we were tired from all of the hiking we did at Bryce Canyon that morning, and it was already late afternoon. But, we sure are happy that we didn’tāthe waterfall view at the end was so worth it!
Along the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail, you’ll pass through wetlands, fields of rabbitbrush, groves of Gambel oak, and woodlands of junipers and pinyon pines. There’s an active population of beaver in the area, so you’ll likely see some beaver dams too.
You’ll also come across several granaries built by the Freemont Culture, which inhabited Utah from AD 700 to AD 1300, and some pictograph panels showcasing Freemont-style rock art; how neat is that?!
When you reach the end of the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail, you’ll walk through some dense greenery and arrive at a breathtaking waterfall. Lower Calf Creek Falls descends from a 126-foot-tall, mineral-streaked cliff of Navajo Sandstone into a deep pool, or swimming hole.
In the summer, you’ll likely find kids, dogs and even some adults cooling off in the pool at the base of Lower Calf Creek Falls. In the late fall, you’ll find us playing around right in front of the pool taking pictures with our Fugetek selfie stick & tripodāhaha.
This is the perfect spot for a picnic or a quick rest before heading back the way you came.
A Broad Recommendation: If you do stop here to picnic, remember to clean up after yourself and to pack out all trash. If you brought your dog along, remember to pick up after them as well.
How Long Does it Take to Hike Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail?
You should plan to spend around 3 hours hiking the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail. It took us around 2.5 hours, and we spent around 30 minutes admiring the waterfall and taking pictures.
If you’re looking for something less crowded, Upper Calf Creek Falls also has hiking and swimming opportunities.
A Broad Recommendation: Remember to pack lots of water, snacks, sunblock, and extra clothes to layer. Temperatures change throughout the day, and the area around the waterfall was much cooler than the rest of the trail. Also note that there are no facilities on the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail. Be sure to use the restroom at the parking lot before beginning your hike.
Other Hikes Near Lower Calf Creek Falls
The Escalante area offers lots of exciting hiking opportunities! Note that some of these trails require a vehicle that’s equipped for driving on bumpy, washboard dirt roads.
- Upper Calf Creek Falls
- Escalante Natural Bridge
- Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
- Devil’s Garden (more of a leisurely walk among sandstone rock formations)
- Zebra Slot Canyon
- Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyon
- Coyote Gulch
- Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch
A Broad Recommendation: Due to the lack of cell service throughout this area, make sure to download Google offline maps and to pack extra water, snacks and warm clothes in case of an emergency.
We really enjoyed our quick visit to the Escalante area and hiking to Lower Calf Creek Falls! We would highly recommend a stop here on your way from Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef or vice versa.
XOXO Sara at Travel A-Broads
Thank you so much for this remarkable guide! I really love your pics too!
It’s my absolute pleasure! Thank you so much for your kind words š.
We’ve been to Capitol Reef and to Bryce Canyon, but we missed the Escalante area. It looks really stunning!
We almost passed this one by too, and I’m so happy we didn’t! The waterfall at the end of this trail was absolutely gorgeous, and I’d love to see more of this area someday š.
Oh my, I looove the colours of Escalante in the autumn. The stipes of the rocks are really highlighted by the changing leaves. It’s beeeautiful. Lower Calf Creek Falls is (of course) stunning too. What a perfect hike.
It was simply amazing! I was blown away by this waterfall; it’s such a hidden gem, and like you said, stunning!
The Escalante and Kanab area is on my list! These areas look like they have so many hidden gems like the Lower Calf Creek Falls. It looks gorgeous. The Peek-a-Boo slot canyon sounds cool too.
Couldn’t agree more! I would love to explore more of this area too š.
I haven’t had the chance to visit the national parks in the US. I would love to visit this area one day. The hiking trail looks quite impressive. Thank you for all the useful information!!
My pleasure! There are so many amazing hikes in this area – and lots of national parks! You’ll have plenty to do when you visit š.
Another amazing find. I would love to hike this
We were pleasantly surprised by how much we loved this hike! It was just an add-on between visiting the more popular national parks in the area, and we loved this trail just as much as everything else we did in Utah š.
I can see why it’s a popular site to visit, especially in the summer. Great tip to go during the week. What a beautiful landscape offering some epic views.
It really was so beautiful! I’m sure visiting in the summer would be so much fun š.
The pictures of you guys at the waterfall are so cute! I’m bummed we missed this area on our Utah NP road trip! We plan on going back though so I’m pinning this for later!
Yay! I hope you’ll get to do this one – it’s well worth a visit and the 6 miles! And, thank you š. We were having so much fun and were the only ones there!
What a beautiful trail! The falls look spectacular! The rock formations look amazing, it looks like there is something to see at every turn on this trail. I’d love to visit Lower Calf Creek Falls one day – thanks for the great guide!
My pleasure! I hope you can visit someday too. This trail really was a pleasant surprise, and we really enjoyed our time exploring here!
Wow, Calf Creek Falls is stunning against the color of the rock face. This is a hike that Iād love to do especially as itās so scenic. Going in the fall would be a plus to avoid the crowds, high temps and see some foliage!
That rock face was simply incredible! We were so surprised to find this gorgeous waterfall at the end of the trail (since we hadn’t done any research before hiking here). The fall foliage was really beautiful here too – I really loved visiting in the fall and would highly recommend it š.
Beautiful! Looks like you had a lot of fun at Lower Calf Creek Falls. I think I need that selfie stick š
It was well worth every penny, haha. We used it throughout our entire Southwest road trip, and we were able to capture some couple shots we never would’ve gotten otherwise considering it wasn’t crowded in most places we went!
What a stunning hiking trail to go on! The landscape and rock formations in this park are incredible
Couldn’t agree more! We were really blown away by this trail and the waterfall at the end.
Beautiful! Seems that you did right to visit at the end of the season, not only for less crowds but looks nice and not too hot. I always imagine hiking in this region to be hot, but this looks cool and comfortable. I would love to see a beaver too as I’ve never manage to spot o in the wild yet.
I probably wouldn’t visit any other time (except maybe spring before it gets too crowded again). I couldn’t imagine doing the same road trip and hikes we did in that summer heat!
The lower calf creek falls trail looks absolutely stunning! Would love to visit for a family hike. Your photos are pretty awesome too!
This is really the perfect family hike! The trail was moderate but felt very safe, and the swimming hole at the end would be so fun for kids to play in!
Yay! A dog-friendly park with opportunities for them to splash around…love it!!!
Yes!! Of the very few people we saw hiking on this trail, they all had doggies!
I have never been to Utah but you are making me want to with these photos. Looks absolutely beautiful and all your advice and tips are really helpful.
This was our first trip to Utah too! We did Zion, Bryce, Lower Calf Creek Falls/Escalante, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands, and we were blown away by every single thing we did! All of the hikes were incredible and had amazing scenery. I highly recommend a visit if you can soon!
A waterfall in the desert!? That sounds superb. And it looks absolutely gorgeous. What a great find!
Right?! We were so impressed! It’s a beautiful hike if you ever get to go.
What a great post! The hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls looks so beautiful! I also love that dogs are allowed on the trail since dogs aren’t allowed on so many of the hiking trails in Utah’s NPs. Maybe we’ll have to bring Sedona š Thanks for sharing this super helpful post!
Yes! You definitely should! We actually saw lots of pups on the trail, and I bet Sedona would love splashing around in the pool at the end š.
Great tips for hiking to Lower Calf Creek Falls in Escalante. We love this part of Utah. We’ll have to check it out sometime. Thank you!
This was our first visit ever to Utah, and we fell in love with the area too. I hope you’ll get to do this hike some day! It’s well worth the visit.
Wow, what an amazing natural spot. I’ve been to Zion dozens of times but never heard of Escalante or the lower calf creek falls. The rock art is super cool as well! Looks like a great stop on an epic road trip through Utah.
You know, I really don’t know how we were lucky enough to stumble across this trail, but we were so impressed with it and can now recommend it to everyone! It’s the perfect stop between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef and definitely worth a visit next time š.
Wow incredible spot and just about the perfect length of time for me- the suggestions are very helpful and the detailed tips= the waterfall is beautiful and the Park is not one that I have visited!
I hope you can visit soon! This was such a great fall hike with all of the beautiful foliage, but if you like swimming, summer may be a great time to visit too š.
What a beautiful spot. I’d love to visit Utah and this hike looks phenomenal, such a pretty waterfall too. Great recommendations, I think camping out here would be awesome
Who knew Utah had such a stunning waterfall, right? This was our first time in Utah, and we absolutely loved everything we did!
Wow, yet another beautiful place in Utah! I’m gonna need a couple weeks there at least to see it all! Thanks for sharing – your photos by the falls are so pretty and fun!
Our trip was 11 days long, and we felt that it was the perfect amount of time to explore a lot of the area and do some of the more popular hikes!
Liking is my favorite outdoor activity. Iād like to take this hike and check out the waterfalls. It would be a fun afternoon.
We love hiking too! If you visit in the summer, you’ll even get to enjoy some swimming here too š.
This looks like a lovely hike and well worth it to view that beautiful waterfall, like you said a rarity in the area. I am so upset that I missed this on my trip to Utah last year, but it will definitely be on the list for my next trip to the area.
I feel like there is just SO much to do in Utah for just one trip! We will definitely be heading back again one day. I hope you’ll get to do this one soon!
The waterfall and surrounding area look beautiful, right out of a movie! I love how you have captured the beauty in the pictures. Would love to plan a trip soon.
Thanks so much! I really hope you can visit soon. We really enjoyed this trail, and it was a pleasant surprise given that it was a last minute add-on to our itinerary!
This looks like a lovely hike! I’ve been to Bryce, but not Zion yet and I’d love to get back to Utah to check out more. I love your pictures with the waterfall, so cute!
Thanks so much! We were having such a blast before it started getting a bit too chilly, and we had to turn back. I hope you’ll be able to visit Zion and some of the other national parks in Utah soon – they’re honestly all really incredible from our experience š.
The views from your hike are gorgeous. I’ve only hiked once in Utah. These photos make me want to explore Calf Creek Falls!
We really loved exploring Utah! This hike was a bit of a surprise, especially with the waterfall in the middle of the desert, and we really enjoyed it!
Your photos look stunning and they make me want to hike Lower Calf Creek Falls trail right now! A new one for my bucket list. Thank you!
So happy I could introduce you to something new! This trail was definitely off the beaten path, quite beautiful and completely empty during our visit – always love a nice hike without crowds.
loving those dynamic poses in front of the falls – definitely a vibe!
Haha, thank you! We were trying to learn how to use our selfie stick/tripod set-up, but they ended up turning out pretty cute š.
This place seems to be off the beaten track, however looks stunning and intriguing. Hehe I love your yoga pose (handstand/scorpio ?) in front of the waterfall.
We saw very few people on this hike, which was really nice, and there was no one at the waterfall when we got there! And, thank you š. I’m a former gymnast and had to show off my handstand skills at a couple of the spots we visited in Utah. Signature move, haha.
Wow, this hike looks gorgeous. keep planning to visit Utah – just postponed trip to next year now. Saving this post because I hadnāt heard of this particular walk before.
I had been waiting to visit Utah for quite a bit as well; it sure was worth the wait! We found this particular trail on a whim and almost didn’t do the whole thing, but I’m really happy we did, since that waterfall was the best part!
Hiking here looks absolutely amazing. Your scenic pictures are breathtaking. Great tips on what to carry during the hike as well as the duration. Iām hoping to take another hiking trip this year so I will save your post!
Thanks so much, Lenore! I’m glad you found it useful, and I hope you have a wonderful trip!
What a beautiful hike and the waterfall is stunning!
We were really impressed by the waterfall! Well worth the hike!
This hike looks stunning! I am definitely saving this for when I make it to Utah someday. I’m obsessed with the waterfall series photos, so cute!
Hehe, thank you! We were having so much fun with our new selfie stick/tripod! I hope you can visit Utah soon; this was our first time visiting, and I can truly attest that it’s absolutely incredible. We will be going back one day! Let me know if I can help with any additional information or tips š.
Wow! The waterfalls are gorgeous! I’ve never heard of this area and I need to go!
We hadn’t heard of it either before our visit – and we honestly were not expecting this gorgeous waterfall view! We were totally blown away by this hike!
The timing on this post is perfect as we are looking at planning a trip to Zion in the next year and hoping to do some hiking! This looks wonderful!
That’s exciting! Feel free to check out my Zion post too – we did a lot of hiking there as well, and I have lots of tips for when you visit š.
I love these kinds of hikes. Utah has so many more different types of landscapes; it’s amazing. We didn’t have time to see much so I really want to go again one day.
Utah really is quite unique! We were so surprised to see a waterfall practically in the middle of nowhere on this trail! It was quite beautiful.
Utah keeps calling my name! I would love to hike at the stunning Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail in Escalante.
Can’t wait to hear about your visit when you finally make it there! Hope you have a great time š.
Iām actually heading to Utah in April this year so Iām going to add this destination to my list. This is a great guide! And beautifully pics!!!
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that! This hike was an unexpected surprise and a great add-on to your itinerary if you’ll already be in the area. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did š.
I visited both Zion and Bryce, but sadly I missed the Escalante area on my trip to Utah! I’m so sad I did because it looks absolutely amazing. The landscapes and waterfalls are just incredible! I for sure need to plan a trip back!
We totally did this on a whim, and luckily, we had just enough time for this hike! I’d definitely like to get back out there an explore more though. I hope you enjoyed Zion and Bryce as much as we did; those were two of our favorite national parks so far š.
Oh my goodness, as if I didn’t want to visit Utah enough already! You have me seriously wanderlusting right now!
Yay! That was totally my goal š. I hope you’ll get to visit soon!
That waterfall is beautiful!! Utah really has some of the best scenery to offer!
It was such an incredible surprise at the end of this hike – we didn’t do much research before visiting. Utah really is just so amazing š.
Escalante looks stunning in fall. We’ve been to this area once, but it was in the spring.
I bet the weather in spring was great too, but I am such a sucker for fall foliage š.
I absolutely agree that fall is the best time to see this area. It has been so long since I have been to Moah, Zion and Escalante, but your photos are telling me it is time to go back!
Yes! It was our first time visiting, and we absolutely loved it. Hope you can get back out there soon!
We are very sorry we missed the Escalante area when we explored the national parks in Utah. How interesting to find a waterfall in the desert! What a lovely scene of colours you got. Definitely a hike for our return visit.
We did this very spontaneously and were totally blown away! If you can visit in the fall, it’s a great time for all that foliage, but I bet it’d be fun in the summer when you can go for a swim too š.
This is an area my husband and I have yet to explore. The pictures are great and with additional hikes available in the area, it seems like a good choice in Utah.
Thanks, Jolayne! We were really impressed with this hike, especially considering we went into it knowing nothing about it really. When we approached the waterfall, we were truly blown away. It’s breathtaking! Definitely worth a visit if you enjoy moderate hiking, and the fall foliage was also really pretty in October when we went – a great time to visit if you can.