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 for 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 used hotels.com 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’t—the 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 & tripod—haha.
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
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