The Ultimate Guide To Hiking Lower Calf Creek Falls In Grand Staircase Escalante
Are you planning a trip to Utah and looking for other things to do besides Zion and Bryce Canyon National Park?
Well my friend, Lower Calf Creek Falls is the place to go! The Ultimate Guide To Hiking Lower Calf Creek Falls in Grand Staircase Escalante will give you everything you need to know about this amazing hike!
Lower Calf Creek Falls is so unique and very beautiful. There ae so many natural wonders that surround you on this amazing hike. It makes the perfect itinerary to check off a bunch of things on your bucket list.
In this guide, I will share with you all the things you need to know to have a fun and successful hike to the Lower Calf Creek Falls.
Where is Lower Calf Creek Falls?
The Lower Creek Recreation Area is located on beautiful Scenic Byway 12, about halfway between the towns of Escalante and Boulder.
The Hike
This is a beautiful 6 mile round trip hike that takes about 3-4 hours to complete with a showstopper of a waterfall at the end.
Be sure to pick up the trail guide before the hike as it points out some amazing sights and history along the way. There are petroglyphs on the cliffs around two-thirds of the way into the hike. 
The guide designates this hike as moderately strenuous due to the fact you are walking in deep sand much of the way. In my opinion, it is very similar to walking on the beach. Depending on the time of year that you go, you may see some beautiful wildflowers, and lots of cactus plants. There are many rocks along the way to take a break, have some water, and empty the sand out of your shoes.
The trail ends at the 126 foot high year round waterfall. You walk into a nice shaded area and the refreshing mist from the falls is an added pleasure cooling you off from the heat.
What To Bring
Plenty of Water
Walking on the sand in the hot sun can make you very thirsty. I would suggest brining at least 32 ounces of water to keep you hydrated.
Snacks/Food
We brought some snacks to enjoy while admiring the magnificent falls, but there were many people who were enjoying a nice lunch on a blanket with a fabulous view of the falls. Such a great idea!
Sunscreen
Most of the hike is in the direct sun. We lathered up before the hike and reapplied on the way back.
Things To Note
No restrooms along the way.
There is a day-use fee of $5 per car. Grab an envelope which is located right on the outside of the restrooms. Enclose the money and then write your car information on the outside of the envelope. Tear off the perforated part and put that back in your car on the dashboard. Put the envelope in the metal box at the start of the trail. If you have a national park pass this trail is free, but you still need to fill out the form.
Lower Calf Creek Falls is an extremely popular trail and gets crowded quickly. Plan on getting there before 9 a.m. to be able to get parking in the lot. Otherwise be prepared to park on Highway 12.
There is also first come first serve camping here. The views from the camp ground are amazing, so if you are a camper, this is the place to be.
Final Thoughts
I hoped this ultimate guide to hiking the Lower Calf Creek Falls has helped you prepare for this hike. If you are thinking about going, just do it. It was absolutely one of my favorite hikes in all of Utah
This part of Utah is breathtaking, and I absolutely love this part of the country because there are so many natural wonders within the stat .
If you are traveling to Utah, here are some guides for places nearby that I think you would love:
How To Spend 24 Hours in Bryce Canyon National Park
How to spend 24 hours in Page Arizona
The Ultimate Guide For Kayaking To Antelope Canyon
How to spend the day in Moab Utah
If you like this guide, you can pin it here! 🙂
