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Upper Calf Creek Falls | Hike Overview
Often overlooked in favor of the wildly popular Lower Calf Creek Falls, Upper Calf Creek Falls is a little hidden oasis in the remote desert of Grand Staircase-Escalante. The hike to reach Upper Calf Creek Falls is a short 1-mile downhill journey across large slabs of slickrock, with a steep climb back to the trailhead.
Compared to the lower falls, Upper Calf Creek Falls is smaller and perhaps slightly less impressive, but sees significantly fewer visitors. If you’re looking for a nice spot to cool off on a hot desert day but don’t want to be surrounded by unruly children and Instagram poses, check out Upper Calf Creek Falls.
We’ve compiled all the details you need to plan your hike in this article.
Upper Calf Creek Falls | At a Glance
- Hiking distance | 2.2 miles
- Elevation gain | 600 feet
- Estimated time | 2 hours
- Difficulty | Moderate (very steep return hike)
- Why you’ll love it | A hidden oasis perfect for cooling off on a hot desert day, with fewer crowds than the more popular lower falls.
- Trailhead & road conditions | Upper Calf Creek Falls Parking Area: A short gravel road located just off Highway 12, accessible with any vehicle.
- Special conditions | There is no clear trail. Use a GPS or downloaded map to navigate. Cell service is not available along the trail.
- When to go | Spring (March to May) or Fall (September to November). Prepare for extreme heat during the Summer (June to August) and possible icy conditions during the Winter (December to February).
- Pet-friendly | Dogs are permitted on the trail.
Highlights
- Beautiful waterfall and small pool you can swim in.
- Minimal crowds.
- Option to see the falls from above and below.
- Trailhead is easy to access (2WD friendly)
Lowlights
- Although the hike is short, it’s a steep climb back up to the trailhead.
- Shore of the pool is a bit swampy. No great beach area to hangout.
Remember to Leave No Trace. Pack out what you pack in, stay on trail, be well-prepared, leave nothing behind, take only photos and memories with you, treat the area with respect and help preserve this beautiful spot for generations to come.
Upper Calf Creek Falls | Trail Guide
Upper Calf Creek Falls found its way onto our Escalante bucket list after visiting the lower falls during one of our first times hiking in Grand Staircase Escalante.
The views along the trail to the falls are beautiful and although the hike is steep, it’s pretty short making for a great way to spend a couple hours. When we arrived at the falls, there was no one else there and we had the place to ourselves for a solid half an hour!
Getting to the Upper Calf Creek Falls trailhead
The parking area and trailhead are located off of Scenic Highway 12, about 30 minutes from Escalante, Utah, 25 minutes past the start of Hole in the Rock Road, and 10 minutes past Lower Calf Creek Falls trailhead.
The parking lot is down a short gravel road. There is no sign from the highway so we’d recommend having it plugged into your GPS.
Starting the hike
The trail descends immediately down towards the canyon, traversing a large section of slick rock. It’s really steep, so a pair of hiking poles is helpful here.
During the first quarter mile, there is no clear trail. Keep an eye out for cairns (piles of stacked rocks) to help you find the way.
At ¾ miles into the hike, the trail reaches an intersection. Head left to continue to the base of Upper Calf Creek Falls, or right to view the falls from above.
Upper Calf Creek Falls
Once you reach the intersection, it’s a short but steep walk down to the base of the falls. Around the pool of water below the falls, there is a grassy area and a large rock slab that would make a nice spot to hangout. Unfortunately, there is no sandy beach area like you’ll find at Lower Calf Creek Falls.
Leave no trace | Please use caution not to trample the grassy area designated as a restoration area.
Continue above Upper Calf Creek Falls
To see the falls from above, return to the main trail and turn left when you reach the intersection. Here there is another small pool at the top of the falls with a nice view of the canyon below.
Return hike
The trek back to the trailhead is by far the toughest part of the hike, so be sure to save enough time and energy! The final push back up the ridge is extremely steep and will have your lungs burning and thighs aching.
Upper Calf Creek Falls | FAQs
Should I hike Lower or Upper Calf Creek Falls?
We’ll cut to the chase: Lower Calf Creek Falls is much more popular than the upper falls. If you have time for just one, which should you choose? Let us break down the pros and cons of both.
Lower Calf Creek Falls has a slight edge in terms of natural beauty. The falls and pool are larger and simply more impressive. That being said, we thought the views from the trail to the upper falls were more beautiful.
What’s great about Upper Calf Creek Falls is that it’s much quieter, and you may even have the place to yourself (we did on a beautiful Saturday morning in April!). Lower Calf Creek Falls is very popular, so expect to share the view with Instagram selfie-takers and boisterous children!
In terms of difficulty, the trail to Lower Calf Creek Falls is longer but fairly flat, while Upper Calf Creek Falls trail is much shorter but very steep.
If we had to pick just one, we’d probably go with Upper Calf Creek Falls because we love to have a beautiful place like this to ourselves. But you really can’t go wrong with either!
Read More
Why You Should Hike Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail in Utah
A hidden oasis tucked away in Southern Utah, Lower Calf Creek Falls trail follows Calf Creek until arriving at a majestic 126-foot waterfall.
Can you hike between the Upper and Lower Falls?
No, it is not possible to hike between Lower Calf Creek and Upper Calf Creek Falls. Although the two falls are both located on Calf Creek and only about 2 miles apart as the crow flies, there is a separate trail to access each.
What should I pack for the hike?
- Hiking poles (Hers: Black Diamond Distance Z poles, His: Black Diamond Distance FLZ poles )
- Backpack with bladder (Hers: CamelBak Helena 20L, His: Camelback Rim Runner 22L)
- Hiking boots (Hers: Danner Mountain 600s, His: Salomon Ultra 4 Mid GTX)
- GPS Device (Garmin InReach Mini)
- Sunscreen and chapstick
- Sunglasses (Goodr)
- Bug Spray
If you want to go swimming by the waterfall, don’t forget these:
- Bathing suit
- Towel (PackTowl lightweight towel)
- Water shoes (Chacos)
Other Grand Staircase-Escalante Resources
Planning a trip to Grand Staircase Escalante? Be sure to check out these other great hikes in the area!
- Best Grand Staircase Escalante Hikes
- Things to do in Escalante, Utah
- Hiking & Camping on Hole in the Rock Road
- Zebra Slot Canyon
- Peek-a-boo and Spooky Slot Canyons
- Willis Creek Slot Canyon
- Big Horn Canyon
- Lower Calf Creek Falls
- Jacob Hamblin Arch
- Escalante Natural Bridge
- Phipps Arch Trail
- Coyote Gulch
- Devil’s Garden
- Cosmic Ashtray
- Golden Cathedral
We want to hear from you! Still have questions about the hike to Upper Calf Creek Falls? Or can’t decide between the upper and lower falls? Drop us a question in the comments below!
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