Upper Calf Creek Falls
Upper Calf Creek Falls —the less-traveled sister hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls— is a beautiful and adventurous short hike with some steep terrain. A swath has been cleared through the rocky veneer at the start of this trail, and cairns show the way down the swath via a moderately steep slickrock friction pitch. The route is somewhat easier than it first appears, and hikers should be confident that the slickrock affords good purchase, but proceed cautiously.
Vistas from the start are dramatic and far-reaching, stretching to the Pink Cliffs of the Table Cliff Plateau on the western horizon, and far southwest to the Straight Cliffs bounding the Kaiparowits Plateau. The drainage of Calf Creek unfolds below, exposing miles of sweeping, cross-bedded white Navajo slickrock.
Hikers reach a well-worn sandy path, 300 feet below the rim and gradually descend over the sandy, gently sloping bench. Seasonal wildflowers splash their colors across the trailside slopes.
Eventually, the trail splits: The lower trail to the left descends over slickrock to the foot of the falls, and the upper trail to the right continues up-canyon to the head of the falls, leading to a small pool at the top of the falls, where Calf Creek’s banks are fringed with a ribbon of willow, water birch, and silver buffaloberry.
If you take the lower trail, beware of the abundant poison ivy, which grows 3 to 4 feet tall and is recognizable by its woody stem and large shiny green leaves that grow in threes. Here the music of the falls is enjoyed to its best advantage, and the large pool below is a bonus on a hot day. After a rest, ascend the slickrock trail to the trailhead via the same route.
Start: Upper Calf Creek Falls Trailhead
Distance: 2 miles, round-trip
Approximate hiking time: 1 to 1.5 hours, round-trip
Difficulty: Moderate, Class 2 friction pitches just below the rim
Trail surface: Cairned slickrock route and boot-worn trails
Trailhead access: 2WD
Best seasons: Apr through early June; Sept through Oct
Pets: Leashed dogs permitted (not recommended due to steep terrain near the falls)
Water availability: Available at Calf Creek; treat before drinking or bring your own
Hazards: Flash-flood danger in Calf Creek Canyon
Permits: Not required for day hikes
Topo maps: Calf Creek USGS quad; Trails Illustrated Canyons of the Escalante
Finding the trailhead: This unmarked spur road is approximately 20.5 miles north of Escalante on UT 12 and approximately 7.4 miles southwest of Boulder. The dirt road to the trailhead can be found on the north (left) side of the road between mile markers 80 and 81. The very rough and rocky road leads 0.1 miles to the trailhead parking area on the rim of Calf Creek Canyon. There are pullouts to park in just off the highway if you are driving a low-clearance vehicle.
