Calf Creek Recreation Area
Personal Notes
This page contains our personal notes on our various visits to the Calf Creek Recreation Area in Utah.
General Overview
Since 1971 we have visited Calf Creek Recreation Area on several occasions, and have driven near it on many more occasions. The campground and trail are located in the depths of this deep cut through sheer walls of Navajo sandstone. It can be extremely hot and humid in the summer months, but the stream flows all year, and can refresh the weary hiker.
The trail to Calf Creek Falls is a six mile round trip hike, most of it through loose sand, along the stream. But the pool below the falls offers a refreshing dip before your return trip. There are also several rock art panels within the canyon, as well as ancient structures, if you know where to look.
We will add more detailed information as time allows. If you need specific information, send us an e-mail and we'd be glad to send you what information we can.
Saturday, May 28, 2005
8:06 a.m.
We made it into the parking lot at Calf Creek just in time. We got one of the last spots in the main day use area. It cost us $2.00 for a day use permit. There were about two dozen cars ahead of us, and we assumed that the trail would be filled with hikers.
When we paid our fees Anne noticed a warning that the local ravens had taken a liking to windshield wiper blades. The message recommended placing a towel over the blades to keep the birds from carrying them away. So we did. I seem to remember something about this from a prior visit.
9:32 a.m.
As it turned out, there were only a few other hikers on the trail as we headed out: one couple behind us, and a family just ahead of us. We eventually passed the family at one of the Nature Trail stops.
The scenery is, as expected, pretty exciting, with a range of colors and erosional features. There is also an unusual contrast between the lush green of the canyon floor with the stark desert landscape surrounding the gorge. There are natural windows, desert varnish and iron stain streaks down the sheer cliff faces, alcoves, and sandstone domes and spires. Everywhere you look there is something new and exciting.
Along the trail we spotted a pair of wild turkeys across the creek. Anne spotted a rare river otter (I got to see the splash as it took off). There were brown trout in the stream, squirrels, lizards, yellow and red blooming cacti, and, of course, two panels of pictographs. Most of this was around or after Nature Trail marker 12, not that far from the falls.
There was one solo fellow heading back toward the trailhead just as we approached the falls. And that was it. We and the family and the other couple had the place pretty much to ourselves for about 15 minutes. Then others started arriving.
The trail is relatively flat, with a few short dips and climbs, and all of the trail information claims that the hike is six miles round trip (although it didn’t quite seem that far (I’d always thought it was only two miles one way)). The only really negative thing about the trail is that there are many long stretches of fine sand, and that always makes for difficult hiking. I’d have to rate this trail easy to moderate because of the sand.
On this day the temperatures were warm, but not hot. However, I’ve been down in this canyon on warmer days and those sheer sandstone walls can radiate a lot of heat. Travel early and take lots of water. And if you get too hot, take a dip in the cold stream. There are also places along the trail where the taller tree provide some welcome shade.
Speaking of the stream, the water was running high and clear. It’s a nice looking stream and varies in depth depending on where it is in the canyon. The water fall itself is very nice, with a couple of drops and then a long pour to the emerald pool beneath. The water is very cold, but inviting on a hot day. The area is shaded by tall trees and there is a lush green moss growing behind the water as it falls, giving the fall a very refreshing appeal. Although it’s not the tallest nor does it have the greatest volume, it is really one of the nicer falls that I’ve seen, especially in the desert. (Of course any water fall in the desert is an amazing sight.)
The shade of the trees is a nice place to sit and relax and have a bite to eat. We spoke with the others that had made the hike with us, and then headed back.
On the way back we encountered many, many more folks coming in. Lots of college age kids with their loud voices and careless attitudes. Some families, and other pairs of hikers. As expected, on the way out, the temperatures where a bit hotter than on our way in.
11:23 a.m.
Back in the parking lot we came into a circus. The campground host was directing traffic almost like a cop. He had volunteers out by the entrance road, getting people to park out there because there were no more spots inside. They used little walkie-talkies to communicate, so that when one of us early hikers left, they could direct someone new into the spot. The Campground Host said that they can get up to 150 vehicles visiting this site over the Memorial Day weekend. Way too many for our liking. I spoke with him about Anne's sighting, and he confirmed that what Anne saw was indeed a river otter, and not a beaver. He said there hasn’t been beaver in the area for a bunch of years, and that Anne's otter sighting was the first reported in about two months. He was quite pleased. There were three river otters recently introduced into the Escalante River drainage, and those in the area are trying to track their progress.
We used the restrooms and then headed out to find the trailhead for the Upper Falls.
11:50 a.m.
We found the trailhead for the Upper Falls on Calf Creek about six miles north of the entrance to the Lower Calf Creek Falls area, on the west side of the road. It is not signed, but there is a large black basalt boulder with a white stripe across it marking the dirt road that enters the pinyon/juniper forest there. The GPS Coordinates for the junction with Highway 12 are: 37 51.535N; 111 26.171W; at an elevation of 6,505 feet. The turnoff is about half way between Highway Markers 81 and 82.
A short drive over sand and stones there is a small parking area and a marked trailhead. The GPS Coordinates are: 37 51.581N; 111 26.254W; at an elevation of 6,514 feet.
On this day there were about a dozen vehicles parked in this area. It was breezy, sunny, and partly cloudy.
The trail begins along the west side of the parking area, with a registration box for signing in. The trail pretty much descends immediately. Most of the route crosses the slickrock of the white Navajo sandstone, and is exposed, with almost no cover for shade. Because the air was unexpectedly cool for this date, we didn’t suffer because of the heat. But later in the summer I’m sure this route could be brutal, even though it is only about one mile each way. Watch the cairns to guide you to your destination (although your destination is pretty obvious, with the lush green surrounding the stream sides prominent against the white sandstone).
12:40 p.m.
As you approach the obvious canyon that contains the creek and the falls, the trail turns into a maze of divergent paths. Watch the more prominent cairns and more heavily traveled path to find your way. Above the falls the main trail splits into two. The trail to the left (west) heads down to below the falls. The trail to the right (east) appears to head to an area above the falls. We took the trail to the left. This junction has a GPS coordinate of 37 51.268N; 111 26.993W; at an elevation of 5,964 feet.
This narrow trail quickly descends and has a few spots where you have to scramble just a bit to get down. But the rock is pretty abrasive, so your boots will stick pretty well, even on a steep slope. The trail passes through some tall trees and enters an alcove area with lots of vegetation. Watch out for the large clusters of poison ivy around the edges and near the trail that heads to the pool beneath the fall.
There was a group of about five guys resting at this shady spot, and we could hear young voices echoing from below. They sounded like they were playing in the water.
On the way down the trail two young women had told us that a large dog had “jumped” from the fall and had been killed, and that the owners (obviously quite upset) were still down in the gorge burying their companion. As we continued down we ran into a group of four couples, with three dogs on leashes. Anne had noted at the sign in box that one group ahead of us contained four couples and four dogs. So we suspected that this was perhaps the tragic group. Of course we don’t know the whole story, but after seeing the height of the Upper Falls, I can’t imagine a dog jumping of its own accord. I suspect that either the dog slipped in the rushing water near the top and fell to its death, or, if it did jump, it did so at its owner’s prompting. We’ll never know, but it’s a sad story.
The area down near base of the Upper Falls has a GPS coordinate of 37 51.279N; 111 27.087W; with an elevation of 5,919 feet.
After a brief lunch break we headed back to the Trooper. The climb out isn’t quite as difficult as it looks from on top. Perhaps because of the slickrock one can set a steady pace and just keep chugging until you reach the top. Besides, it's only about a mile.
1:26 p.m.
By the time we made it back to the trailhead it was starting to cloud up to the southwest. We could see a few showers off in that direction. There had been quite a few people on the trail, both coming and going, down and up. The air is warm, but there is a nice, cooling breeze.
