Our visits: So far 2 visits in October 2012 and April 2022
Upper Calf Creek Fall
Description: The trailhead to Upper Calf Creek Fall is just off Scenic Road 12, and since it is not signed, it is easy to drive past. Coordinate parking lot: Latitude: 37.859432; Longitude: -111.437809. The trail itself is then relatively easy to find, because it basically descends steeply, almost in a straight line, over sandstone. After you have to go down quite steeply for the first few hundred meters, the trail becomes a bit more moderate after that. After about 1.3km you reach a junction. Coordinate: Latitude: 37.854447; Longitude: -111.449952. If you keep to the right here, you will reach the upper part of the waterfall after another 200m.
Back at the junction, you continue downhill for another 300m to the base of the waterfall. Here you have to overcome a slightly higher step before you finally reach the bottom of the Calf Creek Fall.
Trail length: 3.6km roundtrip
Altitude difference: 260m
Time needed: 2 hours
Difficulty level: moderate
Our rating: Even though we liked this hike to the upper of the two Calf Creek waterfalls, we found it less spectacular than the hike to the lower one. However, since the scenery here is really great, we can definitely recommend this hike as well.
Lower Calf Creek Fall
Description: The hike to Lower Calf Creek Fall is very popular. This is why the parking lot at the trailhead fills up quickly, especially in high season. For another reason, it is also a good idea not to start the hike too late in the day. In autumn especially, the waterfall is in the shade by noon at the latest. We also had to experience this fact. There is an entrance fee of $5/car for the area. You pay this at a self-pay station at the parking lot.
The hike itself is not difficult, you hike on a well-marked and maintained path along Calf Creek. It leads sometimes uphill and sometimes downhill. There is no big difficulty.
Trail length: 6.8mi roundtrip
Altitude difference: 1089ft
Time needed: 4-5 hours
Difficulty level: easy - The trail is very well developed and easy to hike. Only the total length may be a little strenuous.
Our rating: We liked the hike very much. Actually, there is everything here what you expect from a nice hike in the southwest. The entire trail leads through a great, interesting landscape with a very nice waterfall at the end. We can recommend the hike without reservation.
