Conditions Right Now
Use sunset as your turnaround alarm.
Why Hike This
The sand is the whole story here. Six-plus miles of soft canyon-bottom sand takes more out of your legs than the 521 feet of gain suggests, and it is why this reads harder than a flat trail on paper. BLM keeps an interpretive brochure at the trailhead and it is worth grabbing, because there is rock writing in this canyon that is easy to walk straight past. Restrooms are at the trailhead, and you are expected to pack out solid waste in a WAG bag.
The Trail
126 ft falls with a swimming hole at the end of a sandy canyon. Worth every step.
Heat note: desert country - in summer start at dawn and carry more water than feels reasonable.
Pack Loadout (Moderate)
2 liters water, trail shoes, sun layer, snacks, small first-aid kit.
Getting There
Make it a weekend: Calf Creek Campground (Camping, 0 mi) · Wide Hollow Reservoir (Fishing, 12 mi) · Boulder Mountain Lakes (Fishing, 20 mi) · Singletree Campground (Camping, 21 mi)
More hikes nearby: Zebra Slot Canyon (Hike, 12 mi) · Peek-a-Boo & Spooky Gulch (Hike, 24 mi) · Coyote Gulch (Hike, 30 mi) · Capitol Gorge & The Tanks (Hike, 32 mi)
Quick Answers
- How long is the Lower Calf Creek Falls hike?
- 6.7 miles round trip with 521 feet of elevation gain.
- How hard is Lower Calf Creek Falls?
- Moderate. Kid rating: 3 out of 5.
- When should I hike Lower Calf Creek Falls?
- Best season: Spring & Fall.
- Why hike Lower Calf Creek Falls?
- Because a 126 foot waterfall with a pool at the bottom is not a thing southern Utah hands out often, and this one sits at the end of an easy-angled canyon walk. BLM rates it moderate mainly for the deep sand. Carry more water than you think and go early in the day.