Lower Calf Creek Falls

Continuing on our way across southern Utah, we stopped for a few nights in Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument at the top of Hole-in-the-Rock Road. Although I would love to see the famous Hole-in-the-Rock where the Mormon settlers lowered their wagons down a crack in the cliff to the river below, it's a long drive on a really bad road. (How spoiled are we?) Instead we did the 6-mile (round trip) hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls - in my opinion, the prettiest waterfall I've ever seen.

Diana and I had been there before (twice for her,) and Ron and Phil thought we were crazy to hike six miles to see a waterfall in the desert. We assured them it would be worth it.

The hike follows Calf Creek up a pretty canyon with little elevation gain, if you don't count all the times you go up 30 feet and back down again. Are the guys wondering if a rock is about to fall on us?


No, they were looking at this interesting tree. So great to hike with fellow nature lovers.


What beautiful scenery!


This must be the picture log.


The canyon narrows down for the last mile and ends at the 126 foot Lower Calf Creek Falls. You can only see a hint of its beauty in this picture, you'll have to wait for Diana to get it on her blog for a good shot. The colors, especially that green behind the falls, are amazing.

When it's a hot day, there are always hikers frolicking in the pool. We had a perfect day, but it was really cold at the waterfall.

On our return trip, we ran across this guy in the path. He was only about as big around as a pencil and about 1 1/2 feet long. He kindly posed for me . . .


Then suddenly took off after a 2 inch lizard like this one. It might have even been this one and he circled around to use us for protection.


I appreciated this rock garden along the way.


I highly recommend this hike, but do it on a cool day. It must be a killer in the summer with most of the trail in the sun.