Calf Creek Falls (Lower)
Closed to canyoneering, the entire drainage, since April 2018. What remains is the trail hike to a 125 foot waterfall that is probably the most photographed on the Colorado Plateau.
The closure came from the BLM Escalante field office on 22 April 2018 and covers Calf Creek upper and lower. Any trip report you find describing two rappels predates it; do not use it as current beta. As a hike it is 7.4 miles round trip with about 500 feet of elevation change, mostly deep sand, interpretive signs the whole way and a pictograph panel visible from the trail if you look up at the right point. There is very little shade and full sun for most of the day, so go early spring through fall and mid day in winter. The day use lot fills on busy weekends and cars park out along Highway 12; the fee charged there is for the recreation area, not a canyoneering permit, and no fee buys you into the closed drainage.
Logistics
| Manager | BLM Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (Calf Creek Recreation Area) |
|---|---|
| Permit | Closed to canyoneering since 2018-04-22, the entire Calf Creek drainage (upper and lower), per the BLM Escalante field office. The $5 per vehicle day use fee at the Calf Creek Recreation Area applies to the Lower Calf Creek Falls hiking trail and is not a canyoneering permit. |
| Technical | 2 rappels |
| Season | Any;HOT in Summer |
| Coordinates | 37.8293, -111.4203 |
Sources
- permit: https://www.blm.gov/visit/calf-creek-recreation-area-day-use-site
- feeUsd: https://www.blm.gov/visit/calf-creek-recreation-area-day-use-site
- manager: https://www.blm.gov/visit/calf-creek-recreation-area-day-use-site
- closure: https://ropewiki.com/Calf_Creek_Falls_(Lower)
- permitType: https://ropewiki.com/Calf_Creek_Falls_(Lower)
- desc: http://roadtripryan.com/go/t/utah/escalante/lowercalfcreek
- notes: https://ropewiki.com/Calf_Creek_Falls_(Lower)
- fee context: https://www.blm.gov/visit/calf-creek-recreation-area-day-use-site
- heroPhoto: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calf_Creek_Falls,_Grand_Staircase-Escalante_National_Monument_(50626119988).jpg