2023 - West - Escalante UT - Upper Calf Creek Falls - September 6

 

September 6 – We hiked Lower Calf Creek Falls a few years back and Vaughan really wanted to hike Upper Calf Creek Falls. The lower falls is about a 6 mile round trip along a nice little trout stream. It has a beautiful falls with a nice beach to picnic on.

We found out too late that the upper falls may be only a 2.3 mile round trip but it is straight down then straight back up. That’s over 600 feet of elevation with no switchbacks on slickrock following cairns with very little shade. Luckily it was in the 70s and we had a great breeze. Parts were extremely steep which meant lots of stopping on the way up to catch my breath.  

If you look at the dark areas down below that is the canyon we are heading for - way way down!

Looking back - we aren't even half way. We came from way up there at the very top.

Almost there - 

Jim and Jill decided to hike to the top of the falls - there were pools of water cascading into one another.

Jazzy (their dog) got to wade in to cool off.

Vaughan and I went to the base of the falls instead.  This was our first view of the falls.

Finally at the bottom - 

The hike out was brutal with many stops to allow us (mostly me) to catch our breath.