Calf Creek Headwaters

Upper Calf Creek Falls

What more can be said about Upper Calf Creek. The lower section of this canyon is very well known. Many people come from near and far to visit the lower falls, but unknowingly pass right by the upper falls thinking that the falls themselves are unremarkable. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
To get there:  Do yourself a big favor and drive right past the normal entrance to Upper calf creek which has become overrun with people.  This route will take you into the heart of what Calf Creek should be.  A lush riparian zone and a geological adventure.  From either Escalante or Boulder turn onto the Salt Gulch Road heading west.  This is also the road that takes you to Hells Backbone.  Right after you turn onto the road, turn off it onto one of two tracks that lead directly south (to your left).  This will take you to the famous Boulder air strip and UFO landing site.  It is also where the trail-head takes off for the Boulder Mail Trail.  You will need a high clearance vehicle for this entrance.  This road is called McGath Point Road.  Head down this road 2.4 miles until you come to a fork in the road.  Stay to the right as the left gets really sandy.  The right fork will end almost immediately at a wide open rocky flat top area.  Park your vehicle here.  This is also the trail head for Sand Creek.

The trail:  You should feel comfortable with your surroundings to take this route to Upper Calf Creek.  Understand the topography because there is no set of cairns to follow.  I you get lost or turned around easy, take the normal entrance in to the area.  Point your face down the hill to the east.  This is the Calf Creek Basin.  Above the upper falls is marshy, and choked with brush.  Don’t enter the green belt too soon as you will pay the price of bushwhacking.  The hike will start but traversing big white billowy Navajo sandstone that resembles clouds.  If you go too far to the north the cliffs get steep but if you hug them and follow them around to the south, they get more gradual.  Once you get down close to the canyon floor, stay on the southwestern side of the canyon and you will find yourself right at the Blue Belly pot hole.  This is a great swimming hole right above the upper falls.  When your done playing there, find your way around the obvious trail on the North eastern side of the canyon to get below the upper falls.  Here is another great swimming hole that is always cold due to the springs in it.  The real fun of Calf creek is not to have it end here.  Continue down canyon from here.  Ford the creek and make your way through the river birch trees.  Watch your step as the creek is rock bottomed and is full of ankle twisting pot holes.  About a mile down from this point you can find the most amazing fish.  These Colorado Cut Throat trout have been stuck here since before the waterfalls were here.  They are natives.  Please be kind to them, if they fall over the lower falls they get eaten up by the larger more aggressive non native brown trout found in lower calf creek.  Right before you find the fish look to your right (northwest side) and you will see a 4th class scramble out of the canyon.  Drop packs here or mark the spot somehow.  Continue down canyon as far as you’d like watching the fish swim in the pot holes, then make your way back across the slick rock heading north at first, then west.  Watch the canyon for the point where you can see the upper falls again.  At this point head back up the mesa.  Just remember, there is only one road up there and you will get to it.  If you end up south of where you parked, just use the road to get you back.
• Total time: 4-6 hours
• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
• Aquatic hiking
• Lots of Flora and Fauna.
• Leave No Trace Ethics strongly followed in this sensitive area.

  

Below upper calf creek falls