Calf Creek Falls & Campground: One of the Best Stops I Made in Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument
Camping at Calf Creek and hiking to one of the most unexpected waterfalls in southern Utah.
Words by Michele Underwood | Photos by Michele
Lower Calf Creek Falls in Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument
Earlier that day, I had left Capitol Reef on my way to Bryce Canyon National Park. I was listening to a guided app I love for national parks, GuideAlong, and as I entered Torrey to get diesel and a latte for the road, it suggested taking the scenic route to Bryce.
So I did.
The route took me through Dixie National Forest and into Boulder, where I stopped at the Anasazi State Park Museum. I also stopped at Hollow Mountain Market, a small grocery store with surprisingly good food.
By that point, I was driving through Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument along Scenic Byway 12 and was ready for a break. I looked up campgrounds along the route and came across one called Calf Creek.
The campground sits right in a canyon with a creek running through it, which already feels different from the surrounding desert landscape. After days of dry desert, having water and trees around you changes everything.
What I didn’t realize at the time is that one of the best hikes in the area starts right from the campground.
Calf Creek Campground
Calf Creek Recreation Area sits along Scenic Byway 12 in southern Utah
Calf Creek Campground is first-come, first-served, which was part of why I stopped. I didn’t have anything booked and was just looking for a place along my route to settle in for the night.
There are around 13 campsites, so it’s a small campground. Because of that, it can fill up, especially in peak season.
You can pay at the kiosk if it’s working, or fill out one of the standard yellow envelopes with cash or a check. It’s around $20 per night, with a 14-night stay limit.
The campground sits right in a canyon with a creek running through it, which already feels different from the surrounding desert landscape.
Calf Creek Campground sites are first-come, first-served
Calf Creek Campground sits right in the canyon with water and trees — a different feel from the surrounding desert
After days of dry desert, pulling into a place with water, trees, and shade feels like a reset. You hear the creek right away, and everything feels a little cooler and more contained compared to the wide-open landscape you’ve been driving through.
I picked spot 5, which was perfect. My van sat right next to a wall of sandstone. The site was tucked into the wall with a picnic table and a fire ring. And, I could hear the creek. It was awesome.
There’s a small bridge that takes you across the creek, and campsites are tucked into the trees along both sides. It’s quiet in a different way than the desert — not empty, but settled.
There’s a parking lot right at the entrance of the campground for people heading out on the hike, which, at the time, I still knew nothing about.
Even in late February, it was pretty full, which I thought was surprising for that time of year.
It’s the kind of place where you stop with the intention of staying for a bit, not just passing through.
And what makes it even better is that the trail to Lower Calf Creek Falls starts right from the campground, so you don’t have to go anywhere once you’re there.
The Hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls
Lower Calf Creek Falls trailhead — the starting point for one of the best hikes in Escalante
While I was getting camp set up, I met another camper near my spot who had been there for a while. He’s the one who mentioned the Calf Creek hike.
I hadn’t planned on hiking, but I wanted to get a workout in, so I decided to go the next morning after coffee and a little work on Overland Girl.
The trail to Lower Calf Creek Falls starts right from the campground, which makes it easy to access once you’re there.
It’s about 6 miles round trip and follows the canyon the entire way. The trail is mostly flat, but there are long stretches of sand that can slow you down, especially on the way back.
The trail follows the canyon with layers of sandstone the entire way
The trail follows the canyon and the creek the entire way.
Along the hike, there are numbered stakes in the ground. If you grab a pamphlet from the kiosk at the parking lot at the entrance, you can follow along and learn more about the area as you go.
There are stops that highlight features such as beaver habitats and even petroglyphs along the trail. I think there are around eight of them in total.
At the start, I didn’t know much about the hike. I just saw the number of cars in the parking lot and figured it had to lead somewhere worth going.
The trail stays fairly consistent as you walk — canyon walls on both sides, open sections, and a steady path that doesn’t change much. Because of that, you don’t really get a sense of what’s ahead.
It feels like you’re just walking through the desert, not toward anything specific.
And then, at the end, everything changes.
Lower Calf Creek Falls
Lower Calf Creek Falls — a 126-foot waterfall at the end of the hike
Lower Calf Creek Falls
Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument37.7945, -111.4158
At the end of the trail, the canyon opens up and you’re standing in front of a 126-foot waterfall pouring down into a pool below.
It doesn’t really make sense at first. You’ve just spent miles walking through a dry desert canyon, and then suddenly there’s this.
I ended up staying there for a while, just taking it in.
It’s one of those places that feels completely different from everything you just walked through, which is what makes it stand out.
Why This Stop Stood Out
This ended up being one of the best stops I made in Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument.
You have a place to camp, a solid hike, and something at the end that feels completely different from everything else around it. This place is unreal.
It’s not just one thing — it’s the combination of all of it in one place.
Final Thoughts
I didn’t plan this stop, but it ended up being one of the highlights of my time in southern Utah.
After spending time in the dry, open desert, being somewhere with water, shade, and a defined trail felt different.
It’s an easy place to stop, stay, and actually spend time, not just pass through. I highly recommend it, and if you have kids, they will love it.
Explore More in Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument.
If you’re planning a trip through the area, I put together a guide with the places I explored, including slot canyons, waterfalls, and stops in Escalante and Boulder.
Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument: My Favorite Hikes and Places to Explore
I Thought a National Monument Was Small — Then I Saw Escalante
Michele Underwood writes Overland Girl, where she shares firsthand travel experiences across the American West — from desert landscapes and national parks to small towns layered with history. Her work blends movement, place, and the stories that shape them.
Some posts may include affiliate links to products or services she uses on the road. If you choose to purchase through those links, she may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. It helps support continued travel and storytelling. She only links to items she personally uses or would use herself.