East of Bryce Canyon and west of Capitol Reef national parks lies a large rugged region known as Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. A mosaic of BLM and state lands covering more than 1,500 square miles, it was the last area in the continental U.S. to be mapped. We had just one day to see some tiny portion of it. As always, a visitors center gave us great advice: we decided to hike Calf Creek in the Escalante Canyons area. It's a "moderately strenuous" in-and-back hike totaling six miles, with a 120-foot waterfall at the turnaround.
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| Calf Creek trail |
As in much of southern Utah, the rocks and topography are spectacular.
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| Rock Wall, Calf Creek canyon |
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| Calf Creek prominences |
After three miles uphill in warm weather, through a lot of deep sand, the waterfall and pool were a very welcome oasis.
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| Lower Calf Creek Falls |
