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 p.1 #1 · Calf Creek Falls - a Desert Oasis | |
Calf creek falls is about a 3 hour drive from where I live. I'm very southwestern Utah while Calf Creek is around southeastern Utah. The drive is very pretty and a nice break from the heat most of the way. I drive on top of Cedar Mountain to get to the road that leads to Bryce Canyon, then it gets hot again.
When you near the campground in highway 12, you start to drop into a low valley filled with elephant rock, red rock, and cedar tree's (we call them). It's very hot, and appears very desolate (though it does have its own unique beauty).
We arrived at the campgrounds ($7 charge) and made camp right across the river from where the hike started. We thought it was brilliant until we realized we'd have to get wet right away just to cross to the hiking spot about 20 feet away from the river. I waded through and my friend actually tried to run and tiptoe across and slipped, getting soaked right away! I couldn't stop laughing.
The hike provides you with a pamphlet with numbers on the trail coordinating with the pamphlet with information about the area. Fact: it is named Calf Creek Falls because farmers would bring the calves that needed to be weened here to become independent from their mothers.
The hike is hot. We sweat right away, downing water bottles like candy. There are sheer cliffs about the entire hike on either sides of you, but mostly when you get towards the end of the hike. The random facts pamphlet was a great way to keep busy on the hike as I found no real great photo opportunities on the trail.
Calf Creek Falls can only be described as an oasis in a hot, dry desert. If I were a traveler back in the day, it would have been an unbelievable sight walking into the area. The water is cool and great to swim in, the air is perfect and it was all shaded by the time we arrived. They say indians lived in the calf creek area, and I can only wonder it would have been like to live here. The falls sit in a half circle of cliffs, with the only way out the way you came, making it a haven to those who have conquered the short hike.
I have to say that I was not disappointed one bit on this one - the six hour round trip drive was worth it as well as the 6 mile round trip hike. If you're around the Bryce canyon area, this is a must see!
Comments and Critiques are very welcome:
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