Upper Calf Creek Falls Guide Before Visiting 2026 Updated

Upper Calf Creek Falls is a waterfall in Garfield County, Utah, about 39 miles south of Loa. This guide covers what to check, bring and expect before you go, using visitor ratings, official USGS records and live conditions for this exact location.

At a glance

Location

Garfield County, UT

Nearest town

Loa (39 mi)

Visitor rating

★★★★☆ 4.4 from 41 reviews

Crowds

Quieter

Coordinates

37.85503, -111.45194

USGS topo

Calf Creek quad

Getting there

Upper Calf Creek Falls sits about 39 miles south of Loa in Garfield County. Navigate to the coordinates 37.85503, -111.45194, which mark the waterfall itself; the trailhead or parking area may be some distance away.

Open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps, or view the map on the Upper Calf Creek Falls listing. Navigation apps sometimes route onto seasonal forest roads, so check road status if you are heading into the mountains.

Most of Utah's falls are on public land: the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache, Manti-La Sal and Dixie national forests in the mountains, and Bureau of Land Management land, including Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, in the south. Big and Little Cottonwood canyons are part of the Salt Lake City watershed, where dogs and swimming are prohibited. Canyon trailheads such as Doughnut Falls fill quickly on summer weekends. In the Wasatch, snowmelt streams are cold and fast, and wet rock around Doughnut Falls is slippery. In the canyon country, flash floods are the overriding hazard: check forecasts and avoid narrow canyons when storms threaten anywhere upstream. Carry ample water on desert hikes such as Lower Calf Creek, where sandy trails and summer heat take a toll.

What to bring

This checklist is tailored to Upper Calf Creek Falls based on what visitors report and the conditions typical of Utah. For the complete list, see our waterfall hike packing guide.

• Offline map and coordinates. Save 37.85503, -111.45194 and download offline maps; cell service is often weak near waterfalls.
• Shoes with real grip. Rock near falling water stays wet and slick even in dry weather.
• Water and a snack. More than you think you need, even for a short walk.
• A light rain layer. Spray from the falls and quick-moving showers can soak you.
• Sun protection and extra water. Desert heat builds fast; carry more water than usual and check for flash flood warnings before entering any canyon.
• Headlamp. In case your visit runs later than planned; check sunset time in the conditions panel above.

How to prepare

Timing

In the Wasatch and Uintas, waterfalls peak with snowmelt, typically from late May through June, though big snow years can extend high flows into July. Lower-elevation falls such as Bridal Veil in Provo Canyon run earlier, while the Mirror Lake Highway to Provo River Falls usually stays closed by snow into late spring. Late summer flows drop considerably. In southern Utah, spring-fed Calf Creek flows year-round, and spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons to hike there because summer heat is intense. The summer monsoon, generally July through September, brings thunderstorms that can create temporary falls over canyon rims but also dangerous flash floods. Winter freezes many Wasatch falls into ice. With 41 reviews, it sees fewer visitors than the region's headline falls, so you may have it to yourself on a weekday.

Safety

Stay behind railings and off wet rock, never climb on the falls, and keep children within arm's reach near the water. Check the weather panel above for flood or storm alerts before you set out; water levels can rise fast after upstream rain. Our waterfall safety guide covers the most common hazards.

Respect the place

Pack out everything you bring, stay on established paths to limit erosion, and leave rocks and plants where they are. See Leave No Trace at waterfalls.

What visitors say

Upper Calf Creek Falls holds a 4.4-star average across 41 Google reviews, and 76% of reviewers give it five stars. That makes it the number 2 waterfall by review count in Garfield County. Visitors have shared 134 photos.

See the rating breakdown or read reviews on Google.

History of the area

Upper Calf Creek Falls was entered in the Geographic Names Information System on December 31, 1979, and it appears on the USGS Calf Creek 7.5-minute topographic map.

Its neighbors on the map tell the story of the surrounding land: McGath Point Bench (bench, 1.1 mi), McGath Point (summit, 1.3 mi), New Home Bench (bench, 1.3 mi), and The Hogback (ridge, 1.9 mi).

Colorado Plateau and Canyon Country. Southern Utah's falls are oases in a land of slickrock and sandstone cliffs. In Garfield County, Lower Calf Creek Falls plunges into a pool at the head of a sheer-walled canyon in the Grand Staircase-Escalante area, with Upper Calf Creek Falls reached by a separate steep route. Kane County's Cascade Falls lies on the forested Markagunt Plateau near Navajo Lake, where water emerges from limestone. San Juan County near Blanding, Grand County near Moab and Washington County hold a few more, often in narrow canyons. Many canyon-country falls are seasonal pour-offs that run only during snowmelt or after thunderstorms.

Nearby waterfalls to add to your trip

Summary

Upper Calf Creek Falls about 39 miles south of Loa is rated 4.4 out of 5 by 41 visitors. Check the live forecast and stream gauge above, save the coordinates for offline use, and pack for wet, uneven ground. Ratings, hours and access can change, so confirm conditions with the land manager before you drive out.

See the full Upper Calf Creek Falls listing for the map, photos and nearby landmarks.