Tag: Grand Staircase Escalante

Backpack to Jacob Hamblin Arch & Beyond, Grand Staircase-Escalante, UT

Backpack to Jacob Hamblin Arch & Beyond, Grand Staircase-Escalante, UT

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Distance: (Choose your own adventure) to the Arch ~7.5 one-way, Coyote Natural Bridge ~10 miles one-way, ~11+ miles  Swiss Cheese Falls

Difficulty: Easy via Hurricane Wash out & back, other routes are more challenging

Elevation Gain:~591 FT

I chose the easy way to the arch via the Hurricane Wash Trailhead as I was testing my new backpacking gear. As the trail name suggests, you hike through a sandy, rocky wash for about 4.5 miles. Beyond that, you enter the river canyon, encountering shallow water crossings (inches deep and 6 feet wide in spots), dodging quicksand, and bushwacking through overgrowth and reeds. Gradually, you begin to catch glimpses of the towering red walls, and the scenery becomes more compelling, distracting you from the slog portions of this oft-proclaimed “epic hike.”.  In about ~3 miles you reach the spectacular Jacob Hamblin Arch. I

If you venture beyond the arch another 2.5 miles or so to the right, you’ll come upon Coyote Natural Bridge, and beyond that, “Swiss Cheese Falls” and, just beyond that, a lovely water pocket/pool area—an unexpected highlight. Normally, it would have called for an immersion, but I had to skip it due to fleeting daylight and temperature considerations. Next time!

I retraced my steps back to the arch and a couple of miles further and set up camp for the night. The goal was to shorten the next morning’s hike out, as Golden Cathedral was on the agenda for the afternoon. It was lovely to sleep under the stars with the bright, beautiful moon watching over me.

Getting there: Head east from Escalante, UT on Highway 12, past mile marker 64. Look for Hole in the Rock Road, also know as BLM 220, on the right and take it for~ 33.8 miles to the dirt trailhead parking lot. 4-wheel drive with high clearance is highly recommended; this road is rugged and notoriously washboard!

Notes: There are other more interesting/ challenging routes to the arch, namely, “Sneaker” and “Crack-in-the-Wall.” Now that I’m comfortable with my gear, I’ll give the loop a try next time, I might do it as a day hike, tbd. Stay tuned for the gear report as well. Always bring ample water, even the cooler seasons. My water filter clogged, but I had ample water reserves and a lifestraw just in case.

Happy Trails!

Did you know? Onthelooselive offers yoga and hike retreats, as well as adventure itineraries to help you get the most out of your Utah adventures!

Lower Calf Falls, Especially Lovely in the Fall! Grand Staircase Escalante, UT

Lower Calf Falls, Especially Lovely in the Fall! Grand Staircase Escalante, UT

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Lovely Lower Calf Falls, Grand Staircase Escalante, UT

Distance: 6 miles

Elevation: ~500 ft

Difficulty: Easy (with a fair amount of thick sand walking)

Highlights: 126-foot cascade into a shallow pool, giant petroglyphs in the distance

I was fortunate to return to Lower Calf Creek Falls in Autumn, and it was spectacular! Traces from the season’s first snow accented the gorgeous Fall colors and seeing the waterfall framed in golden leaves was glorious. So much beauty! And thankfully, with the cold, wet weather, there were only a handful of people on the trail. Can’t imagine a better way to experience this magical place!

As you can see, this amazing gem is definitely worth a visit. Lower Calf Falls cascades over a nearly vertical cliff face into a large pool that is enclosed on three sides by sheer Navajo sandstone walls. Pick up an interpretive pamphlet at the trailhead to learn about the flora along the trail and giant petroglyphs in the distance (too far in the distance to get a good pic).

Summer Slide Show

Without question, Grand Staircase Escalante is National Park caliber and deserves to be preserved and protected. Stay tuned for more posts on this area!

Notes: This is a very popular destination for obvious reasons. Go early / late to avoid the crowds. Off-season in stormy weather will deliver more solitude.

Get the scoop on Upper Calf Creek Falls.

Soapbox: If you bring pets, please pick up their poop! This trail (single track in many spots) and the falls’ area are small and quickly becoming overrun and overused. One fellow watched me watching him after his Labrador left a big poop pile on the trail. He took out a poop bag, and then when I turned away, he tucked the bag back in his pocket and left the steaming pile! ARRRGH! No respect for fellow hikers or nature. They should permit this hike, at least on weekends, and fine those who litter and leave their dog’s poop. Don’t get me started about the imbeciles who bag poop and then leave the full bag. I can’t get my head around people who go somewhere to enjoy nature’s beauty and then defile it.

Getting there: Highway 12 to the BLM-managed Calf Creek Recreation Area. The parking lot has limited parking. Go early, or you may have to park along the highway.

Happy Trails!