Lower Calf Creek Falls

The next national park I had planned on my road trip was a return to Arches.  Getting there from Bryce Canyon not only took me through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, but also right past the trailhead to one of its signature features -- Lower Calf Creek Falls.  Of course, a stop was in order. 

After spending the night in Escalante City, I headed out before sunrise to avoid heat and crowds.  I was fortunate to be passing an overlook right as the sunrise commenced.

The trail to the falls is sandy for most of its length, but has only a moderate incline.

As the sun began to hit the tops of the canyon walls, I enjoyed and appreciated being down where it was nice and cool.

The falls themselves are quite delicate, but also an impressive 130 feet in height.

There were only a couple of other people at the falls when I arrived, and it was easy to get shots that make the area seem deserted.

I took the time to explore all angles of the falls, since the lack of other visitors made that a rare possibility.  Often the waterfalls I shoot are quite crowded, and it's all I can due to find a single spot to take an unobstructed photo.

I really enjoyed shooting the falls from slightly downstream, through the trees that grew on either side of the creek.

The golden color from the rocks and diffuse light gave everything a feel like something from a fantasy book.

On my return hike I took more notice of wildflowers like this Dusty Beardtongue.

The sub had now risen high enough to bring out reptiles like this Plateau Side-blotched Lizard.

I love seeing flowering cacti like this Brown-spined Prickly Pear, with the contrast between the inviting petals and menacing spikes.

It wasn't easy getting a shot without other hikers in it on the return trip.  The trail had rapidly filled with others out to take in the scene I had managed to have virtually to myself.

This would prove to be my longest hike of the trip at 6.12 miles, with a somewhat surprising 1,155 feet of elevation gain.  There were no lengthy steep stretches, so it hardly seemed like a "climb" at all.  I finished in 2:42:31, and by 9:30 was back on the road headed to my next stop!