Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
$2.00 Day Use Fee Very Crowded (Even on Tuesdays)
There is litter everywhere near the falls.
You can bring dogs, but the sandy trail is way too hot and
will burn their feet.
Don't bring your dog unless you want to torture it.
The hike is about 6 miles round trip, with maybe 300 feet
elevation gain.
The best time to come here would probably be on a cold day,
not to avoid the sweltering heat, but to avoid the loud-mouths
and brickheads.
The sand is loose and HOT. I would bring a backpack with a
few types of shoes,
including: Flip Flops, water sandals, hiking shoes and socks.
I actually wish that this hike was harder, so that the type
of person that doesn't respect others and nature, would prefer
to stay home and watch all about it on TV.
The area used to be famous for the Watermelon Farm that used
to exist here.
There are no signs of that period of time.
Common scene in Calf Creek,
Curving water-worn sandstone walls.
Radial Rock Fracturing.
High sandstone walls
The wall on the right of center is home to some large Anasazi pictographs.
Ancient Graffiti.
This can been seen on the eastern walls (To the south or right of
the trail)
about half way up the trail.
These figures are about 10 feet tall and about 10 feet off of the
ground.
You would have to assume, looking at the area, that what is now
Calf Creek
was once prime real estate to the natives in this rugged desert.
There obviously was more than just one group of people that would
want to live here.
You would then be rational to think that there were a few battles
for this incredible, life giving area.
I would guess that these pictographs are territorial; Showing would-be
trespassers
that the current occupants have weapons and are ready to use them.
Is it an eye? or the mouth of the canyon?
Swerving and curving erosion patterns.
Walking along Calf Creek, almost to the falls.
Looking south, back down Calf Creek.
Looking north toward the end of the trail to Calf Creek Falls.
Calf Creek Falls
We were about 2 hours too late to catch the noon-day sun hitting
the falls.
There were way too many people there to get a good money shot of
the falls.
Super slippery smooth algae covered sandstone.
You can slide down this if you got the skills to walk across it.
Either way, it will be entertaining for those watching you.
Algae swamps
There was a huge crow that would swoop down and squawk
(or scream would be more like it) at these obliviots.
Maybe it was the resurrected soul of an old Indian Chief,
telling them to respect the area, or eat bird poop.
The eastern flank of the cove is covered in weeping rock, which
continually drips.
Cactus Rose
A honey bee basking in the Escalante Sun.
There are more species of bee in this area then there are anywhere
else in America.
Some of the bees are endemic to the area; 65 or so only exist here.
