All-Terrain Wheelchair Assault on Lower Calf Creek Falls
Quick answer
Lower Calf Creek Falls in Grand Staircase-Escalante, Utah is a 6-mile round-trip hike with 521 feet of elevation gain ending at a 126-foot waterfall. It’s officially “moderately difficult” because of sandy sections — in an Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair with a team pushing, it’s our hardest Utah adventure to date. Doable, beautiful, worth it. We promised never to attempt it again. We probably will.
Lower Calf Creek Falls was one of our most difficult all-terrain wheelchair adventures. The trail is rocky and uneven, which meant we had to lift and tilt the Extreme Motus often as we made progress up to the waterfall. It tested everyone’s fitness level to the max.
Our hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls was fueled by lies
Lie #1: “That’s the worst of it, everyone!”
I started shouting this lie moments after we left the parking lot. Every difficult section we passed, I called the worst part of the trail — “it’ll get easier from here.” Anyone who has hiked knows that the farther from the trailhead you get, the worse the trail gets. Muddy starts get snowy. Steep starts get steeper. As we maneuvered the Motus up the trail, I hoped this lie would keep the group’s spirits up.
Lie #2: “We don’t get tired.”
Pushing the Motus up Calf Creek made us very tired. Occasionally we’d stop to rest and I’d feel myself nodding off standing up. When I felt myself start to fall over during one break, I shouted “Let’s get going, everyone!” so I’d stay moving and not fall asleep.
I’d just seen a video by motivational speaker Jesse Itzler shouting “I don’t get tired!” and I wanted to try it. Saying something positive out loud actually does help when you’re getting smoked. I was in the worst shape of my life when we did this hike and I needed all the help I could get.
@jesseitzler I DON’T GET TIRED! #JesseItzler ♬ original sound — Jesse Itzler
You are an angel among us
There’s a section of the trail that’s too narrow for the chair to pass through. A large rock has fallen from the cliff above, and the trail squeezes between this rock and the canyon wall. You can hear the waterfall in the distance — you know you’re in the home stretch. I’m shattered after doing most of the pushing.
To get past the rock we took Sam out of the chair and I carried him on my back. The rest of the group lifted the Motus around the rock. Sam and I went ahead through the narrow passage and waited for the chair on the other side.
I’m bent at the waist at about a 90-degree angle so Sam doesn’t fall off my back, staring at the sand in front of me. There — in the middle of nowhere on this desert trail — I notice a small wooden coin lying on top of the sand. It takes my eyes a moment to focus. It reads:
“You are an angel among us.”
I’m not a religious person. I don’t take Sam on Motus adventures because I think there’s an amazing reward for it in the next life. I just like hanging out with him. He’s my best friend and we laugh together more than anyone else.
But it was hard to ignore that a token like that happened to be on the trail in the exact spot where I was bent over holding Sam on my back. I’d have walked right past it if we hadn’t needed to wait for the chair. Exhaustion plus the cosmic coincidence of being called an angel right then was too much. I started to cry.
You can’t cry your way to Calf Creek Falls. I pulled myself together and we finished pushing the chair to the waterfall. There was cheering and a few pictures, but it’s hard to celebrate when you know it’s an out-and-back trail and you’re about to hike everything that just kicked your butt a second time.
Hiking back to the trailhead isn’t shown in the video. Reaching the waterfall was the better ending, but you should know we worked just as hard getting back to the car. Together we had an amazing experience that we promised to never attempt again.
Lower Calf Creek Falls trail report
The Lower Calf Creek Falls hike sits in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Southern Utah.
Trail at a glance
- Distance: 6.0 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 521 feet
- Difficulty: Moderately difficult — sandy sections are the killer
- Duration: 3–5 hours typical, longer with a wheelchair
Trail description
The hike begins at the Calf Creek Campground. Walk along the campground road to the official trailhead on your left. There’s a sign-in box and pamphlets at the trailhead with information about the hike.
You’ll pass through stunning canyon scenery: large cliff faces, ancient pictographs, and views of Calf Creek itself. The trail is well-marked with a gradual incline. There are 15 numbered posts along the trail that match points of interest in the pamphlet.
Points of interest
- Pictographs: Ancient rock art visible along the trail.
- Granaries: Remnants of structures built by the Fremont Culture between 700–1300 AD.
- Scenic views: Canyon walls and creek throughout.
Waterfall and swimming hole
The 126-foot Lower Calf Creek Falls is the highlight. The trail ends at a beautiful swimming hole at the base of the falls. Refreshing in summer; arctic the rest of the year.
Tips for wheelchair hikers
- Bring a team. Don’t try this with one pusher — 4 people is the right number.
- Plan to lift the chair at one narrow section near the falls. Plan how to safely transfer the rider out and back in.
- Carry water for everyone. Way more than you think.
- Best season: Spring or fall. Summer is dangerously hot in southern Utah.
- Parking is limited at the trailhead. Arrive early.
- Pets: Allowed on leash.
- Camping: First-come, first-served sites at the campground.
→ Try a Motus on easier terrain first.
Calf Creek isn’t where you start — it’s where you go after you and your crew know what the chair can do. Find a Motus near you on smoother terrain, build confidence, then plan the big hike. See all 59 locations on our interactive map → — parks, zoos, and adaptive programs across the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lower Calf Creek Falls wheelchair accessible?
Not in a standard wheelchair, no. With an all-terrain chair like the Extreme Motus and a team of 3–4 helpers, it’s doable but very difficult. There’s a narrow passage near the falls where the chair has to be lifted around a rock.
How long does the hike take with an all-terrain wheelchair?
Plan on 6–8 hours total with breaks, vs. 3–5 for typical hikers. Don’t underestimate the energy cost on the team pushing.
How many people do I need to push the chair?
Four is ideal — two pushing, two pulling on ropes attached to the front. Two helpers can do it but everyone gets exhausted faster.
What’s the best time of year for this hike?
Spring (March–May) or fall (September–October). Summer is dangerously hot in southern Utah; winter brings snow and slick spots.
Where is Lower Calf Creek Falls?
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, between Boulder and Escalante on Highway 12 in southern Utah. About 4½ hours from Salt Lake City.
Is there a fee?
Day-use fee at the trailhead. America the Beautiful pass works.
Similar adventures you may enjoy
Since 2019, Sam and Ryan have been demonstrating that nature is wheelchair accessible with the Extreme Motus All Terrain Wheelchair. From National Parks to Skateparks, their adventures prove that a manual off-road wheelchair can offer laughter and joy while navigating diverse terrains.
Join us as we continue to share these inspiring journeys.
Light, comfortable, and compact, the Extreme Motus glides over sand, rocks, grass, gravel, and even floats in water.
It’s more than a outdoor wheelchair; it’s your ticket to freedom. Embrace the outdoors with confidence, knowing our off-road wheelchair is engineered for durability and ease of use.
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