Upper Waterfall
Wayne County, Utah
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Wayne County, Utah
- Access status
- Partial guide: unmaintained canyon route; listing probably marks the first falls
- The walk
- No single figure to this falls; park figures: trailhead to Sulphur Creek 1.8 miles, then 1.5 miles to the first falls
- Ground & access
- Wash and creek walking with downclimbs; passing the falls needs a hands-on scramble down a 10-foot pitch. Shallow to deep water. Flash floods are a hazard.
This listing appears to mark the first (upstream) of the three Sulphur Creek waterfalls in Capitol Reef National Park. The park describes the route downstream. From the paved pulloff, a short hiker-made trail leads over the hill into a small wash. Follow it 0.4 mile to a larger wash, bear right (south) and follow that wash 1.3 miles; downclimb two 6-foot pour-offs before Sulphur Creek. At the creek, turn left (east) and walk downstream. After the first view of the Goosenecks Overlook fence high above, it is about another mile of creekside walking to the first falls. To pass the falls, keep to the south side, cross angled slickrock and scramble down a 10-foot pitch. The route is not an official, maintained trail. Most hikers continue downstream past two more falls to the visitor center.
Plan your visit
Sulphur Creek route from the upper parking pulloff on State Route 24 (west of Chimney Rock) down a wash and Sulphur Creek to the first waterfall
The National Park Service lists 1.8 miles from the trailhead to the Sulphur Creek confluence and 1.5 miles from the confluence to the first waterfall. The park describes the route one way, downstream, ending at the visitor center 5.8 miles from the trailhead.
Wash and creek walking with downclimbs; passing the falls needs a hands-on scramble down a 10-foot pitch. Shallow to deep water. Flash floods are a hazard.
Where to start
Paved pulloff on Highway 24, 0.3 mile west of the Chimney Rock trailhead and 3.3 miles west of the visitor center. The park asks hikers not to park at Chimney Rock.
Timing & water
No season limits are stated. Creek flow varies with snowmelt, upstream water use and heavy rain.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned. No booking is needed.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Middle WaterfallPartial guide: scrambling route, not a maintained trail; which of the three falls this listing marks is probable, not certainWayne County, UT0.1 miE
- Lower WaterfallPark route documented; creek walking, not a maintained trailWayne County, UT1.2 miE
Fremont River WaterfallWayne County, UT7.1 miE
Upper Calf Creek FallState tourism route and trailhead documented; steep slickrockGarfield County, UT32 miS- Scorpion FallsEmery County, UT32 miNE
- Bighorn FallsEmery County, UT32 miNE
Lower Calf Creek FallsVerified developed trail and recreation-area parkingGarfield County, UT33 miS