TLC told us: Don’t go chasing waterfalls. We’ll make an exception for these waterfalls in Utah, which offer scenic hikes plus a chance to jump in the water and literally chill out.
Creeks, lakes, and rivers are beautiful—don’t get us wrong—but there’s something extra magical about a waterfall, especially when you’re standing under the roar of that cold, cascading water on a hot summer afternoon.
But you can’t splash around in every waterfall in Utah; a lot of them are connected to watersheds providing municipal drinking water, so they are off-limits to swimmers (and their dogs). Here are some that welcome you to play, wade, and swim in the water.
Note that many of the ponds and pools fed by these waterfalls may have rocky or slick bottoms, so water shoes are generally recommended. As always, be sure to pack a water bottle and sunscreen, check weather conditions before heading out, and always leash your dogs, if the park allows them.
If you’re looking for more opportunities to swim outdoors this summer, check out these natural swimming holes.
1. Bridal Veil Falls
Where: Provo Canyon (Hwy. 189), Provo
Cost: Free
Parking: Nunn’s Park exit
Access: From parking lot
Difficulty: Easy
Located inside Provo Canyon, Bridal Veil Falls is Utah’s tallest waterfall, at 620 feet. Before an avalanche destroyed it in 1996, you could take a tram to the top. Now, access is by foot and bike only, but the trail is flat, paved, shaded, and short—1.3 miles max.
The water isn’t deep enough for swimming, but it’s definitely wading depth, and that’s a good thing. The water’s freezing temperature (this is glacial snowmelt) makes wading a pleasant way to cool off on a hot day, when swimming would be unpleasantly chilly.
Wear wading shoes to protect your feet from rocks, leash your dogs, and, if you wish to avoid crowds, avoid planning a trip during holidays and weekends.
2. Calf Creek
Where: Escalante Field Station. 755 W. Main St., Escalante
Cost: $5 per vehicle per day
Parking: Turn off Hwy 12 between mile markers 80 and 81
Access: via Utah Scenic Byway 12
Difficulty: Lower Falls Trail, easy; Upper Falls Trail, moderate/challenging
If you visit the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument this summer, you’ll find two great waterfalls at Calf Creek; both Upper and Lower Calf Creek Falls cascade into pools you can swim in. Upper Calf Creek Falls offers a gorgeous 126-foot-high waterfall and is an easy 2.4-mile round-trip hike. Because of its accessibility, though, it tends to get crowded.
If you’re a more experienced hiker, go with Lower Calf Creek Falls instead. Visiting requires a 6.2-mile round-trip hike that includes steep inclines and slickrock. Though the waterfall is smaller at 87 feet, you’ll find a larger pool—and fewer people to share it with.
3. Cataract Gorge/Little Deer Creek Falls
Where: Forest Rd 027, Hanna
Cost: $10 Mirror Lake Highway recreation fee
Parking: If hiking, park at junction of FR-137 and FR-027
Access: Murdock Basin ATV Trailhead
Difficulty: Moderate
The most important thing to know before visiting Cataract Gorge and Little Deer Creek Falls: the road leading to the gorge is very rocky, and you’ll need either a high-clearance vehicle—or your own feet, shod in very good hiking shoes.
If you choose to hike to the falls, it’s roughly 7 miles round-trip. And speaking of feet, the bottom of the pools can harbor some rocks (slick ones), so wearing water shoes is recommended.
But don’t let the length of the hike, the slipperiness of the rocks, or the roughness of the terrain deter you. Cataract Gorge and the 100-foot Little Deer Creek Falls rank among Utahns’ favorite waterfall-fed swimming holes.
4. Fifth Water Hot Springs and Falls
Where: Springville
Cost: $10 parking fee
Parking: lot at trailhead
Access: via the Three Forks Trailhead
Difficulty: Moderate
Nestled in Diamond Fork Canyon in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Fifth Water has three waterfalls, including one that empties into a larger soaking pool. Though dipping yourself in this warm, pearly-blue water during the summer may sound counterintuitive, it comes in a variety of temperatures, sometimes within the same pool.
Due to the water’s warmth, it is regularly monitored by Utah’s Department of Environmental Quality for problematic, one-celled critters. The DEQ posts updates about levels of algae and microbes present in the water, so check before you go.
If you have kids, be warned that some visitors choose to soak unclothed, despite restrictions against this. Wear your water shoes, and because the warm water makes you sweat more, be sure to stay extra hydrated.
5. Kanarra Falls
Where: Kanarraville
Cost: $15, kids 7 and under free
Parking: at the trailhead (East 100 North St., Kanarraville)
Access: via the trailhead
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Unlike many of the hikes and swims on this list, Kanarra Falls requires an admission fee for each visitor, and only 200 people are allowed into the park each day. Buying your permit in advance is recommended. Also, unlike most national and state parks, you cannot bring your dog.
The first big waterfall is located 1.6 miles along the trail. To continue hiking the park, you must climb a 20-foot ladder up the waterfall. At the second falls, you must scramble over a boulder to get to the next section of trail. At 1.9 miles, you’ll arrive at the breathtaking slot canyons and the second major waterfall.
The hike is spectacular and includes forested areas, creeks, and red-rock slot canyons. Though the Kanarra Falls website describes the hike as appropriate for all ages, note that the average hike lasts four hours and can require you to walk through knee-high water for up to two miles. Be sure to wear sneakers or water shoes with a good tread; a hiking pole is also recommended. Guided tours are available.
6. Mill Creek Waterfall
Where: Powerhouse Ln., Moab
Cost: Free
Parking: Dirt lot at the end of Powerhouse Lane
Access: Trailhead (near parking lot)
Difficulty: Easy
Located just a few miles from Moab, the 30-foot Mill Creek Waterfall only requires a short hike (less than two miles round-trip). The hiking trail passes over creeks, so your feet may be the first thing to get wet.
On the hike in, keep your eyes open, or you may miss the petroglyphs on the red rock canyon walls. Note that the beauty of the landscape, as well as the close proximity to Moab and the ease of the hike, can mean crowds—more recently, it’s become not just a draw for Utahns, but for tourists.
This is a doable hike for older kids. It’s also dog-friendly, provided your pup is on-leash. And even though it’s an easier hike, be sure to pack water shoes, sunscreen, and a full water bottle.
7. Provo River Falls
Where: Highway 150, Kamas
Cost: $6 per car
Parking: Mirror Lake Highway/SR-150, between mile markers 23 and 24
Access: Mirror Lake Highway, mile marker 23.9
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Fed by the Upper Provo River, the Provo River Falls include upper and lower waterfalls, all flowing with (brrr!) cold mountain water. Like other bodies of water along the Mirror Lake Highway, this makes the water great to wade and splash around in when you need to cool off, but too brisk to swim in. (On a hot summer day escaping from the city, though, we’ll take it.)
The parking lot/overlook leads you to the Provo River and the upper falls, with adjoining trails leading down to the lower falls. The trail becomes steeper and rockier as you make your way toward the lower falls, and depending on your route, the surface can vary in quality.
As with many of the waterfalls on this list, the striking landscape is just as much a part of the experience as getting your feet wet. These waterfalls have an especially serene quality, and are very popular. If you prefer to avoid crowds, visit during off times (weekdays and early in the day).
8. Toquerville Falls
Where: 7QX3+F7, LaVerkin
Cost: Free
Parking: All-terrain vehicles can drive and park at the falls
Access: via Spring Road
Difficulty: Moderate (11-mile round-trip walk)
Toquerville Falls, located outside of Zion National Park, isn’t Utah’s tallest waterfall, but it might be one of our most visually stunning. Many people drive to the falls, but you can’t get there in a regular ol’ car—you’ll need a Jeep, an ATV, or another all-terrain vehicle. The drive is extremely rocky, bumpy, and depending on the time of year, dusty or muddy.
The falls themselves are a series of red sandstone cliffs, fed by nearby LaVerkin Creek. Water features include shallow pools as well as a deeper pond at the base of the cliffs. Note that this area is owned by the Bureau of Land Management, which means there are zero services (e.g., no restrooms).
Pack in everything you need—water, food, a spare tire—and don’t leave anything behind. Also use common sense; cliff-diving, for instance, not a smart risk to take when the nearest emergency room is a long, bumpy ride away.
