Rock Creek Falls

Joes Valley

Overview

( Rated 3.0 / 1 Ratings )

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RATING: Roadside Attraction / Short Hike

LENGTH: Less than 1 hour (0.9 mile)

MAPS: DANISH KNOLL, UT

Tue

38 | 22

Wed

27 | 22

Thu

30 | 15

Fri

28 | 18

Sat

33 | 17

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SEASON: Late Spring through Fall.

NOTES: The trailhead requires high clearance. This area can quickly become muddy during afternoon thunderstorms and impassable even to 4-whee drive vehicles. Snow and mud can linger into late spring making the road impassable, depending on the year.

Tue

38 | 22

Wed

27 | 22

Thu

30 | 15

Fri

28 | 18

Sat

33 | 17

View Full Weather Details

hike

fall colors

dog friendly

family friendly

beginner

access: high clearance

Rock Creek Falls

While camping in Upper Joe’s Valley, we saw a forest service sign with a map of the area that had points of interest marked on it. Rock Creek Falls was one of those points. Having not heard of Rock Creek Falls, it piqued my interested and it proved irresistible. We visited on a stormy Saturday in the summer.

When we pulled up to the Rock Creek Falls pullout, I will admit to being disappointed! The small falls were indeed a waterfall, but not much taller than I am! Fortunately, motivated prevailed, and we hiked up Rock Creek. Not far above the pullout are a series of several cascades/waterfalls that are much more scenic than the small falls at the pullout!

All that being said, I probably wouldn’t recommend a special trip just to see the falls, but it is a pleasant side trip if you are camping in the area.

Some of the cascades above Rock Creek Falls

Getting There

The trailhead is west of Joes Valley Reservoir. On the west side of the reservoir, the paved UT-29 splits. Left goes to Joes Valley Campground and the marina. Stay straight, signed for Ephraim. The road turns to dirt at this junction. Reset your odometer as the road turns to dirt.

Follow this dirt road as it climbs steeply and switchbacks up the hillside. Stay on the main dirt road, there are many smaller roads that leave it and offer excellent primitive camping.

About 4.7 miles from when the road turned to dirt is a major junction. Go left here. The road heads northwest, then makes a sharp turn and heads south before heading west again. Stay right at the Pete's Hole side road.

9 miles from when the road turned to dirt is Rock Creek Falls. There is a small pullout here next to the falls.

The rugged Rock Creek drainage.

Upper Rock Creek

Route

From the pullout, follow a social trail on the left side of the first falls. The terrain above is rocky, and can be slippery if wet. Proceed with caution. Going up the drainage, however, visits three to four more cascades and waterfalls. The first couple of cascades are easy to climb around, but the higher you get in the drainage, the more difficult continuing up becomes.

Return the same way.