Waterfall Record

This is a portion of a waterfall with a rainbow.

The Waterfall Record

Cascade Falls, Utah

This is Cascade Falls in Utah. There is no water flowing.
You can see where algae has grown when the water flows at Cascade Falls (August 2025)

Quick Facts

Accessibility: 7/10 (easy/moderate)
Height: 50′ / 15 m
Length of Hike: 1.2 miles / 1.9 km round-trip

The Record

Near Duck Creek Village and Navajo Lake in Utah’s Dixie National Forest, you’ll find a unique ephemeral waterfall. Cascade Falls is remarkable not for its size, but for its source. Instead of being fed by a surface river, the water emerges directly from an opening in a cliff face after traveling from nearby Navajo Lake through an underground lava tube. This fascinating geology creates a beautiful hike, but as we discovered, it also means the waterfall can sometimes disappear entirely.

The hike to the falls is beautiful on a sunny day. The trail begins in a pleasant forested area before opening up dramatically. From there, the path is carved into the side of a limestone cliff, following the rock face for the remainder of the walk. There are a few sections where the trail can seem narrow with a steep drop-off, but as someone with a fear of heights, I wasn’t particularly bothered. The views of the valley are beautiful, and the unique nature of the trail makes it a memorable experience.

When we visited in August 2025, Navajo Lake’s water level was apparently quite low. After the fascinating walk along the cliffside, we arrived at a beautiful, cavernous alcove where the falls should have been, only to find it completely dry. It was a stark reminder that this waterfall’s existence is entirely dependent on the lake’s water level. For the best chance to see water flowing, the best time to visit would be in the late spring or early summer after consistent rainfall. While the hike is a worthwhile experience on its own, seeing the cascade burst from the rock would have been undoubtedly awesome.

Weather: In August, we weren’t expecting to see snow or precipitation like snow. On our way back to Cedar City along UT-14, Cedar Canyon Road, we encountered a good amount of wet snow that had deposited on the road. We observed an off-road accident, likely due to the quick, unexpected change in conditions. Drive carefully at higher elevations.

Directions

  1. From Cedar City (a likely starting place), head east on UT-14 toward Duck Creek Village. You’ll drive on UT-14 for 25 miles.
  2. After passing Navajo Lake, you’ll turn right onto FR053 (Navajo Lake Road).
  3. After 0.3 miles, turn left onto FR370 (Cascade Falls Road).
  4. After 1 mile, veer right onto FR054 and stay on that until you reach the parking lot.
  5. From the parking lot, the signs to Cascade Falls were rather clear. It’s 0.6 miles one-way.

Where in the World is Cascade Falls?

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