Romantic Styled Elopement at Lower Calf Falls in Escalante, Utah

Lower Calf Falls in Escalante, Utah, has one of the most breathtaking waterfall backdrop for adventurous couples looking to tie the knot. Nestled within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, this stunning area with a six-mile round-trip hike through high desert brush, red rock trails, and shaded groves. In this styled elopement session, a local Utah couple brought their love and western-inspired flair to this magical location, complete with cowboy boots, a bolo tie, and a stunning budget-friendly dress. Get all the details below.

Are you ready to start planning your elopement? Check out our Utah elopement packages.

About This Styled Session

Photography by Emilee Setting Photo

“Escalante is a stunning and unique town located in Utah. It’s best known for The Grand Staircase. People visit here to see things such as the slot canyons, and beautiful desert landscape. Lower Calf Falls is a six mile round trip hike to a stunning oasis. Most of the hike, you’re navigating through high desert brush, as well as along red rocks. You then hit some trees, that suddenly open up to a waterfall flowing down from the top of the canyon. This place is stunning. I personally have wanted to shoot here for years.

Lower Calf Falls is typically a heavily trafficked trail, especially in the warmer months. However, in the afternoon in November, we were the only people there. This truly only added to the magic of this place, being able to have it all to ourselves.” [Emilee, the photographer]

Planning Your Elopement

“Couples planning an elopement at Lower Calf Falls should know that this area is part of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). That being said, this is who a couple would get in contact with for a special use permit.

This can be a popular trail, which is why the styled elopement took place in mid-November. It was an incredible experience to get this place all to ourselves. During the heat of the summer, a lot of people love this hike to be able to spend time in the refreshing pool made by the waterfall.

I’d recommend doing this hike in winter, or early spring to avoid crowds. If a couple wants to do this hike during the warmer months, it’s crucial to pack a ton of water. There is very little coverage from the sun, and the temps in escalante can get very high.” [Emilee, the photographer]

Top Tips When Eloping Here

“The best tips I have for eloping in this location is to wear good hiking shoes, and bring water. The trail is relatively flat, but there is some cactus, walking over red rock, and walking in sand.

I would also recommend a light base for the hike, with good ability to move around. If eloping in cooler months, have layers such as nude thermal leggings that match your skin tone under the dress is going to be ideal.” [Emilee, the photographer]

Memorable Moments During This Session

“This couple was local to Utah, but had ever done this hike. My favorite part of this session was the look on the face when they saw the massive waterfall spilling down from the top of the canyon. It’s super cool to work with a couple in their home state, and still find something awe-inspiring that they’ve never experienced before. It’s my goal to find locations that will make couples feel elated.” [Emilee, the photographer]

Final Words of Advice From the Photographer

“At the end of the day, we didn’t spend a long time at the waterfall. This is a great elopement location for couples who love hiking and enjoy being immersed in nature. Despite being a beautiful spot, I wouldn’t recommend this location to everyone. It’s about six miles round trip. And the hike is fairly easy, however, most couples take their time hiking while being in wedding entire and enjoying their day together.

This location would be best served for couples who want to spend a chunk of their day exploring and hiking together.” [Emilee, the photographer]

Photos From This Styled Session