Approaching Stewart Falls, UT
Waterfall Hunting: going outdoors with the goal of finding new waterfalls, photographing them, and enjoying the rare opportunity to swim beneath them.
For thousands of years, people around the world have been traveling to waterfalls to experience the mesmerizing sight and sound of falling water. Every waterfall is different but still conjures the same deep-down sense that the land is a treasure to be preserved but at the same time also shared.
Rhapsodie Falls, NC (click to zoom)
Waterfall hunting, for me, began in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, which has literally hundreds. A few have remained secret to many because of the small coves and gorges that get overlooked by weekend or out-of-town explorers. As always, locals have more fun, and we spent our free time getting lost in pursuit of elusive 80-foot cascading beauties. And after thorn-filled descents into gorges in 95-degree heat, a dive into the mountain water below felt like a religious experience.
Utah Waterfall Hunting
Stewart Falls in the distance
Since this is my first summer in Utah, I decided to put my waterfall hunting experience to use in the Wasatch Mountains. Last weekend, a couple friends and I drove through Provo Canyon in search of the snowmelt-fed Stewart Cascades, just outside of the Sundance Resort and on the east side of the Timpanogos Massif.
After an uphill drive past Sundance Resort, we paid $6 to get to the Aspen Grove trailhead. From there we followed the well-marked, well-traveled trail up a north-facing rise. After a mile and a half through avalanche-ravaged aspen groves, we came within sight of Stewart Falls. It is the lower section of a series of incredible cascades raining down from the melting snowfields above it.
Stewart Falls
At 200 feet tall, Stewart Falls fills the rocky amphitheater with a constant breeze and sound that resembles a roaring applause. We carefully crept closer to the big drop and felt the spray, which was way colder than any I have ever felt.
The base of this waterfall was crowded as well, and in order to feel successful about our hunt, I searched for a trail to take us to the hidden falls above. We followed a very steep trail (that I wouldn’t recommend) and climbed for about 20 minutes before we had reached the shelf at the height of the main drop now below. After a bushy traverse, I found what I was looking for, a rarely seen 80 to 90-foot waterfall hidden above Stewart Falls.
The objective of waterfall hunting is to get inspired by nature and its ability to be amazing through no effort at all. Upper Stewart Falls (or whatever its real name is) will likely forever be breathtaking to humans. When we see these natural wonders and take home with us the spark of their mystical beauty, we can use it to spread the love of the outdoors and our rare, delicate planet.
Upper Stewart Falls?
Go Hunting
Wherever there is water and significant changes in elevation, waterfalls are bound to be lurking. With the right tools and attitude, finding the nearest one to you can be a great all-day adventure to bust up the stagnant summer. Here’s a short guide to get you started.
Before You Go
Waterfalls are dangerous. The combination of slick, weathered rock, large cliffs, and strong currents above and below drops has claimed many lives. Children and pets are especially vulnerable to injury at these natural wonders, so keep them close at all times.
Paradise Falls, NC
Waterfalls can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, but the safest is by watching from a distance. The most valuable tool you can bring, second to a partner, is common sense.
Check the water level of the river or creek at the USGS Water Watch site. Your creek may not be listed, but the larger waterway it flows into can give you a good idea of what to expect.
What You Need
- A map of the area you plan to explore. If your local map dealer doesn’t have what you’re looking for, the U.S. Forest Service sells detailed topo maps of almost every inch of National Forest.
- A sturdy pair of sandals that you can get wet and still use. I stand by my Chaco Hipthong Sandal because it chews the trail like a hiking shoe, even after I wade through a river.
- A good-sized pack like The North Face Angstrom 30 Backpack, so you can fit extra layers, a lunch, and a pack towel.
- A tough, cool pair of river shorts like The North Face Apex Cyclone Water Short.
- A button-down cotton shirt like the Kavu Double Take Reversible Shirt, which cools you as you sweat and stuffs into a pack without a hassle.
- Simple, water-repellent camera case to keep in your pocket. The Mountainsmith Cubik Camera Case would do the trick for sure.
Unexplored waterfalls in Primrose Cirque
Get out and explore the waterfalls near you, but as always, be safe. Be prepared.
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Tags: day hiking, hiking, mt timpanogos, north carolina, paradise falls, rhapsodie falls, Stewart Falls, utah, waterfall hunting, waterfalls
[...] said it before: there’s something mesmerizing about falling water. Snow, mountains, and warm temperatures [...]
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