Upper Falls is a lesser known waterfall less than a mile above Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon. It is also near Lost Creek Falls. The hike is quite short at only 0.6 round trip, but it is uphill the whole way. We hiked it on a weekend. There were at least 50 people at the base of Bridal Veil, but we had Upper Falls nearly to ourselves.
The trail begins at Upper Falls Park where they have some picnic tables and fire pits for day use. Cross the bridge and appreciate the views of the Provo River each direction. Sometimes you might see a fly fisherman or two.
After the bridge you come to the paved pathway that goes all the down past Bridal Veil Falls. There is a graffiti shack that marks the trail head. Go to the right of the tree and head up the pathway directly behind it.
It is not difficult to climb, but it is consistently uphill. There are some cross paths as you climb, but you’ll want to keep heading up.
Because it’s so short we were to the waterfall within about 25 minutes even with a few rest and drink breaks. The last fourth of the hike gets very rocky. It’s not too bad going up, but it was easy for my little ones to slip on the way down. As you get to the top you can see the mountain more clearly and start to hear the falls.
When you first see the falls you can see there is a higher tier. There are actually higher ones, but they aren’t visible from this angle.
You can walk right up to the falls. The kids enjoyed exploring around. Again remember that it is much easier to walk up rocky places than go back down.
When you are this close you can’t see the upper level of the falls anymore. You can also look up and down the canyon and see the mountain views!
You can also walk up and see the side view.
Here are directions on how to hike to the Upper Falls Higher Tier (not great for young children).
Upper Falls is beautiful in autumn too! This first view is looking from far back. can you see the falls?
Upper Falls trail is also fun to do during the winter. You have to park behind the winter gate, so it’s three miles round trip.
Stats from Upper Falls Park:
Distance – 0.6 miles there and back
Approximate hiking time – 30-90 minutes
Elevation gain – 528 feet
Difficulty – Moderate
Trail – well maintained trail of dirt and rocks
Bathrooms – At Trailhead
Seasons to hike – April-November
Permits needed – None
Pets allowed – Yes
Stats from Winter Gate:
Distance – 3.0 miles there and back
Approximate hiking time – 1-3 hours
Elevation gain – 557 feet
Difficulty – Moderate
Trail – well maintained trail of dirt and rocks
Bathrooms – At Trailhead
Seasons to hike – Year Round (use microspikes in winter)
Permits needed – None
Pets allowed – Yes
