Being part of Zion National Park helps. Trails to Lower Pine Creek Waterfall are generally maintained and signed, and the park is the first place to check for closures before you go.
It is also one of the few falls we can link to a live USGS stream gauge, so you can check how much water is coming down before you leave home.
The draw here is the moment the sound reaches you before the water does. People plan whole days around falls like Lower Pine Creek Waterfall: a walk through the woods, cold spray at the base, and a quiet spot to sit for a while.
Geology and background
What makes Lower Pine Creek Waterfall special
Lower Pine Creek Waterfall sits in Zion National Park, in the canyon country of southern Utah. It is a desert fall, which means the water comes and goes with the weather rather than running steady all year. After rain or snowmelt the creek runs; in a dry stretch it can be a thin thread or nothing at all.
Its neighbours are close for canyon country. Menu Falls is 4.5 miles away and Mystery Canyon Falls 5.8 miles away, so the area holds several named falls within a short distance of each other. A stream gauge is linked on this page, and it is worth checking before you drive: it tells you whether the creek is running at all.
Navigate by coordinates rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Prices and passes
Entry fee: $35.
Best time and crowds
A stream gauge is linked on this page: check the live flow before you go. Desert falls run on rain and snowmelt, so flow can change fast after a storm and fade just as fast in a dry spell.
Safety
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury. Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle. In canyons, rain upstream can raise the water in minutes: leave if the water turns muddy or starts to rise.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
A bag to pack out trash
Practical tips
Check the live gauge before you go: this fall runs on rain and snowmelt, not a steady flow.
Pair it with Menu Falls, 4.5 miles away.
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Check the Zion National Park page on the day for closures and entry requirements.
Waterfalls mark a change in the ground beneath a stream: a fault, a glacier-cut valley wall, or a band of hard rock the water cannot wear down as quickly as what lies below it.
Water flow and seasons
The stream that feeds Lower Pine Creek Waterfall is tracked by USGS gauge 09405500. A reading well above the seasonal median means a fuller fall, and usually a wetter, muddier trail.
Expect the most water in spring and after heavy rain. In a dry spell, especially late summer and early fall, the same fall can look half the size.
We do not have a trail length for Lower Pine Creek Waterfall yet. Some falls are a few steps from a parking area, others take a real hike, so check the park or a trail app before you set out.
Swimming is not listed. Treat the plunge pool as off-limits unless signs say otherwise: the water at the base is colder and stronger than it looks.
Facilities and amenities
Facilities depend on Zion National Park: larger parks usually have a signed trailhead, restrooms and a parking area, while smaller reserves may have none of these.
Plan as if there is no drinking water and no phone signal at the falls themselves. Use the restroom and fill your bottles before you start walking.
Fees, permits, and opening hours
An entry fee of $35.00 is listed. Fees change, and some parks charge per vehicle rather than per person, so confirm before you go.
Most falls are reachable from dawn to dusk. Gates, seasonal road closures and timed-entry permits are the usual surprises, so check the managing agency on the day.
How to get to Lower Pine Creek Waterfall
Lower Pine Creek Waterfall is in Zion National Park, Utah. For the last stretch, navigate by coordinates (37.2168, -112.9602) rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream.
The final approach is usually the hardest part: narrow roads, small trailhead lots that fill early, and a walk that can be ten minutes or several hours. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Our Utah waterfalls page maps every fall in the state, which helps when you are planning a route.
For the fullest flow, visit Lower Pine Creek Waterfall in spring or within a couple of days of heavy rain. For easier footing and warmer air, early summer is the compromise.
Light matters for photos: the base of a fall is often in shade by midday, and an overcast day evens out the bright water against dark rock.
Crowds and timing
Arrive early or late. The middle of a summer weekend is peak time almost everywhere, and small trailheads can be full by 10 a.m.
Holiday weekends and the first warm days of spring are the busiest of all. If the lot is full, do not park on the road shoulder: it is the most common reason for tickets and towing at trailheads.
How long to spend there
Without a listed trail length, plan for half a day: enough time to find the trailhead, walk in, spend an hour at the water and walk out without rushing.
If there are other falls nearby, they are often on the same road or trail system. Two or three in a day is very doable.
Where to stay near Lower Pine Creek Waterfall
We do not recommend specific places to stay. The links below search for hotels and campgrounds around Lower Pine Creek Waterfall on Google Maps, so you can compare drive times from the trailhead.
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury.
Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle.
Plunge pools hide cold water, strong currents and submerged logs. Only swim where it is allowed.
In canyons, rain upstream can raise the water in minutes. Leave if the water turns muddy or starts to rise.
Leave no trace: pack out trash, stay off fragile moss and plants, and keep drones grounded where they are banned.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
Cash for parking
A bag to pack out trash
Practical visitor tips
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Wear shoes you do not mind getting wet: spray reaches further than you expect.
Keep your phone in a zip bag near the base.
Pack out everything, including food scraps.
Tell someone where you are going if the trail is long or remote.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Lower Pine Creek Waterfall, Utah located?
Lower Pine Creek Waterfall is in Zion National Park, Utah. Its GPS coordinates are 37.2168, -112.9602.
What kind of waterfall is Lower Pine Creek Waterfall, Utah?
Its form (plunge, cascade, horsetail and so on) is not listed yet.
How tall is Lower Pine Creek Waterfall?
Its height has not passed a source check yet, so we do not show a number or include it in tallest lists.
How much does it cost, and when is it open?
A fee of $35.00 is listed. Most falls are open dawn to dusk, but check the managing agency for gates and seasonal closures.
Is Lower Pine Creek Waterfall good for families?
It depends on the trail, which we have not confirmed. Check the length and terrain first, and keep children well back from wet rock and the edge.
How do I know if it is flowing?
Check USGS gauge 09405500 for today’s streamflow, and the last three days of rain in the weather panel.
The bottom line
Lower Pine Creek Waterfall is worth a detour, especially after rain. Go early, check recent rain, wear grippy shoes, and give yourself time to sit and listen once you get there.
Waterfalls nearby
One fall rarely fills a day. These are within about 40 miles.
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