Roadside Attraction Faux Falls - Moab

Overview

Fri

67° | 42°

Sat

68° | 52°

Sun

58° | 49°

Mon

63° | 44°

Tue

68° | 47°

( Rated 4.0 / 1 Ratings )

14 Todo Lists / 0 Ticks

RATING: Roadside Attraction

LENGTH: 1 hour (0.6 mile)

SEASON: Any

GEAR: Swimsuit and Towel if cooling off in the falls.

Fri

67° | 42°

Sat

68° | 52°

Sun

58° | 49°

Mon

63° | 44°

Tue

68° | 47°

Great lighting around Faux Falls

Pioneer Horace Sheley was ahead of his time with an ambitious vision of pumping water from Mill Creek over to Spanish Valley. His vision did not come to fruition until about 1981 when the modern day construction and ambition culminated in the in the creation of Ken's Lake.

Moving the water required drilling a 645-foot tunnel and pumping water from Mill Creek up through the sandstone tunnel to an outlet high on the ridge. The water then cascades down a rocky created channel filling Ken's Lake. En route from the ridge to the lake, Faux Falls was created. The falls are a stunning contrast to the dry surroundings and a great place to hang out on a hot summer day. There are not deep pools for swimming, but rather cascades and shallow area to splash and refresh in.

Note: Ken's Lake is named after Ken McDougald, the water conservancy district chairman who spent 15 years working to see the project from inception to completion.

The beautiful Faux Falls in Moab

View across the valley from Faux Falls.

Getting There

Note: Ken's Lake Campground has sites near the falls. If camping in those sites, a social trail goes from the campground along the creek to the falls. Reaching the falls by vehicle requires high clearance for a couple of rough spots, but the road can be easily walked.

Go south out of Moab on highway 191 about 7.5 miles to mile marker 117.9.

Turn left here, on the signed Kens Lake road. Reset your odometer. 12S 634078E 4261002N / 38°29'14"N 109°27'46"W

Follow this road 0.55 miles to a junction. Go right, toward the signed Mountain Loop Road. Reset your odometer again. 12S 634991E 4261077N / 38°29'16"N 109°27'08"W

0.6 miles - Stay left. 12S 635322E 4260164N / 38°28'46"N 109°26'55"W

1.4 miles - 4-way junction. Go left toward Kens Lake and reset your odometer. 12S 636358E 4259284N / 38°28'17"N 109°26'13"W

Continue straight at mile 0.6, instead of turning left into Ken's Lake. 12S 637226E 4259693N / 38°28'30"N 109°25'37"W

1.0 miles - Turn Left Into Campground 12S 637886E 4259890N / 38°28'36"N 109°25'09"W

The aquaduct output that creates Faux Falls

A jagged skyline at Faux Falls Moab

Route Description

From the trailhead, a well worn social trail meanders down to the picturesque base of the falls. If you're more motivated, follow the higher social trail that meanders up to the outlet pipe high on the ridge that creates the falls.

Note: For photographs, evening light is stunning as the falls generally face west.