GUNLOCK — Sorry, TLC. We’re chasing waterfalls.

As predicted, Gunlock Falls is flowing, with some of the heaviest and swiftest levels of water the area has ever seen. While rumors have spread that public access may be cut off, Lead Public Information Officer Devan Chavez with the Utah State Parks said that’s a misunderstanding.

“They’ll be closing off some of the areas immediately above and below the falls when debris piles up excessively,” Chavez said. “Because of the high amounts of water, logs can come down now and even more potentially throughout the season.”

Since there’s no way to predict when the debris will pose a risk to visitors or the dam, announcements will be posted online to alert the public of closures.

During the removal process, the public will still be able to see the falls but may not be able to get as close as they like. Once the debris is cleared, the area will open back up. For updated information on the status of the waterfalls, click here.

Seeing the rapid waters crash down the red rock boulders is a rare occurrence, and does not happen every year. Chavez said the last time the falls were seen flowing in 2020, the parks department chose to “shut off” the falls.

“The falls themselves are when the water gets to the top and spills over. There’s a secondary option to have additional water go through the bottom. That was done in 2020 during the pandemic due to the amounts of crowds we were seeing.”

While he said they did experience some littering that year, it mostly came from new visitors to the area that didn’t know about the amenities available on the other side of the park. Once the park posted more signs and brought in more dumpsters, the littering stopped.

Injuries from cliff jumping and slips were also reported that year. In 2019, a man who was reported missing after cliff diving at the falls was found dead the following day.

With the amount of snowpack in the area, he said it’s likely that the falls will flow strong for quite a while. Because of that, the public should exercise extra caution. With the rocks that get slippery during a “normal falls” year, the water moving this quickly can cause additional hazards.

“Swift water danger is very very real,” Chavez said. “So please, don’t do anything that could put yourself or your family in danger. Keep loved ones, especially young ones close by, and be aware of your surroundings.”

Because Gunlock Falls is a very popular place, he recommended people check park conditions before getting on the road to Gunlock State Park. Once the parking area reaches capacity, just like Sand Hollow and other parks, there will be a wait time to get in.

While the responsibility rests with individuals and families to use discretion and to recreate safely, Gunlock State Park staff have posted caution signs along trails and on the dam reminding visitors of the hazards. Park staff and rangers will also patrol the area more often to engage with visitors.

“There’s an inherent risk when recreating outdoors,” Chavez said. “Whether you’re visiting the falls or climbing snow canyon, these things all come with risks. So taking proper safety precautions before you do anything is very very very important.”

Click here to learn more about how to visit the Gunlock Waterfalls safely. Follow the Gunlock State Park Facebook page to stay informed.

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