Updated July 2026
Hays Creek Falls
Hays Creek Falls is a roughly 40-foot multi-tiered cascade just off Colorado Highway 133 about two miles south of Redstone, along the West Elk Loop Scenic Byway near the Crystal River. It is reached by a very short walk from a roadside pullout and freezes into a popular ice-climbing route in winter.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check White River National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hays Creek Falls drops about 40 feet. That makes it the 482nd-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 31% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
Access is documented as roadside. No trail distance is on record for Hays Creek Falls. The nearest town is Redstone. Confirm access and land status with White River National Forest (USFS) before setting out — some documented falls have no public route at all.
Spring snowmelt (mid-Apr to mid-Jul). Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More Colorado waterfalls
- Adams Falls · 55 ft
- Alberta Falls · 30 ft
- Bear Creek Falls
- Booth Falls · 60 ft
- Box Canyon Falls · 285 ft
- Bridal Veil Falls · 365 ft
- Bridal Veil Falls (Hanging Lake)
- Cascade Falls (Ouray) · 270 ft
Sources
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