It’s very easy to stop and enjoy this nice waterfall at the side of the road, along Colorado Highway 133 near Redstone. Almost no hiking is required — it’s right there!
My Visit
As waterfalls go, this is as easy as it gets. Just park at the side of the road, and you’re there!
At first, the best part of the waterfall is slightly hidden. You can easily walk up both sides of Hayes Creek, without getting your feet wet.
Once you’re a little closer, you get a nice view of the falls — which is made even nicer by the fall leaves that have fallen on the falls.
This is about as close as you can get. It’s no wonder why the nearby town is called “Redstone”, is it?
One note: the official CDOT sign calls this “Hays Creek Falls”, but maps and other sources refer to this as “Hayes Creek”, with an added “e”. I don’t know which one is correct. And, I don’t know a whole lot about the falls, since there isn’t much information posted online.
The good news is, there’s plenty of space for parking along Colorado Highway 133, on both sides of the road. Just be careful of fast-moving vehicles, since there are no pedestrian signs or crosswalk lines on the pavement, as there probably should be.
Oh, and did you notice the beautiful fall colors on that mountain in the distance? Highway 133 is one of the best places in the state to enjoy the autumn leaves. Be sure to check out my Highway 133 page, which highlights some of the best spots along this route for leaf-peeping.
The Bottom Line
It will only take you a moment to stop at Hays Creek Falls and enjoy the waterfall, so why not do it?
Location
Hayes (Hays) Creek Falls is located two miles south of Redstone, Colorado, and 18 miles south of Carbondale, along the northern spur of the West Elk Loop Scenic Byway. You’ll see a turnout area at the side of the road, and an official road sign.
Drivelapse Video
Check out this time-lapse, dash-cam video of some of the beautiful detours near Hays Creek Falls, off Highway 133:
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