Hayden Falls: trail and directions in Columbus
Hayden Falls squeezes a 35-foot waterfall into a pocket-sized gorge on the west bank of the Scioto River, inside a nature preserve of roughly 3.5 acres managed by Columbus Recreation and Parks. The walk is about 0.3 miles round trip from the lot on Hayden Run Road, it's free, and no waterfall in this guide sits closer to downtown Columbus.
Our waterfalls in Ohio guide places it in the central and southwest cluster.
No sourced coordinates are on file for this spot yet — see methodology.
Fact box
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Height | About 35 feet, per Columbus Recreation and Parks' preserve page |
| Nearest town | Columbus, Ohio (west side, near the Scioto River) |
| Access | Boardwalk and stairs to an overlook, about 0.3 miles round trip from the small parking lot on Hayden Run Road |
| Fee | Free, no permit |
| Legal status | City park (Columbus Recreation and Parks), public land |
| Flow reliability | Varies with recent rain; the falls run on a small drainage, not a river |
Trail and access
Hayden Falls Nature Preserve has a small lot off Hayden Run Road on the west side of Columbus. From there, a boardwalk and a set of stairs, built in 2006 to protect the surrounding gorge habitat, lead to a close overlook of the falls, a round trip of about 0.3 miles, short enough to fit into a longer walk along the adjacent Griggs Reservoir riverside trail. No fee or permit is required.
The falls
At roughly 3.5 acres, the preserve is one of the smallest stops in this guide, a strip of protected gorge rather than a broader park. The boardwalk and overlook keep foot traffic off the fragile slopes while still giving a close view of the drop, which cuts through limestone that shelters rare ferns and a population of two-lined salamanders, part of why the city designated the site a nature preserve in 2004. Because it sits inside city limits, Hayden Falls draws a different kind of visitor than the guide's rural and state-park stops, mostly Columbus residents on a short walk rather than travelers planning a dedicated trip.
How this guide was researched
This page was compiled from Columbus Recreation and Parks data for Hayden Falls Nature Preserve and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. We haven't visited this site ourselves. Trail conditions vary with weather and season; verify current conditions with Columbus Recreation and Parks before you go. Last checked August 2026.
FAQ
How long is the walk to Hayden Falls?
About 0.3 miles round trip from the parking lot on Hayden Run Road to the falls overlook.
Is Hayden Falls free?
Yes. It's a Columbus city park with no entrance fee or permit required.
Is Hayden Falls the closest waterfall to downtown Columbus?
Among the falls in this guide, yes. It sits inside city limits on the west bank of the Scioto River, closer to downtown than any other stop on the Ohio list.
Can you walk down to the base of Hayden Falls?
The boardwalk and overlook are built to keep visitors on a protected path above the gorge slopes rather than at the base of the falls directly.
We haven't visited these places ourselves, and every page says so rather than implying otherwise. Details are compiled from public land-manager, USGS and NOAA sources and cross-checked where possible; conditions, access rules and fees change without notice, so confirm with the managing agency before you go. Page last checked August 2026. Read our full methodology.