If you’re looking for a beautiful place to enjoy the outdoors in Howard, Ohio, Honey Run Waterfall and Honey Run Highlands should be on your list. Managed by the Knox County Park District, these neighboring natural areas offer a combination of waterfall views, hiking trails, sandstone cliffs, prairie, forests, and abundant wildlife. Honey Run Waterfall is centered around a stunning 25-foot waterfall where Honey Run cascades over the rocks, while the much larger Honey Run Highlands sits directly across Hazel Dell Road. Together, they provide one of the most unique outdoor experiences in Knox County.
Discover Honey Run Waterfall
The waterfall is the centerpiece of the area and is a particularly scenic destination throughout the year. The Knox County Park District originally acquired the 2+ acre waterfall property in 2007 and expanded the park in 2009 with an additional 19 acres. That expansion created the opportunity for visitors to hike from the waterfall toward the Kokosing State Scenic River, passing impressive Blackhand sandstone cliffs and boulders along the way. The sandstone formations are especially interesting because they were formed approximately 350 million years ago. The area also supports a unique plant community, including towering eastern hemlocks, witch-hazel, wild ginger, and other native plants.
Explore Honey Run Highlands
Across the road from the waterfall is Honey Run Highlands, a 348-acre natural area acquired by the Knox County Park District in 2010. The Highlands offers hiking trails, picnic facilities, open prairie, woodlands, and restored habitat. Approximately 60 acres of warm-season grasses and prairie forbs have been planted throughout the property, creating valuable habitat while also helping improve water quality and reduce soil erosion. Wildlife enthusiasts may spot wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, bobcats, ring-necked pheasants, songbirds, butterflies, and even the state-threatened barn owl. During the summer, volunteers also conduct butterfly monitoring along the park’s Butterfly Transect Trail.
A Great Outdoor Destination in Knox County
Whether you visit specifically to see the waterfall, hike through the woods and prairie, photograph the sandstone formations, watch wildlife, or enjoy a peaceful picnic, Honey Run Waterfall and Highlands offer plenty of ways to experience the natural beauty of Knox County. The waterfall property is open to the public 365 days a year, and the two areas can be combined for a longer outdoor adventure. Located at 10855 Hazel Dell Road in Howard, Honey Run Waterfall is also close to other outdoor attractions in the area, including the Kokosing River and Kokosing Gap Trail. For residents and visitors alike, this beautiful corner of Howard is a wonderful reminder of just how much natural beauty can be found throughout Knox County, Ohio.
Plan Your Visit
Honey Run Waterfall
10855 Hazel Dell Road
Howard, OH 43028
Honey Run Highlands
10816 Millersburg Road
Howard, OH 43028
The Knox County Park District provides trail maps and information for both areas, making it easy to plan your visit before heading out.