Above Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls is a popular hiking destination located at the east end of the Telluride Canyon and east of Telluride town. At 365 feet it is the longest free falling waterfall in Colorado. There is trailhead parking at the base of the switchback road just past the Pandora Mill.

From the parking area it is 1.2 miles to the base of the falls and 1.8 miles to the historic power plant at the top. The starting elevation is about 9200 feet at it is about 10,400 feet at the top.

It took me 0:55 minutes to arrive at the base of the falls and 1:30 hours to reach the top. 

The old road continues into the Bridal Veil Basin behind the historic power plant. Vehicles driving to the top are blocked from continuing. The other hiking option at the top of the falls is to continue on the Black Bear Road toward Ingram Falls. 

The trail continues to climb as steeply as on the switchback road that leads to the waterfall, with several high peaks and forested hillsides visible.

Looking back down the trail the high peaks on the northeast side of the Telluride Canyon are visible.

The Bridal Veil Creek has many small waterfalls along this segment and there is a waterfall joining the stream from the west.

I turned around after an additional 1.5 miles and 1:10 hours at a point where a sparkling creek crosses the trail. The additional elevation gain was another 700 feet to about 11,100 feet. 

I think this tumbling creek comes down from the Mud Lake basin. In late June there were several good patches of wildflowers along this segment of trail.

My return hike took 1:40 hours for a total hike of 4:10 hours for about 6.6 miles with 1900 feet of climbing. I carried and drank 3 liters of water on an 80 F degree late June day. It was a busy day in Telluride and there were many hikers and a few vehicles climbing to Bridal Veil Falls. 


(There is another post on Bridal Veil Falls that shows more of the hike leading up the switchback road. Use the labels to find.)