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.)

Bridal Veil Falls Trail at Telluride

Bridal Veil Falls is just to the east of Telluride town, in southwest Colorado. It is one of four waterfalls visible in the Telluride area, and is a popular destination.


It's possible to drive to the top of the falls with  4WD. I started my hike in the free parking at the southwest end of town and walked along the San Miguel River Trail, a strip of clear running mountain stream winding between the ski lodges, condos, and sports shops, past a beaver pond and through the town park and camp ground.


At the east end of town the river trail merges with the Idarado Legacy Trail, a segment with interpretive signs that point out the mining history of Telluride.

Past the old mill, a rough steep road, surrounded by towering peaks, climbs by switchbacks up towards the falls.

It is possible to drive through town to trailhead parking and start 1.2 miles from the base of the falls, or 1.8 miles to the top. Along the way there are also some views of Ingram Falls.

From a distance, it looks like there is a building up above the falls. What can that be, way up there? The historic markers point out that the building is a power plant, originally built in 1907 to supply power for mining operations. After a checkered history, the plant has been restored and is currently producing current.

One of the switchbacks bends back right at the base of the falls, a light mist blowing off the water tumbling about 365  feet.

It took me 2:30 hours to get up to the power plant from the west end of town, spending part of the time dodging 60 or so crazed dirt bike riders ripping down the rough road on a multi day mountain tour. At the top it is possible to continue on Black Bear Road toward Ingram Falls, or toward Blue Lake and Bridal Veil Basin.

On the return hike, I took advantage of the free summer gondola rides from Telluride Station, taking off from right along the River Trail up to Mountain Village, a Telluride suburb that doesn't fit in the the Victorian themed valley.

The gondola has a stop at Station St. Sophia, a scenic trail head with a nature center, and then descends down into the upscale Mountain Village area. The Mountain Village area has more ski lodges, condos, lifts, and sports shops, and the golf course is up there, next to a lot of nice looking houses.