Bridal Veil Falls — Local services in Telluride

If you're in Telluride and up for a rewarding outdoor adventure, don't miss Bridal Veil Falls. This stunning waterfall is Colorado's tallest free-falling falls and truly a sight to behold up close. While you can see both Bridal Veil Falls and Ingram Falls from the main parking lot at a distance, the real magic happens when you make the trek to the base.

The Trail Hike (1.12 miles one way from the lot): We took the rocky trail from the main parking lot straight to the base of the falls. It’s a moderate to hard hike — steep in sections and covered with loose rocks. If you're not physically prepared, this can be challenging. I saw many people struggling on the trail, especially without water or snacks. Take my advice: bring water and an energy bar — it’s not optional.

Parking can get crowded quickly, so expect to park along the road if you arrive later in the day.

Pro Tip: Take the Easier Route Up If you want a more comfortable ascent, consider walking up Bridal Veil Road (CR69). This unpaved road is about 1.5 miles from the lot to the falls. It’s a gentle incline — much easier on the legs and heart — and offers some beautiful views of Telluride and nearby Ingram Falls. Vehicles occasionally pass by, but overall, it’s a peaceful walk.

My Recommended Route:

Hike up via the Bridal Veil Road (CR69) for easier climbing and great lookout points. Hike down via the rocky trail, which is much more manageable going downhill and allows you to see Lower Bridal Veil and Penny Falls along the way.

The Falls: Up close, the falls are absolutely breathtaking. Mist from the powerful water cools the area, so expect to get slightly wet if you venture near the base. Totally worth it!

Final Thoughts: This hike was one of the most rewarding experiences I had in Telluride. Challenging, yes — but incredibly beautiful. If you're in decent shape and love a good adventure, don't miss it. If you're unsure about the climb, just take the road route. Either way, Bridal Veil Falls...

This was a challenging hike from the trailhead to the falls. I hiked the trail to the falls and then hiked the road back down to my vehicle. I used the All Trails app, which recorded an elevation climb of 2,746 feet and a total of 5.7 miles round trip. The day of my hike, the trails were quite muddy, rocky, and had exposed roots along the way. It is quite a shaded trail, so I never felt overheated. The few days before my hike there was quite a bit of rain. About a mile in I had to take my shoes off and roll up my pants to cross a river. It was the only way to continue on the trail. There were some waterfalls along the trail before you reach Bridal Veil Falls at the end of the trail. Once you get through this challenging hike, seeing the beautiful and powerful and misty falls is totally worth it. At the top there is a gorgeous view of the valley. I highly recommend for a morning or early afternoon hike. Bring plenty of water and some snacks. Bring a rain coat just in case of afternoon showers and to keep yourself dry at the falls as it is quite...

Bridal Veil Falls wasn't even on our agenda for the day, but after a disappointing trip to Box Canyon Park in Ouray, we decided to visit since we were already out this way.

I'm so glad we did.

While the main falls way up at the top appeared to be a rather low flow, our hike up, visiting the lower falls, was great. There weren't too many people and those we ran into were friendly. I was able to get some decent photos, too, which made me pretty happy.

The trail up is easy to moderate at best, so most people should have little trouble getting to at least the lower falls. BVF goes to show that some of the best experiences don't cost much more than a bit of fuel and some time. While I wouldn't claim that these are "must-see" falls, if you're near Telluride, they are well worth a small detour and I definitely...