Bridal Veil Trail #636

Dogs Unknown

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The Bridal Veil Trail starts at the road closure gate where the road splits near Bridal Veil Power Station. If you have a higher clearance vehicle and are not afraid of heights, you can drive up to the trailhead and park along the road.

Take a moment to appreciate the stunning views of toward downtown Telluride from the trailhead before beginning your hike. After climbing through the gate proceed south on an old mining road past the privately-owned powerhouse. Please stay on the trail and respect the private property.

The trail is a rough doubletrack that climbs alongside and above Bridal Veil Creek which rushes through a narrow canyon with a variety of cascades and mini-waterfalls. Depending on the time of year, you may see many seasonal waterfalls flowing into the creek from the east and west sides of the basin - some of these cross the trail so if you are hiking in the early spring, be ready for wet feet and for sections of trail that more closely resemble a small river due to the snowmelt.

Along the way, there will be opportunities to take side trails to Silver Lake and Blue Lake. At about mile 3.5, the trail passes within view of the Lewis Mill and Lewis Lake. The Mill, recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a 5-story structure that served as a 60-ton capacity ore concentration facility in the early 1900's. The structure is owned by San Miguel County who reroofed the mill building in 2006.

At its terminus, the trail intersects with the Wasatch Trail #508 and the Blixt Trail #508.1A.

An assortment of wildflowers along the creek and in the meadows above treeline.