Wasatch Bridal Veil Loop

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Features Commonly Backpacked · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildlife

This hike features endless mountain views as it combines the Bear Creek, Wasatch and Bridal Veil Trail to form a fantastic 15 mile loop hike. It is also possible to do this as an overnight backpacking trip. You'll ascend Bear Creek up to a 13,000 foot pass, then descend through stunning Bridal Veil Basin before following the connecting River Trail back to the starting point.

This route combines the Bear Creek, Wasatch, Bridal Veil and River Trail to form a fantastic 15 mile loop hike. You'll ascend Bear Creek up to a 13,000 foot pass, then descend through stunning Bridal Veil Basin before following the connecting River Trail back to the starting point.

To begin, follow the exceedingly popular Bear Creek Trail from town. You'll likely need to park at the Carhenge Parking Lot, which will add an additional short hike to the trailhead.

Follow the Bear Creek Trail through some nice aspen forest as it slowly gains elevation. Eventually you'll come to a junction, with Bear Creek Falls straight ahead. If you have never visited this waterfall before you should continue straight ahead and do so, but you'll then need to backtrack to this junction. Once back, continue on what is now the Wasatch Trail as it switchbacks steeply up the hillside.

The crowds you likely encountered earlier en route to the waterfall will have vanished by this point. Continue climbing up the Bear Creek Valley. The trail eventually splits. Stay to the left on what is the East Fork Wasatch Trail as it climbs very steeply.

Continue climbing until you reach the 13,000+ foot pass between Oscar's Peak and Wasatch Mountain. From here you'll have fantastic views, and the first glimpse down into Bridal Veil Basin on the other side of the pass.

Once you've soaked in the views, descend into the basin via the Bridal Veil Trail. Lewis Lake and Mine is a short side trip off trail if you have the time. Otherwise, continue downhill on the Bridal Veil Trail which is now an old 4x4 road (closed to traffic).

You'll eventually drop out of the basin and hike above the Bridal Veil Hydroelectric Powerplant and Waterfall. Continue downhill along the 4x4 road, with an option to take the singletrack Bridal Veil Falls Trail once you reach the bottom of the waterfall.

This trail leads to the lower parking lot where you'll then hike the road until you come to the Idarado Legacy Trail. This pathway parallels the road and soon turns into the River Trail which you'll follow all the way back to the Bear Creek Trailhead where you first began.