Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls drops 365 feet (111 meters) from a rocky ledge into a narrow mountain canyon near Telluride in Colorado. A red brick building, the former power station, sits at the top of the waterfall and stands out against the white stream and gray rock walls.

A mining company built the small power station at the summit in 1907 to supply electricity for mining work in the valley. The generator produced power for the mines for decades and later served parts of the town as well.

The name comes from the fine mist that catches sunlight and resembles a wedding veil hanging in the air. Hikers and locals treat the steep trail to the power station as a physical challenge, while others prefer to photograph the cascade from the valley floor.

Access begins at the eastern end of Colorado Avenue, where parking is available at the canyon entrance. The steep trail to the summit requires good fitness and solid footwear, though the waterfall can also be viewed comfortably from below.

The power station at the summit is now a private residence, even though the old AC generator from 1907 remains in operation. It still supplies roughly one quarter of the electricity that Telluride uses today.