Bridal Veil Falls, Waterfall at box canyon edge in Telluride, United States.
Bridal Veil Falls descends 365 feet from the canyon rim, creating a vertical white stream of water against dark rock formations.
The Smuggler-Union Hydroelectric Power Plant, constructed in 1907 at the waterfall's summit, supplied electricity to local mining operations through its Westinghouse generator.
The waterfall and power station received recognition on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 for their role in Colorado's mining development.
Visitors can access the falls by following Colorado Avenue east from downtown Telluride until reaching the marked parking area at the canyon base.
The power plant at the top of the falls maintains its original 1907 AC generator, which still produces twenty-five percent of Telluride's electrical needs.
Location: Colorado
Part of: San Miguel River
GPS coordinates: 37.91920,-107.76996
Latest update: May 22, 2025 19:00
Waterfalls have a way of drawing people in. The sound of falling water, the mist that rises from the base, the way light catches the spray. Some of the most striking examples sit in places that remain relatively quiet, where the journey itself becomes part of the experience. These destinations reward travelers who make the effort, offering moments of solitude that are increasingly rare around natural landmarks. This collection includes places like the limestone terraces of Plitvice Lakes in Croatia, where a chain of interconnected pools spills from one to the next through forest shade. Or the red sandstone walls of Coyote Gulch in Utah, where water carved out hidden alcoves and pools over countless seasons. In India, Nohkalikai Falls drops from a forested plateau into a green pool far below. China's Huangguoshu Waterfall has a cave tucked behind the curtain of water itself. At the Vietnam-China border, Ban Gioc-Detian spreads wide across the landscape, while Angel Falls in Venezuela tumbles nearly a thousand meters from a flat topped mountain. Norway's Geirangerfjord hosts the Seven Sisters, a cluster of parallel streams that flow straight into the fjord. Iceland's Dettifoss sends an immense volume of glacial water over black volcanic rock. South Africa's Tugela Falls descends in stages from the dramatic cliff face of the Drakensberg range. And in the Philippines, Kawasan Falls creates a series of turquoise pools beneath a canopy of tropical growth. Each place has its own character, shaped by the rock, the climate, and the surrounding terrain.
Colorado features natural areas and historical sites away from common routes. The locations range from sand formations at Paint Mines Park to Zapata waterfalls. Bishop Castle displays hand-built stone architecture in the forest, while Devil's Causeway presents narrow rock bridges in the wilderness. Fossil discoveries, dinosaur tracks, and abandoned mining towns document the state's history.
Mount Sneffels
9.6 km
Animas Forks
17.9 km
Box Canyon
13.6 km
Lizard Head
18.4 km
Smuggler-Union Hydroelectric Power Plant
94 m
Lizard Head Pass
17 km
St. Elmo Hotel
14.2 km
Mount Sneffels Wilderness
12.9 km
Vermilion Peak
14.3 km
Telluride Historic District
3.9 km
Beaumont Hotel
14.4 km
Sultan Mountain
15.9 km
Dallas Peak
9 km
Fort Peabody
3.5 km
Gilpin Peak
7.8 km
Teakettle Mountain
9.1 km
Western Hotel
14.5 km
Ouray City Hall and Walsh Library
14.5 km
Wright's Opera House
14.3 km
Ouray County Courthouse
14.5 km
Ouray Historic District
14.3 km
Bear Creek Falls
13.2 km
Silverton Historic District
15.1 km
San Juan County Historical Society Mining Heritage Center
15 km
Telluride Historical Museum
4.3 km
Million Dollar Highway
6.1 km
San Juan County Courthouse
15 km
Silverton City Hall
15.1 kmReviews
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