Bridal Veil Falls, Telluride

During one summer at Telluride Academy, back in my young, naive, family vacation days, a local 8 year old told me that Bridal Veil Falls, the tallest free-standing waterfall in Colorado, was named after an unknown bride, who accidentally fell to her death minutes before the start of her wedding ceremony. Now that I’ve grown, both physically and mentally (I hope), I realize that the name actually derives from the falls appearance, which resembles the veil of a bride.

With 365 feet of free-flowing, cascading water, Bridal Veil Falls is by far one of the most photographed images of Telluride. It characterizes the majestic, pristine nature of the box canyon. Yet, even though it is one of the top three “must visit” sites on any tourist’s agenda (at least, in this writer’s opinion), it cannot be seen from town. Simply catching a glimpse of it requires a short, mile-or-so drive east.

But, besides its undeniable beauty, the falls serve other purposes. For serious ice climbers, they are a rite of passage in the winter. For history buffs, the house at the top actually serves as a power plant that used to supply electricity to the Smuggler-Union Mine. Either way, feeling the gentle, cold mist wash over you at the base of the falls will literally take your breath away.

~Gavin, TellurideNewb.com