Bridal Veil Trail
The NEW Bridal Veil Trail is OPEN
For over 25 years, the Telluride Mountain Club (TMtC) dreamed of a new trail to eliminate the necessity for hikers to access Bridal Veil Falls via the Bridal Veil Road. After much coordination and work by TMtC, Idarado Mining Company, San Miguel County and the Town of Telluride, the new trail has finally become a reality.
Location
Bridal Veil Trail meanders from the Idarado Mine parking area (at the settling ponds) to the base of Bridal Veil Falls. The trail length is 1.2 miles each direction. There is an additional spur from the Bridal Veil Trail to the Bridal Veil Road about 3/4 the way up the trail. At this intersection, there is also a spur that visits a beautiful waterfall and swimming hole.
To access the trail from the Idarado Parking lot, walk up the road about 10-25 yards. On your right you will see a big rock. The trail starts to the left side of this big rock. The trail stays to the hiker’s right of the road, see map below for more detail.
Bridal Veil Trail
This trail is perfect for Bridal Veil Falls viewing, a route to the via ferrata or linked with other local trails for a longer adventure. It passes several world-class waterfalls, climbs through rough terrain and embodies a remote escape. This trail is for hikers only. We hope you enjoy Telluride’s newest trail!
TMtC was instrumental in negotiating a recreational trail easement agreement with Idarado Mining Company to allow for the new trail on the east-end of the Telluride valley. TMtC then worked with San Miguel County to hold the trail easement. The Town of Telluride joined the effort and agreed to fund the initial round of trail building, which was completed by the Southwest Conservation Corps in the Fall of 2019.
We are now working on bridge engineering and construction for the creek crossing. Bridge funds were secured through a public fundraiser, MMOF funds and via the San Miguel County Open Space Commission. Our hope is to construct the bridge in the fall of 2020. You can learn more about the project here and you can donate to Telluride trail projects here. We hope you enjoy Telluride’s newest trail!
There is no better trail to hike to see the beauty of Colorado wildflowers quite like the Wasatch Trail Loop.
How to get there: Wasatch Trail can be done in either direction. From Bear Creek Trail, starting in Telluride, head in 2 miles and take a right at the Wasatch Trail Sign. Continue hiking a series of steep switchbacks for 30-45 minutes at wich point the trail traverses the hillside and parallels Bear Creek as it works up the basin, across an old bridge and into a hanging valley. Continue aprrov 2.5 hours up to the saddle. There is a split halfway up the Wasatch where one trail runs up the east side of the creek, and another on the west. You can choose either as both reconnect before reaching the summit. When the trails reconnect, it is approximately one additional hour before reaching the summit. Cairns designate the route.
The San Juans are the youngest mountain range in the Lower 48. As a result the mountains around Telluride are STEEP!!! One must be prepared for a good ol’ fashioned ass whuppin when taking to the trail around here. Of course you could skirt the issue and take a jaunt down the valley floor, or perhaps a walk out to the mine?? Nah…embrace the angle, go up! No trail better represents Telluride’s steepness better than Eider Creek.