Bridal Veil Falls Columbia River

Bridal Veil Falls Columbia River Oregon

Bridal Veil Falls is a waterfall located on Bridal Veil Creek in the Columbia River Gorge in Multnomah County, Oregon, United States. 

The Historic Columbia River Highway passes over Bridal Veil Falls on a bridge. From a parking lot on the highway, a winding footpath and another bridge lead to a vantage point for the falls. The falls consists of two cascades in quick succession along angling rock-faces, so when there is a good amount of water the falls looks very much like its namesake. 

Bridal Veil Falls Hike  

Bridal Veil Falls State Park is located near milepost 28 on the Historic Columbia River Scenic Highway and is accessed off I-84 at Exit 28. Travel west on the Historic Columbia River Highway about 3/4 of a mile to the entrance of Bridal Veil Falls State Park. The park offers a nice parking area, picnic tables and restrooms all within easy walking distance from the parking area.

The park features two different trails: an upper walking/interpretive trail and a lower hiking trail to the falls (120' tall).

The upper trail takes visitors around the precipice of the cliffs of the Gorge. Sign boards along the trail point out distinctive native wild plants that grow abundantly in this area such as camas, lupine, bead lilly, trillium and bleeding heart. The trail is fenced beautifully with logged beams and wire to protect visitors along the viewpoint while maximizing every vantage point of the magnificent view of the Gorge. The famous geologic edifice known as the Pillars of Hercules, a 120-foot basalt tower once used as a training site for mountain climbing, can be seen best from the upper trail at Bridal Veil. 

The lower trail at Bridal Veil takes the visitor downhill to the base of Bridal Veil Falls and is about a mile round trip to the falls and back. Although short, this is a steep little trail full of switchbacks and is not wheelchair accessible. Along the way are a few unwanted wild plants of this area -- such as poison oak -- so keep on the path. Do not attempt to walk along the bridge over the Historic Highway to view the falls. The road here is a narrow two-lane passage with absolutely no sidewalk. PLEASE view the falls from the trail. 

Bridal Veil Trail-head:  From the west, take I-84 to Exit #28/Bridal Veil. Turn south onto the Historic Columbia River Highway and drive 0.75 miles to Bridal Veil Falls State Park on the left/north side of the road. Coming from the east on I-84, take exit 35 (Ainsworth Park) and drive 8.3 miles west on the Historic Highway to reach Bridal Veil Falls State Park.