Bridal Veil Falls

Larimer County, Colorado

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height: Not recorded
Location: Larimer County, Colorado
Access status: Park trail route and parking documented; entrance pass required
The walk: About 6.2 miles return
Ground & access: Mostly gentle meadow trail, then rockier forest trail with rock steps and a steep final tenth of a mile.

Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails: Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls, CO
Photo credit
Photo: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Walk through the McGraw Ranch research facility and follow the Cow Creek Trail west. Go straight at the Gem Lake junction near 1.2 miles and turn right at the Dark Mountain Trail junction at about 1.9 miles. Past the horse hitching post near 2.9 miles, keep right and climb rock steps steeply to the base of the 20-foot falls at 3.1 miles. Return the same way.

Plan your visit

Cow Creek Trailhead at McGraw Ranch via the Cow Creek Trail to the base of Bridal Veil Falls

Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails gives 6.2 miles round trip with 990 feet of gain, reaching the base of the falls at 3.1 miles. Not measured here.

Mostly gentle meadow trail, then rockier forest trail with rock steps and a steep final tenth of a mile.

Where to start

Small roadside parking area on McGraw Ranch Road about 2.1 miles from Devil's Gulch Road, just before a sign that says no parking beyond this point. Space is very limited.

Timing & water

Best after spring snowmelt; aspens make fall popular. McGraw Ranch Road is gravel with washboard.

Before you go

A park entrance pass is required at all hours; the standard pass is $15 to $35. In 2026, timed entry reservations were needed to enter between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. from May 22 to October 12. Dates for 2027 not yet verified.

Visitor information

Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.

Explore Colorado

Waterfall location

Larimer County, Colorado.

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