Bridal Veil Falls

That's our 6 year-old climbing on the rock.

We took the short drive to Bridal Veil Falls today, and our boys loved it. When I was a boy, we actually rode "the world's steepest tram" up the mountainside to the top of the falls. The tram, however, is long gone. What makes Bridal Veil Falls great now is that it is so convenient. Just minutes from downtown Provo/Orem is one of the most beautiful falls in the state.

Take 8th North in Orem up Provo Canyon and follow the signs. There is a small parking lot for Bridal Veil Falls. Walk up the trail for a few hundred yards and you are at the foot of a towering cascade that is really more like three waterfalls than one. You can see the top of the falls coming over the edge on the skyline. Lower down is the "veil," so named because it resembles a brides wedding veil, and down at the bottom a smaller falls tumbles over the rocks into a wading pool.

The trail is generally well shaded and beautiful.

You are welcome to wade here by the bridge, but please don't wade or swim in the fish pond. The pond has dozens of native trout which you can feed for a quarter. This was our boys favorite part of the adventure. You can also rock-hop around on the right (west) side of the pond or dangle your feet off the bridge.

Yikes! That water is freezing.

All boys love to climb on rocks, right?

Feeding the fish. Don't forget a few quarters for fish food. 

It does tend to be a little busy here. Slightly farther up the trail, you can hike up near the bottom of the lower falls for a spectacular view. The trail is short, but steep. A sign forbids you from climbing higher, though many people do. It would take a mountain goat or rappelling ropes to make it to the abandoned restaurant on top, and I understand you'd find only an old ruin anyway.

Our boys loved this waterfall and begged to go back before we even mentioned we were leaving. Even the baby enjoyed the gentle walk through the woods.