Bridal Veil Creek
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| | Raps:4-6, max ↨100ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Optional 10 min Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Basalt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 3 Apr 2026
"North Fork Bull Run River NR Mult Falls 206% - 64.7 cfs. Reading Extreme. I didnt run it but the photo off the bridge looks more like mod high. |
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| Best season: | Mar-Oct
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45.5462, -122.1717
45.5432, -122.1692
45.5534, -122.1829
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Introduction
A classic Columbia Gorge canyon with reasonably good access, but expect some jungle bushwhacking and creekwalking before reaching R1. This canyon holds water well late into the season. Sadly, its proximity to civilization has made it a dumping ground for years — there are a number of junked cars in the creek (reportedly 13 at one count), likely attempts at insurance fraud.
- Beware poison oak on the approach and exit.
- Watershed: 5.8mi² Checkpoint is the bridge on the Old Columbia River Highway.
Red Tape Updates:
- Please review the Exit section for information on property issues on the hike out.
- West Columbia Gorge lead David Spangler has requested that canyoneers avoid running Bridal Veil Falls (R5 & R6) due to public safety concerns.
Approach
Drop a car at the exit: the Bridal Veil Falls parking lot just off the Old Columbia River Highway. Shuttle or walk 0.5mi east on the highway to the approach. (If on foot, use caution — no shoulder in spots and traffic moves fast.)
Just before the Angel's Rest trailhead, turn right on Palmer Mill Rd and immediately right again. Palmer Mill is one lane, steep, and eroded in spots but manageable for 2WD with care. Follow it 1.5mi to a point where the road makes a sharp 90-degree left turn. A small pullout here fits a couple of cars.
Two options for entering the creek:
- Shortcut Approach (recommended): Drop in near a small pullout. Steep bushwhacking if done correctly, you'll arrive at the junked cars just before R1.
- Classic Approach: From the pullout, bushwhack directly down the nose of the ridge into the creek. Steep and scrambly in spots, with thick jungle near the bottom and a lengthy stretch of creek-walking before R1.
Descent
- A short drop (easily downclimbed) with three junked cars marks the beginning of the technical section.
- R1: Upper Bridal Veil Falls — A gorgeous curtain falls and a hidden gem of the Columbia Gorge.
- Dry line: 100ft rappel from tree DCL.
- Wet line: 100ft from log or rock in the watercourse — a super fun, showery free-hanging rappel. This line holds up at surprisingly high flows, as you drop behind the veil just after you go over the edge. You land on the rocks in a shower.
- The bedrock below R1 is a highlight of the canyon. It's also possible to escape below R1 via a steep user trail up to the road.
- R2: 15ft from single bolt DCL. Alternatively, downclimb halfway and jump DCL into a 5ft deep hole mid-pool. Note: this area is collecting wood — always scout the pool before jumping.
- R3: 25ft from tree DCL. Rappel toward the falls, but throw the pull side off the back (downstream) for easy retrieval.
- R4: Middle Bridal Veil Falls — 90ft from bolt station on a boulder DCR, or dry rappel from tree far DCL. Use caution when deploying ropes — two large metal cables from the logging era hang down the DCL side of the falls. The pool at the bottom forms a hydraulic earlier in the season with a clockwise rotation; it's far easier to swim with the current than to fight it. Swim out into the middle, go with the current, and let it carry you to the logjam.
Exit
Follow a trail ~0.5mi along the DCL (west) side of the creek. Be aware: there is private land along the exit route and the landowner is not friendly to canyoneers. To avoid conflict, stay in the creek (east of the property line) or bushwhack along the east side on State Park land. See the KML map above for the property line location.
Exit the creek at the bridge and climb out DCL on the north side.
Bridal Veil Falls (R5 & R6)
As of September 2023, land manager David Spangler has requested that canyoneers do not run Bridal Veil Falls (R5 & R6) due to public safety concerns.
Red tape
Red Tape:
- Please avoid private land on the west side of the creek below R4.
- Bridal Veil Falls (R5 & R6) are among the popular waterfalls along the Historic Columbia River Highway. Canyoneers rappelling or rigging ropes at high-visibility "show waterfalls" are more likely to draw negative reactions from the public, which can lead to complaints and increased regulation from local authorities. As of September 2023, Columbia River Gorge West lead David Spangler has requested that canyoneers refrain from running the last two falls. Please respect this request in the interest of maintaining good relationships with local land managers.
Nearby
Bride of Hercules Falls
An 80ft falls on a small seasonal creek immediately west of the Bridal Veil Falls parking area. Likely only runs in winter, but a quick and fun objective for an off-season rappel fix. No real difficulties — nice and splashy.
From the parking area, walk northwest down the paved trail. Just before the first viewpoint, veer west and drop down to the creek. A little bushwhacking, but nothing bad. Anchor is a large tree DCL atop the falls. At the bottom, follow the base of the cliffs westward until you can scramble back up. Takes 20-30 minutes. Beware poison oak and blackberry — another good reason to visit in winter only.
The falls takes its name from the Pillars of Hercules, a rock climbing destination on the spires to the west.
Beta sites
CanyoneeringNorthwest.com (archive.org) : Bridal Veil Creek- Super Amazing Map : Bridal Veil Creek
