Bridal Veil Falls 6/2015
photos by Sigrid Freese and May Chou
photos by Sigrid Freese and May Chou
Sigrid Freese -
This is Enid's favorite hike, for good reason. A gently rising trail until the last half mile, you are always within either earshot or sight of Cow Creek, and for the last half mile the trail winds through shady woods right along side. Many nice places to sit for a bit and enjoy. Wonderful flowers all along at this time of year. At the 3 mile mark you come to a big tilted slab of rock. Although it's not too hard to work your way either across or around it and continue up, some of our group stopped there for a mid-morning snack. Others continued the 2/10 mile to the falls, being careful to pick routes over or around the boulders. Very refreshing to sit by the falls. We stopped at the Stone Cup in Lyons for coffee, and Polly produced a "good as homemade" cherry pie from the small shop on the north side of the highway about halfway between Lyons and Estes Park. Practical notes - took us 1 3/4 hours to drive to trailhead, leaving at 6AM. There is a new "facility" at the trailhead. Altho the sign at the turn off to McGraw Ranch said parking full, we continued on and found there was space for several more cars so don't be deterred, at least early on a weekday. Took me, bringing up the rear, 2 hours to hike the 3.2 miles to the falls. The trail goes through woods and meadows...nice views of rock formations above. |