Bridal Veil Falls is a 100-foot waterfall on Soda Creek in Idaho Springs, Clear Creek County, Colorado, next to the historic Charlie Tayler Waterwheel. A short concrete path under I-70 from downtown leads to it.
The falls
Soda Creek comes down into Clear Creek here. Lidar data estimates the drop at about 100 feet, classes it as a horsetail and notes that it can be seen from Interstate 70. Earlier surveys listed 30 feet.
Getting there
The walk starts at Harold Anderson Park, at 17th and Water Street, where there is parking; a concrete path passes under I-70 to Water Wheel Park. The round trip is under a quarter mile with negligible gain and takes about 15 minutes. A second approach: from City Hall at 1711 Miner Street, a paved path behind the building runs under I-70 to the park and the Clear Creek Greenway.
When to go
The walk is open year-round.
On site
The waterwheel stands just north of the falls, and the park also displays Locomotive #60, a steam engine from the Colorado and Southern Railway. The approach is paved, and dogs are allowed on a leash.
History and name
Charlie Tayler built the waterwheel in 1893 to drive a stamp mill at his gold mine on Ute Creek. His estate gave it to Idaho Springs, and it was moved to its present site in 1946. Volunteers restored it with private funding in 1988, and it was dedicated that July during Gold Rush Days. The local historical society records that Tayler credited his good health to never kissing a woman or taking a bath.
Nearby
Missouri Falls is about 5.8 miles away, Clear Creek Falls about 11.4 miles, and Maxwell Falls about 14 miles.
Distances are straight-line.