Bridal Veil Falls

At about 2.9 miles, pass a smaller cascade beside the horse hitching post and take the right-hand route uphill. Bridal Veil is about 3.1 miles from the trailhead. The final tenth-mile climbs more than 125 feet over rocky steps, so expect the toughest part close to the finish.

The route starts in the McGraw Ranch landscape, crosses open meadows, then passes aspens, ponderosa pine and blue spruce as it follows Cow Creek. Summer brings wildflowers to the meadows; aspens add color in fall. Elk and mule deer are among the wildlife reported along the way.

From MacGregor Avenue by the US 34 Bypass, follow MacGregor and Devil's Gulch roads north for about 3.4 miles, then take McGraw Ranch Road for another 2.1 miles. The last stretch is gravel, with some washboard. The small trailhead lot is first-come and has space for 15 passenger vehicles; park in the lot before the no-parking sign. No potable-water tap was confirmed here. The park warns that untreated creek water may contain Giardia, so filter or boil it before drinking.

Peter J. Pauley Jr. established the original 160-acre ranch in 1884. It grew to 1,160 acres and was sold to John and Irene McGraw in 1909. They turned it into a dude ranch in 1936, operating until 1979. The National Park Service bought the property in 1988 and began restoring surviving buildings in 1999 for use as a research facility.

The falls are usually strongest after spring snowmelt, though recent precipitation changes their volume. From the base, include the sloping rock ledge and the boulders and stream below; that shows the shape of the drop as well as where the water lands.