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By Ben McCarty
News staff writer
June 17, 2009
If
you want a hike that is short and has a nice view at the end,
Bridal Veil State Park is for you.
If you
want one that is not crowded and remote, Bridal Veil is not that
hike.
Bridal
Veil has two short hikes, both of them under a mile each, the
falls loop and the overlook loop. Both trails start at the
parking area.
On a
busy day the parking lot may be completely full, which is not
too hard to do as it is not very large.
There
are a few turnouts nearby that can be used for parking as well.
The falls loop descends out of the parking area for a short trip
to the falls.
You
can hear the falls practically as soon as you set foot on the
path. Unfortunately, you can also hear a good amount of traffic
noise from I-84 below you.
The
trail winds its way down to the falls, the slowly back up. There
are no real difficult elevation gains or tricky sports to
navigate, just a pleasant, short hike. There is a beautiful
wooden bridge that provides a nice view of the creek running
from the falls.
A short
climb later up to a small observation deck and you can see the
double-decker Bridal Veil Falls. The hike is a perfect one for
people with dogs, and there were plenty of those on the trail
when I visited.
Compared
to some of the other nearby waterfalls, I would actually call
Bridal Veil somewhat unimpressive. However, considering it’s a
short hike to the falls, easily accessible, and presents some
nice photo opportunities, I would say it is definitely still
worth it.
After
hiking back from the falls loop, it was time for the overlook
trail. The overlook trail is almost better than the falls. It’s
just a short, flat circuit that gives you a spectacular view of
the Gorge. There are several picnic tables along the way that
make a great spot to bring a lunch.
Along
the way, interpretive signs give you facts about the history of
the area from the time of the early Native Americans through the
construction of the Old Columbia River Highway and I-84. You can
also keep an eye out for birds that flock to the nearby trees.
Overall,
Bridal Veil Falls, while slightly unimpressive next to some of
the other waterfalls in the area, is worth the trip,
particularly if you can get there on a day where it is not
particularly busy. Considering its brevity, you can also roll
Bridal Veil into a tour of the rest of the falls that extend
along the Old Columbia River Highway.
That
way, it is most certainly worth it.
Cost: None.
Getting there: From Hood River, take I-84 west to exit
29, or take I-84 west to Exit 35 then take the Old Columbia
River Highway approximately seven miles west.
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