Posted by Andy Drumer on April 11, 2007 at 3:41 PM
Went of a somewhat wild bushwahck to Upper Bridal Veil Falls Sunday. Supposedly there is a somewhat gentle, but still seriously brushy and trailess slope down to the creek from the old logging road above, however my gf decided to take the lead on this one and started bombing down this 70-80 slope once we saw the falls. Fingernails substituted for a rope, but we eventally made it down to the creek about about a 400-500 foot descent.
I am having serious trouble with my camera however. First at Neverland and now here, at the faintest hint of rain or moisture, it starts going crazy, eventually freezing up. Given that I have had to dry it out at least 8 times in it's life maybe this is just the gradual end for it. I only managed a few angles before it went dead. This I think is the best one, much more water foreground in the original, I ofcourse had to crawl out into that lovely waterslide.
Minolta 5D, 18mm, f/22 1sec
Thanks, have fun and bring a rope if you try this one! It's about 100 feet tall.
Heh, I dunno why I never drew a connection between your posts here and Portlandhikers.com. I'd be curious what that perspective would yield when the trees are all leafed out.
Posted by Ned Fenimore on April 11, 2007 at 4:14 PM
Does one wade up the creek to this? I noticed the only apparent road going south of the old hwy at the B&B was posted about .5 miles up...
Posted by Andy Drumer on April 11, 2007 at 7:42 PM
Check out bryans website for directions, he was the first person to put this waterfall in the mainstream. If I had to do it again I would probably wade up the creek as it is a gorgeous section of water and not too far from the hiway.
Posted by Bryan Swan on April 11, 2007 at 10:19 PM
Here (http://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall.php?num=1820&p=0) is the info. Shortest approach is off of Palmer Mill Road (the road that climbs up next to the Angels Rest TH), but its brushy and somewhat steep. The creek and canyon are extremely scenic below the falls, so a low- water hike up the stream would definitely be worth doing - just keep in mind that Bridal Veil Creek is one of the larger streams in the Gorge, and it could potentially sweep you off your feet during high flows.
That said, Upper Bridal Veil Falls is definitely one of the best in the Gorge. I'd go as far as saying that the only ones that best it are Multnomah, Wahkeena, Elowah and Twister Falls (and Twister just because of its really unique form). Possibly Wahclella and maybe Horsetail too, but only under absolutely perfect conditions.
Still working through all the great images on this site - Andy, I didn't make the connection that you were one and the same as the Andy on Portland Hikers until I stumbled across this thread! Gorgeous photo, of course!
There's a growing thread about the upper section of Bridal Veil Creek on the Portland Hikers website, including a middle falls that Don Nelson visited in the section between the highway and Upper Falls. Several Portland Hikers are headed back to the middle falls on Saturday (then to Middle Oneonta) if anyone is interested. Here are the details:
I'd agree with Bryan that Upper Bridal Veil is among the most photogenic in the Gorge - in form, more like the curtain-shaped waterfalls at Silver Creek State Park, so it's unique in the Gorge in that sense. It's also a very attractive canyon and slide below the falls. Well worth the bushwhack!
Discussion
5 repliesI am having serious trouble with my camera however. First at Neverland and now here, at the faintest hint of rain or moisture, it starts going crazy, eventually freezing up. Given that I have had to dry it out at least 8 times in it's life maybe this is just the gradual end for it. I only managed a few angles before it went dead. This I think is the best one, much more water foreground in the original, I ofcourse had to crawl out into that lovely waterslide.
Minolta 5D, 18mm, f/22 1sec
Thanks, have fun and bring a rope if you try this one! It's about 100 feet tall.
That said, Upper Bridal Veil Falls is definitely one of the best in the Gorge. I'd go as far as saying that the only ones that best it are Multnomah, Wahkeena, Elowah and Twister Falls (and Twister just because of its really unique form). Possibly Wahclella and maybe Horsetail too, but only under absolutely perfect conditions.
There's a growing thread about the upper section of Bridal Veil Creek on the Portland Hikers website, including a middle falls that Don Nelson visited in the section between the highway and Upper Falls. Several Portland Hikers are headed back to the middle falls on Saturday (then to Middle Oneonta) if anyone is interested. Here are the details:
http://portlandhikers.com/forums/17510/ShowThread.aspx#17510
I'd agree with Bryan that Upper Bridal Veil is among the most photogenic in the Gorge - in form, more like the curtain-shaped waterfalls at Silver Creek State Park, so it's unique in the Gorge in that sense. It's also a very attractive canyon and slide below the falls. Well worth the bushwhack!
-Tom