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Bridal Veil Falls is a sister waterfall to Angel Falls in the Covell Creek drainage. I had long suspected a waterfall at this location, and for the 4th edition of "A Waterfall Lover's Guide to the Pacific Northwest", Greg Plumb confirmed my suspicions. What he failed to uncover, however, was the true scope of the falls. Plumb cites the falls as 25 to 35 feet - identifying the final tier of the falls. But a hop across the creek reveals a much larger tier upstream. The falls consist of a 150 foot tall zigzagging horsetail, followed by a drop of about 10 feet, then the final veil of 35 feet. The falls occur no more than 300 feet upstream of where the
Burley Mountain Trail crosses Covell Creek, but they can't be seen. Approaching the falls from Yellowjacket Creek Road, they are clearly audible, but can't be seen. For a long time I had thought the sound to be emanating from Angel Falls itself, seeing as the falls drop over the same cliff band and are situated not even 300 feet apart.
- Bridal Veil Falls is the Adopted name of this waterfall.
- Known Alternate Names: Bridal Falls
Greg Plumb has called this waterfall Bridal Falls in the 4th edition of A Waterfall Lovers Guide to the Pacific Northwest. I can understand the temptation to go for a slightly more unique name here, but the only real fitting name for this one along those lines is Bridal Veil Falls, so I'm adapting and running with the idea.
From Randle, take SR 131 south towards Mt. St. Helens, then follow Forest Road 23 towards Trout Lake. Follow the signs for the Cispus Center to FR 28, about 13 miles from Randle. Drive down FR 28 for 2 miles to just beyond the bridge across Yellowjacket Creek. Here FR 28 continues straight, but becomes gravel, take this - don't follow the pavement. Follow the gravel extension of FR 28 for about 2 miles to the signed Burley Mountain trailhead. The trail then climbs moderately up the hill for 1/2 mile to a junction. Keep left for another 1/4 mile to where the trail crosses Covell Creek. Alternatively one can pass both Covell Creek Falls and Angel Falls enroute by staying right at the junction at the ½ mile mark, then left at the next junction at the top of Covell Creek Falls. From the crossing of Covell Creek, head upstream for about 300 feet to the base of the falls. The upper tier can't easily be reached from the base of the falls due to the steep walls of the streambed, so I would advise hiking upstream in the woods to the east (left) of the creek to reach the viewpoint of the upper tier.
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