This bike hike to Bridal Falls includes a photo essay with altitude. It captures Colorado’s fall color and majestic beauty.
Danny and I fell in love at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival twenty-seven years ago. We hadn’t been back. It takes seven hours to drive to this very special Colorado locale. It was worth every hour.
We biked from town into the box canyon. We planned to bike and then hike to the top of Bridal Veil Falls. I stopped every few hundred yards to take photographs.
We rode to the parking lot at the bottom of the mountain.
Biking on the road would get steep.
Run off from the mine turned the water a luminescent green. Do you see the vegetation on the right side of the valley? It was re-established with plantings after mining.
We searched for a path to take us to the bottom of the falls. We could 4-wheel it, but we would have missed the adventure!
Can you see the waterfall in the distance? We hiked above it.
We found a trail and bushwhacked while searching for orange or blue trail markers.
We continued to hike up the canyon.
The mountains rose up on all sides.
A dramatic look through the canyon back toward town.
Our goal. Danny suggested shimmying on the cable, Bear Grylls-style. Next time!
We were getting closer and yet we still had a trek ahead of us.
Our trail ran into the road. We started counting switchbacks. We would hike a few more hairpin turns before arriving at the top of the falls.
The obligatory Colorado VW van photo.
Above the falls!
We stuck to the road on the way back down. It was ever so much faster.
We’ve been on an amazing journey and it all started here in Telluride.
We found our bikes at the bottom of the valley.
Our twenty-seventh wedding anniversary is October 10th! I hope it doesn’t take another twenty-seven years to come back. Telluride is an amazing place.
Come for the Ride. Stay for adventure, I always say.
Are you a hiker or a biker?
All photographs were taken with a Sony Nex-3N DSLR
Click for more adventure on the Wild Ride.
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Susie Lindau's Wild Ride 
All I can say is, WOW! That just looks like it was an amazing experience!
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It was a 4 hour hike up more than 1500 feet. I hadn’t remembered how gorgeous it was! I’d only been twice. Once in winter and when Danny asked me to join his Wammer Jammer group for the festival. My eyes must have been on him the whole weekend!!!!
Thanks for stopping by SB!
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That sounds like a wonderful adventure. Breathtaking views. I could imagine the sweet fresh scents.
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It really was an adventure. I’m glad we ditched our bikes and walked. Every time a truck drove past on the way down, we choked on dust! I loved the sound of leaves crackling and popping under my bike tires.
To be honest, I had laryngitis and couldn’t smell a thing!
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COLORADO…in the running for “the other” most beautiful state.
Stunning photos, Susie.
Raye, Portland, OREGON
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Thanks so much, Raye! I would love to visit Oregon some day. When I do, I’ll contact you for all the locations to check out!
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What a hoot! Can’t wait…
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That was beautiful!!!
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Thanks Jessa! I’m glad you came to the Wild Ride to take the virtual tour!
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GORGEOUS. We hiked with our two teens this summer up to Hanging Lake outside Glenwood Springs, CO. Colorado is so awesome!
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Hey Marcy!
We have been to Moon Lake, but haven’t hiked to Hanging Lake. It sounds like a great adventure! I love that area. Thanks for the suggestion!
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Happy Anniversary! It’s wonderful that you have a shared interest like that. A bit like when we used to hike in Lake District.
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27 years has gone by in a flash! Thanks Catherine! I bet it is gorgeous in your Lake District. Is it in England or Canada?
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It’s not as beautiful with fall colours as Colorado but it’s nice in its own way. It’s just south of Scotland on the west.
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Very cool!
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Beautiful Susie.
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Thanks John! I’m glad you came along to virtually hike with me!
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Okay, this can’t be real. It looks like a dream.
Your autumn in Colorado is totally kicks my Maryland autumn’s ass.
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When the sun came out, it lit up the aspens and they glowed! It was like a beautiful dream. It’s probably at its peak right now.
Doesn’t Maryland have a lot of disiduous trees? I love fiery maples and rusty oaks. We only have them if they are watered by a sprinkler system. 🙂
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Western Maryland is where our mountains are and yes, it’s beautiful. I live between D.C. and Baltimore in a suburb so I don’t get to see anything near as pretty as you.
The hubby and I are hoping to maybe travel to Maine next fall. I hear that’s where its at!
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I would love to travel to Maine for fall color. I’ve heard it is incredible!
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Gorgeous, Susie. It’s been way too long since we’ve visited Telluride. And it is soooo beautiful in the fall. Great shots and glad you had such a great time. Also a good place to meet your soulmate!
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Great to “see” you Cathy!
We couldn’t believe we hadn’t been either. It hasn’t changed much. I expected all the celebrities who had moved there over the years had made an impact. It is a magical place! I had forgotten how gorgeous it is!
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I am neither a hiker or biker due to my bad knees but have nothing but admiration for the both of you.
Just incredible…
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Thanks Linda! Biking is very good for knees, but it depends on the case I’m sure.
You would have loved it! Spectacular views and amazing vistas everywhere we looked. 🙂
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You have officially captured the beauty so well I desperately want to fly to CO immediately 🙂 thanks for sharing! Great pics and I love the storyline of your adventure!
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Thanks so much and for reading! Colorado is a pretty amazing place! It’s peaking in the mountains, but we still have at least a week before we peak here in Boulder.
🙂
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Those pics make me seriously miss Colorado! Happy Anniversary!
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Thanks so much Jinxie and for the tweet out. 27 years! It went by in a flash. 🙂
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Beautiful – and probably bright crisp cool weather. This look like a gorgeous trip. (must put on list…waterfall!!!! My bike’s ready to go.)
Impressive and no better way to spend a day (and how does time slip by so fast?)
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It was a gorgeous day and trip. the box canyon was breathtaking. There was more to explore. Next time!
Thanks so much Phil!
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When I saw Bridal Veil, I thought Estes and wondered how I missed the bike trail up there. Mucho giggles. Showing off your pix around here…perhaps motivating?
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Thanks for sharing them, Phil! I hope it motivates everyone to take a break and go outside! I biked to the store today instead of my usual ride in the car. Ever so much Better!
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Beautiful, Susie, but you’ve just reminded me of our age difference. I wouldn’t consider either biking or hiking those mountains.
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I hope to hike and bike for many years to come! Thanks so much David!
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Happy Anniversary 🙂 Beautiful Captures – love the changing of the colors. I love to bike and hopefully get back to mountain hiking (jars my back too much right now – need to get stronger). Happy Day!
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Hey Renee! Happy Tuesday! 🙂
Thanks so much. Danny is so patient. It took forever to get anywhere since I took so many pictures. I hope you are able to hike again soon too!
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Mr. Craves has the patience of a saint too when I take my time with capturing photos along the way 🙂
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We’re lucky gals!
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Yes we are 🙂
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Absolutely stunning, Susie! Some day, I really need to make it out to Colorado for the hikes and gorgeous scenery. What an amazing day with amazing views!
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You would love it Jess. It is so different from Wisconsin. What we don’t have in a variety of colorful desiduous trees, we make up for in the blues and purples of the mountains. Thanks so much for stopping by to virtually hike with me. 🙂
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All I can say is WOW!! Great pictures of a beautiful area. I am very jealous…
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Thanks Tim! Great to “see’ you!
It is amazing all over the state, but there is something magical about Telluride.
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Gorgeous! 🙂 … Love the fall colours.
I’m fairly certain there’s a waterfall called ‘Bridal Veil Falls’ in every mountain range in every country on the planet. We discovered at least three on our recent trip around the bottom half of our Province. Whatever happened to ‘Older Woman’s Long White Hair’ falls? Or ‘White Smoke Falls’? Or ‘Emegherd! Falls’?
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ha! I came down to comment that I hiked to Bridal Veil Falls in PA and what a fun coincidence…but it seems they are everywhere! Gorgeous pics, Susie!
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I had never heard of any others. Ha! Now I’ll find them everywhere I go. Thanks for stopping by!
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Or Wagging Dog Tail Falls?
That is funny. The same explorers must not have been very original…
Thanks so much! I love the colors too. 🙂
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Is that someone’s home right at the top of the falls? Wow!
What gorgeous photos, and what a beautiful place to fall in love. Happy Anniversary, Susie!
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It’s privately owned by the mine. I can’t even imagine how they built it way up there!
Thanks so much Jackie! It really is a gorgeous part of the world. 🙂
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Oh my gosh – so worth the energy. Happy anniversary.
I have a picture of that falls. That whole area is simply breath-taking, especially in autumn.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
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Thanks Patricia!
It really was worth it. There is something about that place that is so different from everywhere else in Colorado. I was surprised it hadn’t changed!
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Such beautiful photos, Susie!
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Thanks Austin! You’ll have to visit Colorado someday!
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Perhaps…
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Cool! Happy Anniversary!
Your pictures are amazing, so vivid. I hope to buy a real camera soon, too. Georgia has a bridal veil falls. You remain inspiring, go girl.
~Caroline
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Hey Caroline!
Judging by the comments, there are a lot of them!
Thanks so much! I can’t believe it’s been 27 years. I love my Sony Nex. It is super small, but powerful.
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Gorgeous photos! The hubby and I will have to check it out sometime!
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You should! It’s worth the seven hour drive. Thanks so much Emily!
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Wow, what gorgeous scenery, Susie, and kudos to the photographer. If I ever visit Telluride, I’d spend most of my time indoors — attending their legendary film festival.
I was wondering the same thing as Jackie. Do you know the story behind that house by the falls? If not, could you make one up for us?
Happy anniversary!
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It’s owned by the mine. I don’t believe it is still working since they restored most of the scars on the canyon, but who knows? It was all chained off with Private Property signs. I would get the heebie jeebies thinking it would fall off the falls!
Okay so I got the skinny on that building. It is owned by the mine, but it’s a hydropower plant. It generated electricity for the miners and now supplies power to 25% of Telluride’s residents. Cool!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smuggler-Union_Hydroelectric_Power_Plant
Thank you!
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Beautiful! Thanks for sharing the ride and all those beautiful colors.
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So good to “see” you Kenne! I always look forward to seeing your gravatar.
I took hundreds of photos and had to share! Thanks so much.
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