Bridalveil Falls Trail

Bridalveil Falls Trail is in the Sawtooth Wilderness in central Idaho. Nearing 9 miles, this there-and-back trail has gorgeous views of a creek, woods, hills, and the inspirational Sawtooth Mountains. After a difficult scramble up a steep incline, hikers are rewarded with a beautiful, small waterfall. The trail is mostly flat except for the scramble to the waterfall. Two water crossings may not be crossable in the early summer during peak melt. Another waterfall, Lady Face Falls, can be seen along the way with a slight detour.

WARNING: This area experienced a terrible wildfire caused by a lightning strike in August 2024. The area may have restrictions or may not allow hiking at this time. Be sure to check with sources before planning your trip. Redfish Lake Visitor Center: 1-208-774-3376

Challenges

• The biggest challenge of this hike is the scramble to the waterfall.

  • While the elevation gain is minimal along most of the trail, there are tripping hazards, and the trail can be narrow in parts.

• Be prepared to share the trail. If you are going slower than others, step aside as soon as possible to let others pass. Please observe good trail etiquette.

Equipment

• Sunscreen

• Bug Repellant

• Water

• Snack (calorie-dense)

• Good hiking shoes or boots

• Water sandals for the river crossings

The Approach

From Stanley, head west on ID-21. Continue to follow ID-21 for 5 miles. Turn left onto Elk Mountain Rd/Stanley Lake Rd. Continue to follow Elk Mountain Rd for 3.7 miles. The main parking lot will be on the left, just beyond the turnoff to the boat launch and camping area. The main lot is large, and we had no issue finding a parking spot early in the afternoon. We were there on a weekday, so it may be different on the weekend.

• Main Parking: 44.247307, -115.066033

• Additional Options

  • 44.244289, -115.066425

  • 44.244624, -115.064726

The Trail

There are two ways to access the trail from the main parking lot.

1. You can travel west on Elk Mountain Rd for 200 yards to a narrow trail on your left.

2. You can walk 100 yards back to the Forest Road 70697. Follow the forest road south for 400 yards. Where the road turns east towards the lake, you will see the Odaho Centennial Trail.

You will follow the Idaho Centennial Trail (ICT) for most of this hike. The entire Centennial Trail goes from the southern border of Idaho to the northern border. Most of the trail goes through wilderness that has no trail. A few people have hiked the entire trail. You will hike almost 5 miles on this nearly 1,000-mile trail. The first 2 miles have less than 50 feet of elevation. The trail is pretty well maintained and traveled. It can be dusty if it hasn’t rained recently. There are still tripping hazards from exposed roots and rocks. At the 2-mile mark, you’ll get your first incline. It is a gentle 200-foot elevation gain over half a mile. Watch for a side trail on your left near the end of this incline. A trail in this area should lead to Lady Face Falls. We did not see this trail, so we did not complete this side quest. It was probably for the best in our case. Before attempting this side quest, you may want to wait for the return trip to gauge your time and energy.

The Water Crossing

Near the 3-mile mark, assuming you don’t take the trail to Lady Face Falls, you’ll reach the first of two water crossings you must make. During spring and summer runoff, this creek may be uncrossable. Some logs may be in place, but no dedicated crossing point exists. At the 4-mile mark, you’ll reach the second water crossing point. Some sections of this crossing may have steep banks on the opposite side, so choose your crossing point carefully. If you cross on logs, find a long stick/branch to help you stabilize yourself. The best solution may be to remove your hiking shoes and socks to wade across. If you read the equipment section and packed water shoes, these are the times that your planning pays off. You’ll thank me later for having both. Slicing your bare foot open on a sharp rock during a water crossing will end your trip fast but make hiking out slow and painful.

The Scramble

After crossing the creek, the scramble begins. Bridalveil Falls has two different location tags. In Google Maps, the location is about halfway up the mountain slope. In AllTrails, the falls are almost at the top. We followed AllTrails and reached the uppermost point. It was more than 600 feet in elevation in less than a quarter mile. The trail is switchbacks and slowly vanishes. At this point, you do your best to follow the water as it tumbles down the steep mountain slope. The climb is challenging and not for the faint of heart. Loose gravel, shale, and steep slopes can have you questioning your will to continue multiple times.

Some folks might finish this climb and reach the top and the Hanson Lakes. These are three lakes that are very near one another. You can camp at these lakes, but ensure you have the proper permits and follow all fire restrictions.

The Return Trip

Take your time coming down the switchbacks. The scramble took a lot out of us, so we started feeling this hike about halfway back. This is where having an excellent calorie-dense snack comes in handy. We had a snack, but having a more protein-heavy food would have been better. If you have the time and energy, you can take the side quest to Lady Face Falls. Having a mostly downhill hike back to the parking lot is nice. A cool breeze and the setting sun renewed our strength as we returned to the car. We were exhausted and famished when we reached the car. We took some time to rest, cool down, drink more water, and just let our feet get a little break. Swapping our hiking shoes and socks for flip-flops was an unexpected morale boost. Jumping in the car, we knew what we needed to do next. We drove back into Stanley and straight into the Mountain Village Restaurant parking lot. We were ready for a burger and a relaxing atmosphere.

Summary

Bridalveil Falls Trail is mostly easy, but seeing the destination requires a lot more effort than many may be willing to make. The scramble is a challenge and likely impossible for many to attempt. If the water crossing is difficult, then that may be the point at which you should turn back. It will not get easier. The payoff was beautiful, but it may not be worth the effort for many. We have seen more incredible falls in plenty of other easier-access locations. If you love hiking, I would recommend this hike as a must-do. It is a fantastic hike with views that will make you stare in awe of the beauty stretching out before you. If you don’t hike seriously or regularly, find a more leisurely hike.