Build Bridal Veil Bridge

For over 25 years, Telluride Mountain Club (TMtC) has dreamed of a new trail to eliminate the necessity for hikers to access Bridal Veil Falls via the County’s Bridal Veil Road (Black Bear Pass Road/K69). The road and its constant summer traffic create a dangerous interface between hikers and cars, an experience no one wants to have while going for a hike. This fall, after much coordination and work by Idarado, San Miguel County and TMtC, the new trail has finally become a reality. Now, to complete the project, TMtC is embarking on a fundraising campaign to construct a necessary bridge on the new Bridal Veil Creek Trail. 

TMtC was instrumental in negotiating a recreational trail easement agreement with Idarado Mining Company over the past year to allow for the new trail on the east-end of the box canyon. TMtC then worked with San Miguel County to be the holders of this trail easement. The Town of Telluride then joined the effort and agreed to fund the initial round of trail building, which was completed by the Southwest Conservation Corps in the Fall of 2019. The new Bridal Veil Creek Trail will greatly benefit the community of Telluride and provide a much safer alternative to walking up the road. The new trail starts near the Idarado Mine settling ponds and meanders to the base of Bridal Veil Falls. The new section of Bridal Veil Creek Trail is approximately .85 miles in length and the total trail to the base of the falls is 1.2 miles. 

Telluride Mountain Club now needs the community’s help to afford the engineering and construction of a 47-foot suspension bridge to cross Ingram Creek. Without this bridge, the trail is impassable during early season runoff. From a safety standpoint, the bridge is an essential component of the new trail. Once constructed, the bridge will span between two large boulders allowing hikers to cross Ingram Creek approximately 40 feet above the water’s edge. Surrounded by the dramatic box canyon setting that is nothing short of national park quality, the bridge will be a well-known landmark to our community and a safe passage for recreationalists well into the future. 

TMtC is already underway on the bridge project. Previous TMtC trail fundraising efforts have given us the initial funds needed to begin the design and engineering. Now we need to raise the remainder of funds for final construction. San Miguel County submitted Colorado’s Multimodal Options Fund (MMOF) to ideally fund 50% ($60,000) of the project. San Miguel County has committed to match 50% ($30,000) of these grant funds, if awarded. 

TMtC’s Build Bridal Veil Bridge is anticipated to secure the remaining costs, or $30,000 (total project cost is anticipated to be $120,000). The plan is to engineer the bridge this winter, and with proper approvals and safety standards met, the bridge can be constructed and installed by the Fall of 2020. 

“The new east-end Bridal Veil Creek Trail is fantastic! We are excited to get people on it this coming summer,” said Josh Borof, TMtC President. “Its necessity for our community is immeasurable. For years, the county road up to Bridal Veil Falls has been the most hiked “trail” in our region. Now we have a world-class route for people to take up to the falls. We hope everyone will team together to help fundraise for the bridge, an essential component of the trail’s installation.”

Join TMtC and Build Bridal Veil Bridge between December 17 and 20, 2019. A goal of $30,000 has been set to help supplement grants and matching funds. 

About Telluride Mountain Club 

The Telluride Mountain Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to advocate for safe, accessible, enjoyable and respectful opportunities for human-powered recreational activities in the Telluride region, through education, awareness and collaboration. 

Opt in for Trails 

If you are interested in joining the cause to help Opt in for Trails, please contact the Telluride Mountain Club via email at telluridemountainclub@gmail.com for more information and opportunities. Learn more about Opt in for Trails at telluridemountainclub.org/opt-in-for-trails/