Hike New England - Bridal Veil Falls via Coppermine Trail

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Bridal Veil Falls via Coppermine Trail

Destination:		Bridal Veil Falls (2100')
Trail:		Coppermine Trail
Region:		NH - Central West White Mountain National Forest, Cannon-Kinsman Region
Location:		Franconia, NH
Rating:		Easy/Moderate
Features:		Waterfall, cascades, brook
Distance:		5.0 miles
Elevation Gain:		1110 feet (cumulative)
Hiking Time:		Actual: 2:14 Typical: 3:00
Outing Duration:		Typical: 5:00
Hike Date:		Saturday, 7/13/2002
Last Updated:		1/20/2008
Weather:		70 degrees, warm, humid, but with a light breeze
Author:		Webmaster

Route Summary

Start at the parking area on Coppermine Road.
Walk down the road and onto Coppermine Trail.
Hike up to the end of the trail where there is a pool of water with Bridal Veil Falls above it.
Return by the same route.

Place	Split Miles	Total Miles	Split Time	Total Time
Parking area on Coppermine Road (994')	0.0	0.0	0:00	0:00
Jct. Coppermine Road/Coppermine Trail	0.4	0.4	0:08	0:08
Coppermine Brook	0.6	1.0	0:19	0:27
Bridge	1.3	2.3	0:40	1:07
Bridal Veil Falls (2100')	0.2	2.5	0:06	1:13
Bridge	0.2	2.7	0:06	1:19
Coppermine Brook	1.3	4.0	0:32	1:51
Jct. Coppermine Road/Coppermine Trail	0.6	4.6	0:15	2:06
Parking area on Coppermine Road (994')	0.4	5.0	0:08	2:14

Trail Guide

This is an easy, pleasant trail that leads to a pretty waterfall and cascades, feeding into a pleasant little pool.

Leaving the parking area, continue walking straight down the road, which is lined with towering pines. After almost a half mile, the "trail" leaves the road and enters the woods. There is a hiker logo sign here along with a few boulders preventing vehicular access to the trail.

The trail remains a wide path for most of the climb and is well marked, although there are other intersecting, unmarked trails. One of these unmarked trails leads over to the Mt. Kinsman Trail, at some point below Bald Peak.

After a mile, Coppermine Brook can be seen to the right and continues alongside the trail for the rest of the way. There are many lovely spots next to the brook where one could easily spend the day, enjoying the shade of the big trees and listening to the babbling brook.

Just a quarter mile before the falls, the trail takes you over a little bridge, and the path narrows after that. There was some artist's fungi on some downed trees just after the bridge. This is a neat type of shelf fungus that reminds me of chocolate - the middle section looks like milk chocolate, then that's outlined by a band of what looks like dark chocolate, and finally an outer strip of white chocolate.

"Rock-eating" tree (photo by Webmaster)

A bit after that on the left side of the trail is a big old tree growing around a rock. And on the right are lots of lush mosses and, farther back, neat rocks. I spent a long time in this little section of the trail taking in all the wonders. There is also a shelter on the left-hand side of the trail.

Shortly before reaching the falls, you must step across the brook to get on the "island", where the stream encircles a patch of land on both sides. Walking straight up the middle of this island, you reach a pool of clear water. Feeding into the pool are cascades, and higher up, Bridal Veil Falls - which truly does look like a bridal veil. This is a pleasant spot to stop and enjoy; but if you're more adventurous, you can also make your way up to the foot of the upper waterfall.

I crossed the pool at a rocky section that almost forms a bridge and then hiked up along the left hand side of the open, rocky area. Up a bit, there's another pool; and up higher is another pool that Bridal Veil Falls empties into. I spent a lot of time exploring this area too. It is beautiful with lots of neat rocks and a peaceful setting.

Looking down to pool from falls area (photo by Webmaster)

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NH - Central West

Driving Directions

The parking area for the trailhead is located on Coppermine Road in Franconia.
Coppermine Road is on the east side of Rt. 116, 3.4 miles from downtown (jct. of Rt. 116 and Rt. 18).
Just after turning onto Coppermine Road, there is a dirt parking area on the left.
Don't bother driving farther down this road as it is a private development and trail parking is not allowed elsewhere.

Pool and Bridal Veil Falls as seen from end of Coppermine Trail (photo by Webmaster)

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