Bridal Veil Falls
South Dakota • 60 ft
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrain
Photo Credits (5)
Difficulty
Drive Up
About Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls drops about 60 feet down a cliff right beside US Highway 14A in Spearfish Canyon, roughly 6 miles south of Spearfish in the Black Hills National Forest. It is a roadside waterfall: there is no hike, and most visitors stop at the pullout and small wooden viewing deck. Flow is strongest in spring and can drop to a trickle by late summer, and in winter the falls usually freeze and draw ice climbers.
The Setting
Bridal Veil Falls sits at 4,203 feet within Black Hills National Forest, in the mountains of South Dakota. The falls drop 60 feet.
Height: 60 feet
Nearby Falls Worth Visiting
Spearfish Falls (47 ft) lies 5.0 miles to the southwest.
Trail & Hike Details
The Approach
No hiking required. Bridal Veil Falls is accessible by vehicle with a roadside viewing area.
USFS Trail
BIG HILL LOOP C #72C
Trail Class
Developed
Surface
Avg Grade
USFS Segment
4.35 miTrail Description
No hike is needed. The falls are viewed from a small wooden deck beside US 14A, across the road from the parking pullout.
What to Expect
The falls drop 60 feet. Dogs are welcome.
Accessibility
This waterfall is viewable from a vehicle-accessible area. No hiking is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Bridal Veil Falls?
✅ Dogs are allowed
Dogs are allowed on Black Hills National Forest land; Forest Service rules require pets to be leashed in developed recreation sites.
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Bridal Veil Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
The best time to visit Bridal Veil Falls is during the spring and early summer when the water flow is strongest. Fall is also a great time to visit due to the vibrant autumn foliage in Spearfish Canyon.
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited. Check with Black Hills National Forest for seasonal road closures.
Safety Information
You must cross US 14A between the pullout and the viewing deck, so watch for traffic on the curving canyon road. In winter the deck and road shoulder can be icy.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Spearfish Creek, 4.6 miles away, not on Bridal Veil Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
36 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
Lower than usual for this time of year
Based on 80 years of record
4.81 ft
Water depth at gauge
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
Flow is lower than usual for this time of year.
About This Gauge
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge SPEARFISH CREEK AT SPEARFISH,SD (7 km away).
Today
Moderate
36 cfs
9/10Tomorrow
Moderate
35 cfs
9/10Thu
Moderate
35 cfs
9/10Fri
Moderate
35 cfs
9/10Sat
Moderate
35 cfs
9/10Sun
Moderate
35 cfs
9/10Mon
Moderate
36 cfs
9/10Best window: Today — moderate flow, sunny (trip score 9/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from early April to early July, peaking in May.
How we calculate this
This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.
Know when to go.
Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Mountain Plains hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Bridal Veil Falls Frozen?
Updated about 7 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately
Bridal Veil Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 57°F to 42°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 35 ft³/s
Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.
Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail.
Weather Forecast
The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR
Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.
Along the line through the falls, the bare ground drops about 222 feet, most of it in one sheer step, the signature of a plunge waterfall. The falls are listed at 60 feet; the extra comes from the ravine that continues below the base. The ground at the falls is roughly 4,207 feet above sea level.
Steep ground runs through the entire stretch: about 327 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the pin and 277 feet in the 500 feet below it. Facing west, the falls glow in afternoon and evening light.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 4,207 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 222 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- West
- Glows in afternoon and evening light.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading west).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
From Spearfish, drive south on US Highway 14A (Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway) about 6 miles. The pullout is on the right (west) side of the road heading south, and the viewing deck is on the opposite side of the highway beside the falls.
Get Directions on Google MapsParking
Park in the small roadside pullout across the highway from the falls. It holds only a few cars and fills during summer and fall color season.
Elevation
4,203 feet above sea level
Coordinates
44.417029° N, -103.880958° W
Land Management
Managed by USFS
Visitor Tips & Gear
Arrive early in peak season for a parking spot. Visit in spring for the strongest flow. Watch for traffic when crossing the highway between the pullout and the viewing deck.
Where to Stay
Iron Wood Lodge
The Lodge at Deadwood
Travelodge by Wyndham Spearfish
Hampton Inn Lead
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
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Nearby Campground
Northern Hills-Spearfish
5.9 miles away · 0 sites
The Northern Hills Ranger District covers the northern portion of the Black Hills on the South Dakota side. Spearfish has nearby access to over 300 miles of snowmobile trails, groomed and ungroomed cross-country ski trails, a 100 mile long hiking trail (Centennial Trail) and many other trails, a 110 mile long biking, hiking and horseback trail (Mickelson Trail), and 2 downhill ski areas (ski areas are near Deadwood, SD - 15 miles away).
Book on Recreation.govAdditional Information
Nearby Attractions
Other waterfalls in Spearfish Canyon, such as Roughlock Falls and Spearfish Falls. The Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway offers stunning views and hiking opportunities.
Wildlife
Visitors may spot deer, birds, and other wildlife native to the Black Hills region.
Cities near Bridal Veil Falls
Nearby Waterfalls
Other waterfalls named Bridal Veil Falls
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