Bridal Veil Falls, Highway 50 near Fresh Pond, California

 

A number of waterfalls are named Bridal Veil Falls with at least two in California.  There's the more famous Bridal Veil Falls in Yosemite National Park and then there's this one along Highway 50 near Fresh Pond.  The highway goes right by this waterfall and there's a broad turnout for travelers to pull off and take in this view.

We stopped off to see this waterfall on Saturday, May 13, 2023.  Since California had gotten a lot of precipitation during a very wet winter season, this Bridal Veil Falls was gushing.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story.

Yosemite's Bridalveil Falls and the Leaning Tower

In Yosemite Valley, Bridalveil Falls is one of several waterfalls cascading over the granite cliffs that wall in the valley. Usually, people see Bridalveil from the west looking into the valley, such as from the Tunnel View. This perspective is showing the falls from the west and includes the Leaning Tower, to the right of the falls. This year, 2017, was a very wet year in California, so all of Yosemite's waterfalls had much more water in them than the last 5 years of drought. There is a trail that leads to the base of the falls, allowing the hiker to get thoroughly drenched early in the summer.

Taken at 1/60 sec, f4, ISO unavailable.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

The Tunnel View of Yosemite Valley

This is the famous Tunnel View of Yosemite Valley.  El Capitan, the largest granite monolith in the world, is to the left, Bridal Veil Falls and the Cathedral Rocks are on the right, and Half Dome is tucked into the back with Clouds Rest, 1,000 feet higher, beyond.  Visitors can get this view by driving up to the Wawona Tunnel and turning off at the viewpoint, or, if coming in from the south, driving through the tunnel and turning off immediately after it ends. The tunnel is about a mile long and you're expected to turn on your car's headlights while you're inside it. Don't be surprised if someone else in the tunnel starts honking their car's horn. Some drivers like to hear the echo of their horn.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story.