Field NotesOhio
Upper Falls in the Old Man's Cave gorge, Hocking Hills, with visitors on the rocks

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Old Man's Cave, Hocking Hills · Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0

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Bridal Veil Falls

Walton Hills · Cuyahoga County
Cascading step falls over shale ledges along a small tributary
20 ftheight
Easywalk

A short, family friendly boardwalk walk to a tiered cascade in Bedford Reservation, one of the most photographed waterfalls near Cleveland.

Height
About 20 feet
Trail
About one third of a mile, boardwalk and steps
Managed by
Cleveland Metroparks
Best time
After rain and in spring; can slow in late summer
Fee
Free
Accessibility
Not wheelchair accessible; boardwalk has stairs

When it flows

Fed by Deerlick Creek, a small tributary, so flow is best after rain or in spring and can slow to a trickle in a dry summer; ice builds up along the cascades in winter.

The story

Bridal Veil Falls formed as Deerlick Creek cuts down through shale and thin sandstone layers left behind after glaciers carved the broader Tinkers Creek gorge system tens of thousands of years ago; the cascading, stair step pattern of the falls reflects the alternating hard and soft rock layers it crosses. The gorge here is part of the larger Tinkers Creek watershed, one of the deepest river valleys in northern Ohio outside the Cuyahoga Valley itself.

The land was settled and logged by farm families in the 1800s, and Tinkers Creek and its tributaries powered small mills in the surrounding area through the 19th century, remnants of which can still be found elsewhere in Bedford Reservation. Cleveland Metroparks acquired Bedford Reservation in the early 20th century as part of its emerald necklace of parkland, and Bridal Veil Falls became one of its signature, easily reached scenic stops, marketed for its popularity with wedding photographers, hence the name.

Stay behind railings and on marked trails. Wet rock at the top and base of a falls is slick in every season, and most Ohio falls do not allow swimming, wading or climbing. Flow depends on rain: many falls are a trickle in late summer and at their best after a wet spell, in spring, or frozen in a hard winter.

Visiting information you can trust

Content last reviewed
September 2026 — this is when Field Notes Ohio's content was last checked, not a live status.
Primary official source
Official page
Location confidence
Verified property location
Published coordinates for the falls or its trailhead
Check current conditions
Official conditions or closures

Prices, hours, closures, campsite availability and trail conditions shown elsewhere on this page are not live — always confirm with the official source before you go.

Getting to the falls

About a third of a mile on a boardwalk and stairs along Deerlick Creek from the Bridal Veil Falls trailhead to the overlook; it is an easy walk but the boardwalk and steps are not wheelchair accessible.

Status
Open
Hours
6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily
Cost
Free
Phone
216-635-3200
Managed by
Cleveland Metroparks
Please note
Stay on the boardwalk and behind railings, no swimming, dogs must be leashed and kept away from the edge
Address
Gorge Parkway, Walton Hills, OH 44146 (Bedford Reservation)
Official page →DirectionsShow on the map

Trails close for repairs, ice and high water. Check the official page before a long drive.

More falls nearby

Great Falls of Tinkers Creek
About 1 mile · 15 to 20 ft
Open
Brandywine Falls
About 7 miles · 60 to 65 ft
Open
Blue Hen Falls
About 8 miles · 15 ft
Open
Chagrin Falls
About 9 miles · 20 ft
Open

Parks nearby

Bedford Reservation
The falls is inside this park
Open
Brecksville Reservation
About 5 miles · Cleveland Metroparks reservation
Open
South Chagrin Reservation
About 7 miles · Cleveland Metroparks reservation
Open
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
About 8 miles · Adjoining national park
Open
Tinkers Creek State Park
About 11 miles · Nearby nature preserve
Open
Hinckley Reservation
About 13 miles · Cleveland Metroparks reservation
Open
North Chagrin Reservation
About 14 miles · Cleveland Metroparks reservation
Open

Buckeye Trail

Bedford Section
On or near the Buckeye Trail
Open

Details last checked 2026-09-22. Confirm hours and prices before you go.

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