Provo
08. Bridalveil
| Difficulty | III-IV+ |
| Length | 3.7 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Reach Info Last Updated | May 29, 2025 |
River Description
High water warning: in June 2023, this section is running unusually high, with 1700+ on the Harbor Drive gauge. Bridalveil should be considered class 4+ above 1300 cfs, with higher consequence swims. There have been 6 lost kayaks on this section in 15 days, and that is just what has been reported. One swimmer was concussed, and did not remember the swim. Note that there is a mandatory portage footbridge at Glenn Canyon Park. Putting in downstream of this footbridge is a safer run, which still has fun big wave trains.
A Utah classic, when it runs. There is a lot of wood on this run, and trees can fall or collect riverwide occasionally, especially at the first drop which can be bank scouted close to the putin parking.
The scenery is awesome, and the water in the spring is clean and cold.
There is a frontage road from Nuns Park to the putin, which allows for scouting that section.
From the putin parking lot, bank scout the first drop, which often has large logs on the right.
Below there are some good surf waves, mostly on the fly.
Below a couple of the best surf waves, the river bends left and a rocky drop is next. This spot often collects wood, and is a good spot to bank scout, since there are not good eddies for boat scouting.
You will pass under a couple footbridges at Bridalveil Falls, then the rapids pick up as you approach the crux.
A traditional line is to move left above the crux rocks, although it can still be rocky after moving left. Right lines are also possible, as well as an S move through the rocks. The frontage road has the best view of the crux, looking downstream; the brush obscures all other views of the crux.
Then you come to the Nuns Park area, which can serve as a putin if you want to keep it to class 3.
There was avoidable wood in a number of places below Nuns Park, in May 2020.
There are a couple other on the fly surf waves if you keep your eyes open; one is right after a white
...River Features
Put In
Entrance Rapid
Entrance rapid, at most flows the right channel is open, at med-high flows a boof over the center rock is possible.Left side opens up at higher flows. This area collects a lot of wood at lower flows. Easy to scout from the put-in parking lot.
Bridal Veil Crux
This is the crux of the run, The gradient get steeper, the water moves faster. At lower flows there are large rocks and some holes, (most can be punched). at higher flows it starts to push that IV+ range large waves and holes. The Avalanche of 2023 has changed this section. Some of the right bank eddies are no longer there. And the left eddies are difficult to reach. High flows there is a big wave at the beginneing and a right bend that signal the begining of the run. Staying center of the run avoiding the rocks, As you approach the bottom there is a large rock on the left. hugging this rock will set you just above tombstone rock. from here you must choose what side of the island you are going to go. Left is narrow and less manky at low flows. right channel is manky at low flows but it collects a lot of wood. It is recommended to scout because of wood issues.
Crux Island
This Island is towards the bottom half of the crux, Another spot where wood gets stacked up. Have had issues where wood has blocked one of the channels between runs. at low flows the left channel is less manky. At higher flows the right channel is easier to make the moves to get to. The boulder garden continues to the next bridge.
Upper Canyon Glen Park
Boulder garden type rapid, fairly short with a fantastic eddy under the bridge right side, Great spot to practice ferrying and S-turns.
Lower Canyon Glen (Low Bridge)
At low flows this foot bridge is not a problem, At 900 there is a small eddy on the left you can squeeze under. at 1600+ this becomes a mandatory portage. Warning I have heard of one guy roll under it, hit his head on something which ended up breaking his neck (C5).
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportRan from Deer Creek Dam to Mt. Timpanogos Park, around 9.5 miles. I hadn't been in a boat in a year, and just wanted to get on something, and I enjoyed it for what it was. From the putin to the diversion dam was mellow cruisy class I, not too bony. Lot's of fishermen, and some paddleboarders and fishing rafts. The diversion dam creates a pretty big pond, and you have lots of spots to get out on the left and portage along the trail. Super easy portage. Immediately below the dam the character changes and it's fairly tight class II/III with a lot of wood. In the first rapid there's a nearly riverwide strainer with about a 3 foot wide channel on the right. There's wood in play in several of the other rapids as well. At this level everything was eddy/boat scoutable, but moves were tough to make to dodge wood and not get stuck. It's the sort of ELF level where you're planning your line based on what rocks you're going to bounce off of... Definitely worth doing if you're a solid boater and just want to get in a boat. At these flows my favorite rapids were after Bridal Veil Falls Park. In the park was very bony and a little manky, but it was better in the later rapids.
Ran this this evening at 420 CFS. Right at bridalveil falls there was an avalanche and debris are coving the river with the river flowing through a tunnel. Be careful!!! This tunnel is much like the secret tunnel from Avatar, if you go in you're probaly not coming out. At this level there were many eddies above it so none of us had any trouble avoiding it. Until it melts it will need to be portaged. There was also a large amount of wood in the debris too so be carful downstream after it melts.
Besides that the run was very fun. All the wood was avoidable and the rapids were fun and at this level none were too pushy!
Low Flow Bridal Veil. If you know where to look and look at the gauges daily you can get enough water on certian days. Yes, it is scraping down, Take your rock boat. but its better than sitting on the couch. The gauge information I am refering to is located here;
There are two of the gauges you want to look at:
The Murdock CUWCD Spill-Over-The-Weir
and
800 North Provo River Aqueduct Flow.
Add those two together plus 20cfs and you have the flow for BV.
yesterday was around 230cfs which is about the minimum I would run it. I have run it lower, as Randy Nate would say 'The rocks are wet'. And there was lots of wood, most have routes around but things are always movng in there..
Have fun, be safe!
Cody
Great run when there's actually enough flow. I typically tube this stretch and have a blast. The best rapids are right through Bridal Veil Falls Park.
the town section was running 1000 and we could not get our boats underneath the bridge at canyon glen park.
No logs present
There is no wood blocking flows. However one of the bridges is very low and we had to jump out of our boat to go under it. You could roll as well but we were in sit on top whitewater kayaks.