Early postcard of Bridal Veil Falls.

Like
High Falls featured in last week’s Picturing the Past article, Bridal Veil
Falls on the Little River in present day DuPont State Forest has long been a
popular destination for sightseers.

As the
Little River approaches the falls it flows down a granite slope, then drops
over a projecting ledge which leaves a relatively dry space behind the top of
the falls.  It immediately spreads out
and continues down a long curving slope, becoming steeper before plunging down to
small pools and rock slabs.  From a
distance, the entire stretch gives the appearance of a bride’s long veil, with
the tumbling water representing billowing lace giving it the name of Bridal
Veil Falls.

This illustration from Reid’s novel, “The Land of the Sky” shows the danger of wandering behind Bridal Veil Falls.

In her 1876 novel, “The Land of the Sky”, Christian Reid
promotes the mountains of western North Carolina.  The
story is formulaic fiction of the time with damsels in distress and gallant
rescues in romantic mountain landscapes. 
The narrative, although overly descriptive, paints a vivid picture of
the scenery. 

When
the adventurers visit Bridal Veil Falls Reid writes, “It is a trying operation,
this passing behind the falls.  The space
for passage is very narrow, the wet stones are exceedingly slippery, the rock
above shelves in a manner which makes it necessary to bend nearly double, the
tumult of the falling water is almost deafening, and the spray fairly
blinding.  We draw a breath of relief
when we emerge on the other side.”

Other
early accounts promoted Bridal Veil Falls as a destination for travelers as
well.  “Azure-Lure: A Romance of the
Mountains”, a 1924 guide to Western North Carolina states that, “They stopped
at the trail leading to Bridal Veil Falls, climbed under and across the fall,
and strolled along the ‘veil’ for a few hundred yards.  The name comes from the resemblance to the
flowing, filmy veil of a bride, but this veil is between a quarter and half
mile long.”

Although these writing promote venturing behind the falls,
today walking along the side of the waterfall is not permitted due to the risk
of injury.  Bridal Veil Falls is best viewed
from the safety of the observation deck or the flat rocks at the base of the
waterfall.  Learn more about waterfall
safety at waterfallsafety.com.

Photographs
and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina
Room, Transylvania County Library. Visit the NC Room during regular library
hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional
photographs. For more information, comments, or suggestions contact Marcy at [email protected]
or 828-884-1820.