Bridal Veil Falls

From Moultonborough, drive north on Route 109 for six-tenths of a mile, then turn right (east) onto Route 109. Follow Route 109 for 2.6 miles, then bear left onto Ossippee Park Road. Continue for another 1.3 miles to the first of two large parking areas at the broad grass fields in Ossipee Park and park where space is available (the second is closer to Castle in the Clouds). Consult the trail maps and cross the fields toward Shannon Pond, then find the Shannon Brook trail and begin hiking downstream. Bridal Veil Falls is reached after about a half mile of easy walking. An alternate (and shorter) approach to the falls is available from the entrance to Castle in the Clouds via Pamela’s Terrace Road, then following the Shannon Brook Trail upstream just before the boardwalk at the base of Fall of Song is encountered, however an entrance fee is charged to approach from that side.Bridal Veil Falls is the second to last and second largest of the seven named waterfalls found along Shannon Brook within the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area. The falls drop 26 feet in a veiling shape into a narrow gorge, with the creek flowing perpendicular to the face of the falls both above and below the waterfall. The trail passes the falls along the cliffs above the falls and provides views looking down at the falls, but access to the base of the waterfall appears to be somewhat difficult at best (and not recommended). Shannon Brook drains from a basin on the south and east flanks of Mount Roberts and Faraway Mountain, covering an area of about 2 square miles. Other than Shannon Pond there does not appear to be any permanent standing water feeding the stream, and while it does retain a modest flow for the summer, the streamflow should be expected to drop off considerably in periods of drought.This waterfall has held several names in the past. Upper Ossipee Falls was clearly in use when Fall of Song, located just downstream, was known as Ossipee Falls. Veil Falls was likely a colloquial shortening of the proper name of the falls.