Trail Report: Bridal Veil Falls - Coppermine Trail

When hiking up to Bridal Veil Falls, you need to park at the beginning of Coppermine Rd as seem in this picture. There are many signs after saying you can't park for it's a private road.

This is the sign where you need to park. 

You will hike up the road where .4 miles to the start of Coppermine Trail which is 2.1 miles. The Trail is very open and easy to hike up. The interesting part of the trail is where the trail meets the brook. If you walk up the brook about .25 miles, you will see a plaque on a boulder. 

This is where the plaque is located

The plaque itself, up close

It is said that the plaque was put on the boulder by Betty Davis. She had meet Arthur on the trail when she was lost. They feel in love and married. Years later after he mysterious death, where Betty was put on trail for,  a plaque showed up on the boulder. They say if you get lost in these woods, you might find yourself being found by "the keeper of stray ladies".

There is a shelter at the top near the falls for those that stay the night and want to be out of the wind. There is also a fire pit near the shelter as well.

Hanging out with my wonderful dog Stitch at the Falls

This is the Bridal Veil Falls

 You can hike to the very top where you can see the Falls and the pool it leads into, then it falls the rest of the way down the to the shelter below. My husband and stepson hiked to the top of the falls while I stayed near the middle with Stitch. It seemed with it being spring the water was higher and moving faster, and I felt the dog would be safer below. Also there was a family with small children who didn't go to the top. It wasn't safe.

My stepson at the top of the Falls

It was a great hike overall. The hike itself was 5 miles and was an easy hike. If you are around the Franconia area and want to see the lovely Bridal Veils Falls, then travel down Route 116 to Coppermine Rd.

 Happy Hiking!

Three Haunted Trails I want to hike this Spring/Summer

1. Coppermine Trail

I have always loved the story of Betty Davis meeting her husband, Arthur Farnsworth on this trailback in the summer of 1939. She was lost and he found her. It's that love story of boy saves girl and marries her. But it has a sad twist, which is when he falls on the sidewalk "dead" and Betty is accused of killing him. Later a plaque appears on the trail which reads "The Keeper of Stray Ladies" No one knows who put the plaque but many believe it was Betty Davis herself. The Trail is located off Easton Rd 116, on Coppermine Rd. The Coppermine trail is 2.1 miles and leads to Bridal Veil Falls. If headed near Framconia Notch, check out this trail.

2. Nancy Pond Trail

Nancy Barton was a girl in love, so much in love that she followed her lover's tracks through the cold snow in the dead of winter. Nancy was to marry Jim but Jim left one day without word to war with his brother. Nancy followed his trail but dead at the ponds where she was later found frozen. The trail is named after her and located in Crawford Notch. The trail is called Nancy Pond Trail and it is believed that when she was found she was buried by the pond. Some who have trailed the trail have heard her cries. I am hoping to travel along this trail this summer and see the ponds for myself. The trail is about 4 miles of beautiful nature!

3. Nineteen Mile Brook Trail

 Has anyone seen Red Mac? He was once the watcher for Carter Notch Hut starting in 1916. He worked at the hut for many many years and later when he pasted away, they say he still watches over the Hut. Weird things happen at the hut to this day, some say that you can see Red Mac's lantern shining in the night over by the hut. He still watches over the place. Carter Hut is located in Pinkham Notch. The Nineteen Mile Brook Trail is 3.6 miles to the hut, and worth the trip. I have gone up the trail to Carter Notch Hut a few years ago and I had felt like I was being watched the whole time when I got close to the hut, every eery feeling. The weird part is that I didn't know this story at the time, but now it makes a little sense, so I want to travel up to the Hut again.

Have a Happy Spring Hiking Season and if you head to these places, enjoy the Haunts of the White Mountains!

THREE Great Haunted Trails to check out!

I have been so some pretty cool trail in the White Mountains, but never knew how many how stories with them. It gets me even more excited to go on these hikes to step where someone once stood that had disappeared or died at with a story to tell. Here are a few great places to hike if you are up for an adventure with a twist!

Number three: The Willey Family Tragedy
I have lived up here in the White Mountains since I as born and have listened to this tragedy many times. Nine people killed from a landslide. Sam Willey and his family plus two hired help all here killed. The crazy part is that they left their house thinking that it was best to run. The house never got touched from the slide and yet all nine people where found dead not far from their home in the slide. There is a Willey Historic House Site that is opened year round in Crawford Notch. Sadly their house doesn't stand anymore, but there is a trail called Sam Willey Loop which is 1.0 miles and takes less then an hour to do, or if you are up for more of an adventure, you can Hike up Webster Cliffs which is 3.3 miles to the summit and have amazing views!

Number two: The Keeper of Stray Ladies
Betty Davis was a very famous actress back in the 30's and 40's. She also loved getting away in New Hampshire. She loved being in Sugar Hill. Betty was very adventurous and would set out on trails. She was hiking up Coppermine Trail and found herself lost. She was found by a man that soon she fell in love with and married. Only to later be blamed for his death, which she then confessed to doing...well, not killing him but hitting him with an iron lamp which later he died from. Strangely on this trail a sign appeared that read " The Keeper of Stray Ladies." They say Betty Davis placed it there. Can check out this plaque by hiking up Coppermine Rd and trail which takes about 2 hours and 2.5 miles long and also see the Bridal Veil Falls.

Number One: Haunted Huts on the Highest Peaks
I have done this hike up Mt. Washington. I have been told that 130 lost souls are still up on these peaks. many go out in weather that turn ugly and ever seen again. This story is about two men that tried to make it to the top of Mt. Washington but sadly never made it. Both died by the storm that was near the summit. One passed away where the Lakes of the Clouds Hut stands and the other was almost on top where he could have found shelter a few yards away. Now, Lakes of the Cloud Hut was built from those that need shelter when heading up this mountain.
Remember to always stay on the trails!!!! It is very easy to get lost. I have known people who saw something is a distance and then got lost by going off the trail, taking an hour or more to find the trail again! Always be safe when heading up this mountain.You don't want to become a lost soul yourself! Live to tell your tale! This hike is about 3.1 miles one way so give yourself a day to hike up and down this mountain. The views are so worth it, so beautiful!

Happy Hiking!!!:)