When visiting the Columbia Gorge searching for waterfalls, don't forget to stop at Bridal Veil Falls. 

Bridal Veil Falls is a short half-mile hike and is the perfect hike to get your younger kids used to hiking. It only has an elevation gain of 78 feet, so it is easy for little legs to maneuver.

When you head to the trailhead, there are clean open bathrooms. However, there are no baby-changing areas, so be ready to change your little ones in the car. Once ready to go, there is a beautiful overlook trail off to the left of the bathrooms. This trail is half a mile long and overlooks the Columbia River.

The trail to the waterfall starts paved and then turns into gravel. It gets very muddy with lots of puddles during the winter, so plan your shoe choices accordingly! Strollers are not recommended on this hike as there are two sets of stairs, so be sure to bring your baby carrier. Once on the trail, there is a bridge that crosses the creek and is a great area to take in the beauty around you. There are also many rocks around the creek that the kids like to climb on.

If you go left from the bridge, you will find an old barn with a lot of graffiti and tons of blackberry bushes on the trail leading up to it. If you go right from the bridge, you will see a set of stairs. Some steps are missing, so watch your step.

The waterfall is gorgeous! Bring your camera and take lots of photos! The climb back up to the car can be exhausting for little ones, so pack a snack and take breaks with the benches on the trail. 

Tip: try going during the weekdays to avoid large crowds. 

Combine this trip with a stop at Multnomah Falls, Wahkeena Falls, or Latourell Falls.