Spanning two tiers on basalt cliffs, it is the only waterfall which occurs below the historic Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway.

The two drops are due to a zone of more easily eroded basalt defile at the base of the upper falls.

During the years of logging upstream of Bridal Veil Creek, the river ran dry and the waterfall had disappeared.

Logging was a successful enterprise upstream of the waterfall by Bridal Veil Falls Timber Company.

[3] The sawmill community was a thriving area that eventually dried the creek and made its namesake waterfall disappear.