A rockslide tore through the area near Bridal Veil Falls, shutting down a popular stretch of the Provo River Trail and the surrounding park as boulders kept tumbling down the canyon wall. No injuries were reported, but authorities warned that the danger was far from over and told hikers to steer clear while crews assessed the damage.
The closure stretches roughly a quarter-mile, running from the parking lot east along the trail toward the falls, according to Fox 13 Now, which reported that the trail and park would be closed for the winter, with cleanup expected to resume in spring. Utah County Sheriff's Office officials said the shutdown covers that entire span of trail and park land, per KJZZ.
Rocks were still coming loose and falling well after the initial slide, which is why deputies pushed everyone back from the area. “Rocks are still coming down in that area and ask the public to stay away,” authorities said, according to ABC4. The same report noted that sheriff's deputies and volunteers were stationed near the closure specifically to keep people out of the affected zone.
No Injuries, But Trees and Utilities Took a Hit
Despite the scale of the slide, nobody was hurt. Multiple trees and some utility infrastructure were damaged in the process. Officials have notified the appropriate agencies to coordinate cleanup and repair work, a step confirmed by the same KJZZ report that first detailed the closure.
Before the trail reopens, crews still have work to do. “Crews will work to clear the debris and ensure the trail is safe and passable before reopening,” Deseret News reported. The closure is expected to last through the winter.
A Falls Already Mid-Construction
A reconstruction project is underway at Bridal Veil Falls. Utah County has been working on a reconstruction project that began in September 2025 and is expected to continue through 2027, per the KJZZ report. The project includes improvements to parking, pedestrian trails and recreational areas, along with repairs tied to previous avalanche damage in the canyon.
Bridal Veil Falls has drawn scrutiny over falling-rock hazards before. The Utah Geological Survey has tied 15 deaths across the state directly to rockfalls since 1850, according to ABC4. In June 2024, 70-year-old Diane Dewey of Saratoga Springs was struck by a falling rock while walking with her husband on the Provo Canyon trail below the falls, KSL reported. That rock was roughly 24 inches wide and 2 to 3 inches deep, and Dewey died from her injuries on June 15, 2024, the Utah County Sheriff's Office confirmed to KSL.
For now, the focus in Provo Canyon is keeping people away from the unstable slope while crews work to clear the latest debris.
