The "Other" Bridge to Nowhere (w/pics)

[daepp]

So in 1936 the government decided to build a bridge no locals needed. Multiple wash outs of the road to the bridge lead them to eventually abandon the project. It is in the mountains north east of LA, and is at the end of a arduous 3 hour 5 mile hike/climb. But - there is good news: after 74 years of no usage, an ugly, capitalistic for profit corporation has purchased it. In 2010, the bridge is finally being put to use - as a bungee jumping platform. Enjoy!




Not the "target" bridge




A bit of foreshadowing along the trail...


"Swan" Rock


There's a boatload of gold miners up there




Perhaps the scenery looks a lot better than I...

To be continued...

[daepp]

More gratuitous photos...


Carved in stone, eh?


The Bridge to Nowhere




Jumper




While I had always heard there were Bighorn Sheep up there, this is the first time I ever saw them. IIRC they are endangered.

[Zeke]

Tried to find this location on Google Maps. Is it off Lone Pine or Sheeps road?

[daepp]

The bridge crosses the East Fork of the San Gabriel. Exit Azusa Ave off of the 210; head north. Parking lot and trail head are 8 miles past the San Gabriel Dam.

[Zeke]

I know about where it is. Google is not that clear and I don't think it shows up. I can see the trail head and parking lot.

I always turned at Glendora Mountain Rd., so I never went up there.

[daepp]

IIRC,the turn of the Glendora Ridge Rd is just about mile from the trail head.

BTW - GMR = great 911 driving experience.

[Head416]

Originally Posted by DAEpperson

BTW - GMR = great 911 driving experience.

I can second that! (Usually makes the wife car-sick though)

[slodave]

That's where I go to sluice for gold.

[steve911]

Cool looking bridge.
Looks like the state of CA used a design similar to the iconic Bixby Bridge in Big Sur

[daepp]

Yeah, that is very similar.

[RWebb]

so, you have to hike on a trail to get there?

did they ever build a road to go with the bridge??

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by RWebb

so, you have to hike on a trail to get there?

did they ever build a road to go with the bridge??

According to wiki they gave up on it after the road washed out as mentioned above, Probably a social welfare project anyway:

The Bridge to Nowhere is an arch bridge that was built in 1936 north of Azusa, California in the San Gabriel Mountains.
It spans the East Fork of the San Gabriel River and was meant to be part of a road connecting the San Gabriel Valley with Wrightwood.
The East Fork Road was still under construction when it was washed out during the great flood of March 1-2, 1938.[1]
The East Fork Road project was abandoned as a result of the flood, leaving the bridge forever stranded in the middle of what is now the Sheep Mountain Wilderness. The bridge is only accessible via a 9-mile round-trip hike or on horseback.
Despite its popularity, the frequency with which the trails get washed out means that they are rough in places.
The trail following the riverbed crosses the East Fork 14 times between the bridge and the trailhead.[1] Generally, one follows the river up its course, with several stream crossings before the ascent to the level of the bridge.
The bridge is a private inholding within the Angeles National Forest. Bungee jumping is provided by a private company.[2]

[RWebb]

thanks - pretty wild

[RWebb]

milt plug Azusa into Gmaps, then repeat with bridge to nowhere - you'll get what looks like the parking lot and can switch to Sat view from that


re Bighorn Sheep - first - it is probably saying "WTF!" followed by "Damn Monkeys"
- there are 3 subspecies; this is likely the SW desert one; maybe the Sierra one
the Sierra subspp. is Endangered (i.e. legally listed as Endangered under the End. Species Act, as is a distinct popn segment (DPS) of the Desert subspp.)
- the other DPSs and subspp. have made something of a comeback (except for a subspp. in the Dakotas that went extinct) - I say something b/c tho not listed they may be endangered & are way reduced in range - Bighorns used to roam all over the plains, tho we think of them as purely a montane species today.

[KNS]

I hiked up there many years ago when it was still seldom visited, I recall seeing about four people on the entire hike up (I did see a couple big horn - that was very cool). Hate to see it turned into a tourist attraction. Well worth the trip!

[daepp]

The people did not detract from the beauty - in fact, there were several beauties hiking in there swimsuits!

As for the trail - it comes and goes. You basically hug the right hand bank of the river most of the way up. And there are traces of the old road and some old bridge abutments.

[M.D. Holloway]

WPA project?

[daepp]

It certainly fits the time frame of the WPA.