What is it about a bridge that causes us to pull out our camera and begin snapping photos? We have a lot of them in Northern California and no two are exactly alike. As a matter of fact, they’re as beautiful and different as the people that call this part of the state home.
For most who don’t live around here, they probably believe we only look to the Golden Gate Bridge as our shining star. But they couldn’t be more wrong. We’ve decided to shine the spotlight on a few other gorgeous girls in Northern California who do their best to keep to themselves. We think you’ll agree these bridges and the folks who live around them have a lot to be proud about.
Here are 13 that deserve a hearty shout out. So, bookmark this page or send it to a friend. We know you’re going to want to add seeing a few of these to your bucket list.
- Sundial Bridge - Redding
flickr/hamish reid The Sundial Bridge is a cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge for bicycles and pedestrians that spans the Sacramento River in Redding, and forms a large sundial.
- Felton Covered Bridge - Felton
flickr/jimmy everson dvm The Felton Covered Bridge is a covered bridge over the San Lorenzo River in Felton, Santa Cruz County. Built in 1892, the bridge employs a brown truss structural system and is approximately 80 feet long.
- Jibboom Street Bridge - Sacramento
flickr/don barrett This historic metal truss swing bridge is located on Jibboom Street crosses the American River in Sacramento County, built in 1931.
- Rio Vista Bridge - Rio Vista
flickr/don barrett The Helen Madere Memorial Bridge, commonly called by its former name, the Rio Vista Bridge after its location, is a vertical-lift bridge which carries California State Route 12 across the Sacramento River.
- Pit River Bridge - Shasta County
flickr/bruce fingerhood Built in 1942, the Pit River bridge is the highest combination road and rail bridge in the world. It is also the highest rail bridge ever built in the U.S. Rumor has it that the movie “Stand By Me” used this bridge in its famous train scene.
- Albion River Bridge - Albion
flickr/david berry This 70-year-old bridge is both loved and hated. Loved by those in the tiny town (population 200) of Albian who want to keep it, and hated by those at Caltrans who find themselves in a dispute with locals to tear it down and replace it with a safer, more modern bridge. This one is the last of its kind on HWY 1 - and the battle continues.
- Fair Oaks Bridge - Fair Oaks
flickr/david childs A truss bridge over the lower banks of the American River, connecting Fair Oaks to the greater Sacramento, California region. The current bridge, built 1907-1909 at a cost of $63,000, is the third bridge at this location.
- Alvord Lake Bridge - San Francisco
flickr/e.l. ransome Built in 1896 by E.L. Ransome. It was the first reinforced concrete bridge built in the U.S. Ransome left a few years later, discouraged by the community’s indifference to concrete structures. Notably, this bridge withstood the 1906 earthquake.
- Isleton Bridge - Isleton
flickr/mitch lorens Built in 1923, this historic bascule bridge carries State Route 160 across the Sacramento River north of Isleton.
- Bridgeport Covered Bridge -
flickr/linda norvelle The bridge is 230 feet (70 m) long. Bridgeport Bridge, or “Wood’s Crossing,” is the longest single span covered bridge in existence. In 1997 a flood almost destroyed the bridge when the Yuba River swelled. One of the earliest toll bridges in California, in 1853 miners would pay $2 to cross with their wagons. Today, it’s only open to pedestrians.
- Sims Pedestrian Bridge - Dunsmuir
flickr/patrick dirden This small pedestrian bridge in the Dunsmuir area connects a campground with a swimming hole. It don’t get much more American than that.
- Foresthill Bridge - Auburn
flickr/nick ares Opened in 1973, this bridge is a whopping 522 feet high. The Foresthill Bridge, also referred to as the Auburn-Foresthill Bridge or the Auburn Bridge, is a road bridge crossing over the North Fork American River in Placer County and the Sierra Nevada foothills.
- Bidwell Bar Suspension Bridge - Oroville
flickr/don barrett This suspension bridge was built in 1855 at a cost of $35,000.00. This was the first suspension bridge built in California - yep, NORTHERN California to be specific. The Bidwell Bar Bridge in Oroville, California refers to two suspension bridges that cross different parts of Lake Oroville.
Go ahead, let us know which of these you’ve driven or walked across? Anyone visited all of them? Better yet, which ones did we miss?
flickr/hamish reid
The Sundial Bridge is a cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge for bicycles and pedestrians that spans the Sacramento River in Redding, and forms a large sundial.
flickr/jimmy everson dvm
The Felton Covered Bridge is a covered bridge over the San Lorenzo River in Felton, Santa Cruz County. Built in 1892, the bridge employs a brown truss structural system and is approximately 80 feet long.
flickr/don barrett
This historic metal truss swing bridge is located on Jibboom Street crosses the American River in Sacramento County, built in 1931.
The Helen Madere Memorial Bridge, commonly called by its former name, the Rio Vista Bridge after its location, is a vertical-lift bridge which carries California State Route 12 across the Sacramento River.
flickr/bruce fingerhood
Built in 1942, the Pit River bridge is the highest combination road and rail bridge in the world. It is also the highest rail bridge ever built in the U.S. Rumor has it that the movie “Stand By Me” used this bridge in its famous train scene.
flickr/david berry
This 70-year-old bridge is both loved and hated. Loved by those in the tiny town (population 200) of Albian who want to keep it, and hated by those at Caltrans who find themselves in a dispute with locals to tear it down and replace it with a safer, more modern bridge. This one is the last of its kind on HWY 1 - and the battle continues.
flickr/david childs
A truss bridge over the lower banks of the American River, connecting Fair Oaks to the greater Sacramento, California region. The current bridge, built 1907-1909 at a cost of $63,000, is the third bridge at this location.
flickr/e.l. ransome
Built in 1896 by E.L. Ransome. It was the first reinforced concrete bridge built in the U.S. Ransome left a few years later, discouraged by the community’s indifference to concrete structures. Notably, this bridge withstood the 1906 earthquake.
flickr/mitch lorens
Built in 1923, this historic bascule bridge carries State Route 160 across the Sacramento River north of Isleton.
flickr/linda norvelle
The bridge is 230 feet (70 m) long. Bridgeport Bridge, or “Wood’s Crossing,” is the longest single span covered bridge in existence. In 1997 a flood almost destroyed the bridge when the Yuba River swelled. One of the earliest toll bridges in California, in 1853 miners would pay $2 to cross with their wagons. Today, it’s only open to pedestrians.
flickr/patrick dirden
This small pedestrian bridge in the Dunsmuir area connects a campground with a swimming hole. It don’t get much more American than that.
flickr/nick ares
Opened in 1973, this bridge is a whopping 522 feet high. The Foresthill Bridge, also referred to as the Auburn-Foresthill Bridge or the Auburn Bridge, is a road bridge crossing over the North Fork American River in Placer County and the Sierra Nevada foothills.
This suspension bridge was built in 1855 at a cost of $35,000.00. This was the first suspension bridge built in California - yep, NORTHERN California to be specific. The Bidwell Bar Bridge in Oroville, California refers to two suspension bridges that cross different parts of Lake Oroville.
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