Hike to the Bridge to Nowhere
10 Miles
900 Feet
Hiking
Intermediate
Year Round
Out-and-Back
10-mile round-trip hike with about 900 feet in elevation gain. You’ll have to cross the river a few times. Be careful when stepping on rocks and fording during rainy months. Enjoy the swimming hole and picturesque bridge once you arrive at the end of the trail. Duration: 5-6 hours.
The trail on this 10-mile hike is predominately slow and steady, but can be a little rocky, so be prepared to scramble. When you’re fording the river, the water level can range from knee to chest high, especially in the wet months. A good pair of waterproof hiking boots is helpful, but water shoes can offer value when the water is really high. You will run into river crossings early in the trail, so just remember that you’ve got quite a bit to hike afterward.
Keep in mind that this trail gets popular especially during the summer months. It’s best to arrive early if you’re hoping to park in the lot. If you arrive a little too late, you can park along the road near the trailhead.
To start the hike, head up the dirt road toward Heaton Flats Trail Camp. From here, you’ll continue on the Bridge to Nowhere Trail. The only junction you’ll pass is at the camp. Keep heading up the Bridge to Nowhere Trail and be prepared for a few river crossings as well as a bit of boulder scrambling.
Once you reach the bridge, reward yourself with the swimming hole that’s a steep 0.1 miles downhill once you pass the bridge. Take a dip and relax before your hike back.
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations.
Reviews
Overall rating:
Fun Hike At the Right Time
The crowds can be tough here. For detailed hike directions, check out my post here: https://hikingguy.com/hiking-trails/best-la-hikes/bridge-to-nowhere-hike/
One of my favorite hikes in SoCal
This is an amazing hike. The only difficult part is staying on the trail, as it can be pretty confusing! There seem to always be people on the trail, so its very hard to get lost. Be prepared to get your feet wet as there are a lot of river crossings. If you're feeling up for it, and the water level isn't too high, I definitely recommend hiking down below the bridge. Beautiful vantage point of the bridge, and fun to explore the river below!
Bring lots of water!
Or bring a LifeStraw (or similar). The terrain can be pretty difficult, and if you have a late start and it's warm, that'll only up the difficulty. It's an awesome hike there and back, my gripe is that sometimes you can lose sight of any discernible trail, and, well, there IS somewhere when you get nowhere. That somewhere is a bungee jump station.
