Spruce Street Suspension Bridge – San Diego, California - Atlas Obscura
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Spruce Street Suspension Bridge

San Diego, California

An inconspicuous footbridge beloved by San Diego locals. 

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Spruce Street Suspension Bridge PATRICIADEPERALTA (Atlas Obscura User)
Spruce Street Suspension Bridge PATRICIADEPERALTA (Atlas Obscura User)
Spruce Street Suspension Bridge PATRICIADEPERALTA (Atlas Obscura User)
Spruce Street Suspension Bridge PATRICIADEPERALTA (Atlas Obscura User)
Suspension Bridge ccesare (Atlas Obscura User)
Another Eastern view of the bridge BuenQamino (Atlas Obscura User)
Suspension Bridge ccesare (Atlas Obscura User)
Middle of the bridge johnhealey (Atlas Obscura User)
View from the park walk down onto the bridge. (Spruce Street) johnhealey (Atlas Obscura User)
Overlook from middle of the bridge looking north Dayne (Atlas Obscura User)
From the canyon floor. marcwhitaker (Atlas Obscura User)
From the canyon floor. marcwhitaker (Atlas Obscura User)
Avoiding Regret (Creative Commons)
Avoiding Regret (Creative Commons)
Avoiding Regret (Creative Commons)
View of the entrance to the bridge from the West Spruce Street and Front Street side Dayne (Atlas Obscura User)
Spruce Street Suspension Bridge blimpcaptain (Atlas Obscura User)
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1936
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Once you think you’ve checked everything off your list of places to visit in San Diego, you will find a hidden pedestrian suspension bridge 375 feet long, with a beautiful vista of the Sessions Canyon 70 feet below. This charming bridge is inconspicuous, but truly special.

Located in the residential Bankers Hill neighborhood, the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge is supported by cables embedded in massive concrete slabs beneath the soil. Walking over the long bridge isn’t for those with a fear of heights—the bridge literally suspends over the canyon, and a sharp wind gust can make it swing slightly.

Build in 1912, and engineered by Edwin Capps, this footbridge was initially designed to provide pedestrians a passage across the deep canyon, to get between the new trolley lines built on Fourth and Fifth avenue. It now serves as a secret, serene, and very romantic spot, beloved by locals and visitors to San Diego alike.

You can click this link for an animated look at the Spruce Street Bridge now and then.

Know Before You Go

The easiest way to get there: Turn west onto Spruce street from First avenue and drive all the way down until the entrance is seen. Parking is in a residential neighborhood. Be respectful, mindful, and enjoy. If you are walking from the park, just walk down Spruce street and it turns into the bridge, you cannot miss it after Front street. 


For the more adventurous and enthusiastic, there is an over five-mile trek through several San Diego neighborhoods, that takes you over several bridges. 

bridges
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