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

Spruce Street Suspension Bridge

San Diego, California

An inconspicuous footbridge beloved by San Diego locals. 

Spruce Street Suspension Bridge PATRICIADEPERALTA (Atlas Obscura User)
Spruce Street Suspension Bridge PATRICIADEPERALTA (Atlas Obscura User)
Spruce Street Suspension Bridge PATRICIADEPERALTA (Atlas Obscura User)
View of the entrance to the bridge from the West Spruce Street and Front Street side Dayne (Atlas Obscura User)
Suspension Bridge ccesare (Atlas Obscura User)
Suspension Bridge ccesare (Atlas Obscura User)
Avoiding Regret (Creative Commons)
Avoiding Regret (Creative Commons)
Avoiding Regret (Creative Commons)
From the canyon floor. marcwhitaker (Atlas Obscura User)
From the canyon floor. marcwhitaker (Atlas Obscura User)
Another Eastern view of the bridge BuenQamino (Atlas Obscura User)
Middle of the bridge johnhealey (Atlas Obscura User)
Overlook from middle of the bridge looking north Dayne (Atlas Obscura User)
View from the park walk down onto the bridge. (Spruce Street) johnhealey (Atlas Obscura User)
377
857
Top Places in San Diego
Lucha Libre Taco Shop
San Diego, California
Sunny Jim Cave Store
San Diego, California
USS Recruit
San Diego, California
 See All

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

Easiest way to get there: Turn west onto Spruce street from First avenue and drive all of 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. (It is about a 30 minute walk from here to Harper's Topiary Garden found in the atlas, AND it is hilly...get those walking boots on)

bridges
Nearby
Harper's Topiary Garden
0.64 miles
Abandoned Freeway Stub on State Route 163
0.86 miles
Lemon Grove Mummies
0.94 miles
Near This Place
San Diego, California

Harper's Topiary Garden

A couple creates a magical topiary 'museum' on their average, suburban corner.
San Diego, California

Abandoned Freeway Stub on State Route 163

The freeway that never was.
San Diego, California

Lemon Grove Mummies

Lemon Grove, California is known for its giant lemon...and mummified bodies.
San Diego, California

San Diego Museum of Man

An extraordinarily ornate museum in San Diego holds wondrous anthropological treasures.
Related Places
Wheatfield, Indiana

Dunn’s Bridge

This bridge was constructed from the remains of the first Ferris wheel.
Ansignan, France

Pont-Aqueduc d'Ansignan

A functioning Roman-era aqueduct and bridge in rural southwest France.
West Montrose, Ontario

West Montrose Covered Bridge

Known as the "Kissing Bridge" for its privacy, it also happens to be the last covered bridge in Ontario.
Nanuoya, Sri Lanka

The Main Line

Known as the most scenic route in Sri Lanka, this train line is steeped in history and offers an unparalleled view of the country.