Bridge to Nowhere
Difficulty Level:
Quick Stats
Mileage
5 miles to campsite; ~10 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain
Location
Sheep Mountain Wilderness, Angeles National Forest
Maps
Angeles High Country (Tom Harrison maps)
Permit Requirements
Wilderness permit required, which you should be able to pick up at the trailhead (no reservation required). Will also need an Adventure Pass for your vehicle.
AllTrails.com Link
Trek Description
Scouts love water, and this trek has lots of it! This 10 mile round trip backpacking trek follows the San Gabriel River to the famous LA landmark: the "Bridge to Nowhere". This truss arc bridge was built in 1936 to prepare a route from the San Gabriel valley to Wrightwood, until a large flood in 1938 washed the surrounding road away ... and left the concrete bridge stranded in the middle of the wilderness. From that point on it became an amusing landmark to be visited by hikers ... and now bungee jumpers.
Parking can be tricky, so read the Internet and plan ahead. The trek itself is modestly uphill to get to the bridge, and makes a dozen or more water crossings of the San Gabriel river ... which is typically flowing year round. Plan to get your feet wet. Scouts will have a blast rock hopping and occasionally getting knee deep in cool water. A rather large open area exists half a mile south of the bridge to pitch tents and make camp (dispersed ... see photo above). From there you can ditch your packs, and finish the last bit to the bridge. If you have time, consider hiking up the river beyond the bridge - in the water - and you'll come across a ton of gorgeous, secluded pools and mini-waterfalls. Next morning, pack up and return to your vehicles.
Bottom line is this is a great hike for scouts who can hike a bit more distance with a pack ... and it keeps them engaged with a ton of river crossings and a cool oddball wonder (aka: the bridge in the woods) as a destination.
For status from the Angeles National Forest, check here.