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looking at the problem with the San
Gabriel Mountains Trailbuilders to determine what can be done about the hazard. Safe passage through 50 meters of trail covered by the rock fall required crossing the river two additional times during a few months of the year; the riverbed is dry the rest of the year. As of July 2022 the official website still showed 2010 as the last worked date of the trail.
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In addition to steps being carved out of rock faces to improve hiking safety, trail definition being improved through removing growth and rocks along the trail, and other typical trail work, the
Trailbuilders also built the John Seals Bridge across Laurel Gulch, utilizing helicopters, horses, mules,
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There have been a large number of fatalities along the East Fork of the San
Gabriel River due in part to the swift water of the San Gabriel River which can rise significantly and without warning when heavy rainfall to the Northeast of the region introduces flash flood waters to the river. Crossing
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is provided by a private company. Jumpers typically meet at the main parking area for Heaton Flats
Campground early in the morning, collecting at the Forest Service gate and then walking to the East Fork Trail trailhead where jumpers begin the hike generally as a group. After individuals jump from
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at 2271 feet altitude which posed a significant safety hazard to climb over. Additionally there was a cornice overhang remaining that is poised to come down and there was more friable San
Gabriel granite to the right of the calving which is poised to come down. The United States Forest Service was
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The bridge is only accessible via a 10-mile round-trip hike. Despite its popularity, the frequency with which the trails get washed out means rough trail in places. The trail following the riverbed crosses the East Fork six times between the bridge and the trailhead. Generally, one follows the
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Parts of the old asphalt roadway can still be found along the East Fork Trail which leads to the bridge, and there are still a number of concrete slabs which formed the foundations of destroyed bridges to the west of the Bridge to
Nowhere. The sign along the trail 30 feet east of the John Seals
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Currently the San
Gabriel Mountains Trailbuilders have repair and maintenance responsibility for the East Fork Trail from the Heaton Flats Campground, through the Sheep Mountain Wilderness, up to the foot of the bridge's leased land. Significant problems with the hiking trail which need to be
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addressed (dead trees blocking the trail, rock falls, extensive erosion) may be reported to the Trail
Repairs web site, or they may be reported to the United States Forest Service by telephoning the San Gabriel River Ranger District.
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and many human volunteers to establish concrete footings and assemble a solid wooden crossing to ensure safe passage across the gulch.
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the river to and from the Bridge to
Nowhere can be dangerous and even individuals crossing in groups have experienced fatalities.
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usually dry river up its course, with several (dry) stream crossings before the ascent to the level of the bridge.
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The maintenance of the East Fork Trail which leads to the Bridge To
Nowhere is the responsibility of the
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the bridge, people hike back either alone or in pairs or in groups, sometimes doing so after dark.
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Bridge which announces the start of the Sheep Mountain Wilderness is resting on the old roadbed.
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In May 2015 there was a major rock fall approximately 1.56 miles inward along the trail at
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518:"Angeles National Forest - Heaton Flats Trailhead & Campground"
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volunteer organization which works under the supervision of the
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560:"Angeles National Forest - San Gabriel River Ranger District"
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was still under construction when it was washed out during
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Open-spandrel deck arch bridges in the United States
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Adventure Hikes and Canyoneering in the San Gabriels
454:. Crystal Lake Camp Grounds, Azusa, California. n.d
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184:and was meant to be part of a road connecting the
240:makes trail working at higher elevations in the
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16:Bridge in Southern California, United States
432:. San Gabriel Mountains Trailbuilders. n.d
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638:History of Los Angeles County, California
623:Bridges in Los Angeles County, California
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230:San Gabriel Mountains Trailbuilders
244:difficult and at times hazardous.
206:the great flood of March 1–2, 1938
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180:. It spans the East Fork of the
172:that was built in 1936 north of
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643:Concrete bridges in California
588:Responsible trail organization
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35:The Bridge to Nowhere in the
603:Trail information, HikingGuy
583:Trail information, hikespeak
238:Crystal Lake Recreation Area
234:United States Forest Service
341:Christopher Earls Brennen,
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648:Road bridges in California
317:Trail repair and reporting
210:Sheep Mountain Wilderness
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291:The bridge is a private
633:Angeles National Forest
297:Angeles National Forest
176:, United States in the
598:Nicole Cox Hiking Blog
541:. sgmtrailbuilders.org
412:, sgmtrailbuilders.org
390:, sgmtrailbuilders.org
270:34.25733°N 117.75089°W
190:Wrightwood, California
71:34.28306°N 117.74667°W
628:San Gabriel Mountains
242:San Gabriel Mountains
178:San Gabriel Mountains
109:San Gabriel Mountains
37:San Gabriel Mountains
275:34.25733; -117.75089
136:120 feet (37 m)
76:34.28306; -117.74667
478:, bungeeamerica.com
452:"Photo of rockfall"
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41:Southern California
618:Bridges to nowhere
186:San Gabriel Valley
125:open spandrel arch
500:, insidesocal.com
475:Bridge to Nowhere
430:"East Fork Trail"
409:John Seals Bridge
387:Trail Maintenance
366:John Seals Bridge
182:San Gabriel River
174:Azusa, California
166:Bridge to Nowhere
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99:San Gabriel River
23:Bridge to Nowhere
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132:Clearance below
116:Characteristics
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111:, California
295:within the
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261:117°45′03″W
170:arch bridge
90:Pedestrians
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62:117°44′48″W
49:Coordinates
612:Categories
566:2017-06-17
545:2017-06-17
524:2017-06-17
504:2010-04-03
497:Fatalities
482:2008-03-22
416:2012-04-03
394:2012-04-03
372:2009-05-15
350:2008-03-23
258:34°15′26″N
59:34°16′59″N
293:inholding
154:Location
196:History
141:History
95:Crosses
87:Carries
458:5 July
436:5 July
168:is an
146:Opened
121:Design
105:Locale
326:Notes
188:with
460:2022
438:2022
200:The
164:The
149:1936
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333:^
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
