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All the United States California San Diego Spruce Street Suspension Bridge

Spruce Street Suspension Bridge

An inconspicuous footbridge beloved by San Diego locals.

San Diego, California

BuenQamino profile photo
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Christina Kantzavelos
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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)
View of the entrance to the bridge from the West Spruce Street and Front Street side   Dayne / Atlas Obscura User
  Dayne / Atlas Obscura User
Overlook from middle of the bridge looking north   Dayne / Atlas Obscura User
Suspension Bridge   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
Suspension Bridge   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  hibbibi / Atlas Obscura User
  hibbibi / Atlas Obscura User
  hibbibi / Atlas Obscura User
  hibbibi / Atlas Obscura User
  Avoiding Regret
  Avoiding Regret
  Avoiding Regret
From the canyon floor.   marcwhitaker / Atlas Obscura User
From the canyon floor.   marcwhitaker / Atlas Obscura User
  jondi letnap / Atlas Obscura User
Great little spot   johnhealey / Atlas Obscura User
View from the park walk down onto the bridge. (Spruce Street)   johnhealey / Atlas Obscura User
Middle of the bridge   johnhealey / Atlas Obscura User
Crossing the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Another Eastern view of the bridge   BuenQamino / Atlas Obscura User
  Lampshade1660 / Atlas Obscura User
Spruce Street Suspension Bridge   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
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About

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.

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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. 

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  • SEANETTA profile photo SEANETTA
  • J johnhealey profile photo johnhealey
  • Avoiding Regret profile photo Avoiding Regret
  • Dayne profile photo Dayne
  • Meg profile photo Meg
  • jondi letnap profile photo jondi letnap
  • marcwhitaker profile photo marcwhitaker
  • Lampshade1660 profile photo Lampshade1660
  • C cait7911 profile photo cait7911
  • H hibbibi profile photo hibbibi
  • joeypesto profile photo joeypesto

Published

July 29, 2016

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Sources
  • http://hiddensandiego.net/suspension-bridge.php
  • http://www.hillquest.com/history/spruce-street-bridge-capps/
  • www.buenqamino.com
  • http://www.hillcresthistory.org/animated/

Related Tags

Bridges
Spruce Street Suspension Bridge
220 W Spruce St
San Diego, California, 92103
United States
32.738737, -117.165428
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