It's called the Bridge to Nowhere, but ironically, it's now a destination in its own right.
Devoid of the cars it was designed to carry, the bridge crosses the East Fork of the San Gabriel River, deep in the Angeles National Forest. It sits five miles from the paved road that ends at the trailhead parking lot 30 minutes north of Azusa and it draws dozens, if not hundreds, of hikers on weekends.
So, what's the attraction? Novelty, for starters. The single-arch concrete span is striking when surrounded by the rugged wilderness of the San Gabriel Mountains. Built in 1936 as part of a planned route to connect the San Gabriel Valley to Wrightwood, it was abandoned two years later after a flood washed out the connecting roadway. The bridge and a few patches of asphalt still visible on the trail are all that remain of the project.
Adrenaline is the second draw. Thrill-seekers make the hike so they can bungee jump from the bridge deck 140 feet into the canyon below.
That's what we were waiting for after reaching the bridge. Not to jump, of course, but to watch others leap into the void.
My son Drew, daughter Brooke and I had covered the outbound leg of the hike in about two hours. It would have been less if they didn't have to wait for Dad, but I did fairly well matching their pace. Ready for a break, we crossed the bridge, descended the steep bank to find a seat close to the river and enjoyed our snacks while expectantly watching for the first of the thrill-seekers to take the leap.
The show finally started after what appeared to be an extensive briefing. The first jumper threw his leg over the railing, climbed on to a tiny take-off platform and listened while his fellow jumpers counted down, "... 5 ...4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 1, bungee!" He didn't hesitate. Diving headfirst off the platform, he reached the limits of the stretchy cord and sprang back upwards like a rag doll jerked on a yo-yo string.
The next jumpers followed in quick succession. Shouts, cheers and screams punctuated the procession. We took pictures and video, and Drew even wandered down the bank closer to the bridge to watch. It was entertaining, but I was in no way tempted to take a turn.
With afternoon commitments and a drive home pending, we began retracing our steps back to the trailhead.
Overall, it's a fairly easy hike, with only about 1,200 feet of total elevation gain. The challenge comes in navigating uneven terrain. The trail generally follows the river, sometimes requiring rock scrambling or navigating narrow, steep sections. It also crosses the river several times. That's not a problem given our lack of recent rainfall, but some websites report hip-deep crossings in wetter seasons.
This is not a trail for those seeking solitude. Besides a steady stream of day hikers, we encountered a procession of Scouts, obviously weary under the weight of their towering packs, but resolutely moving forward.
But it does deliver you into the beauty of the Angeles National Forest backcountry. Ridgelines soar high overhead with peaks shrouded by low-lying clouds. The river is an ever-present feature, its rushing water providing a steady soundtrack throughout the hike. The greenery lining its banks stands in contrast to the surrounding brown rocky hills, which are dotted with spiny yucca.
Given the novelty of the destination, and what you'll experience along the way, jump at the chance to visit if you have the opportunity.
Eric Harnish lives in Castaic.

Let's Go...
Purchase a $5 Forest Service Adventure Pass and display it on your vehicle's dash. Several convenience stores on the way to the trailhead sell them.
Plan ahead and know what you're getting into by logging on here: alltrails.com/trail/us/california/east-fork-trail-bridge-to-nowhere
Bring plenty of water. It's 10 miles round trip with little shade.