Natural Bridges

14th September 2008

Another small wonders of nature lies in Calaveras County of California. Just 10 miles off Hwy-4 on Parrot Ferry road you will see a sign board for Natural Bridges trailhead. When I was reading about these bridges on the net I didn't realize they could be so unexpectedly beautiful.


I parked my car and saw only another car there. The sign board indicated the distance to the upper bridge is 3/4 mile. The trail has a gentle descend with long switchbacks in open, dry shrubby land. I went on ... nothing seemed attractive on the trail ... It was quite hot afternoon ... when I approached the bridge I saw an young couple with two baby girls ... The very unfriendly welcome from them indicated that they didn't seem to be pleased with my arrival there ... I passed them to be near the bridge to take pictures ...

The Coyote Creek flows through this cave open both sides creates these upper and lower bridges. People usually go to the upper side of the bridge and swim across to the lower bridge. I was prepared to swim across but when I looked back the unfriendly family had already left ... didn't want to leave my camera gear unattended and so sat there inside the cave watching the reflections in the water on the cave walls.

This bridge is truly amazing ... it is not just a bridge ... it is a cave ... it is a Gothic Arch ... it gets a mysterious look with the stalactites hanging from the top with moss grown on them ... the darkness inside ... and then the faint light which enters from the other side ... like some Harry Potter movie ... while sitting there I just imagined the Slytherin coming out of it :)

There is a trail to the lower bridge (or other side of the cave). But, I was happy with one entrance. I had heard that lower side is not that attractive ... It was a perfect lunch spot but, I didn't have any food ... I sat there thinking of coming back with at least one more person to swim across :)

I sat there for some time enjoying the cool and freshness of the water and air before heading back ... on the way back I saw a big crowd going to the bridge ...