🏞️ River Swim
🔴 Difficult $5/day or $30/year USFS Adventure Pass required for parking ⚠️ Safety Note
🌊 About Bridge to Nowhere (East Fork San Gabriel River)
A popular but genuinely strenuous hike to a historic 1936 bridge left stranded after a flood destroyed the road it was meant to serve — the pool below is a rewarding but modest swimming spot after a long trek, also a launch point for a commercial bungee-jumping operation off the bridge.
📋 Visit Details
Entry Fee
$5/day or $30/year USFS Adventure Pass required for parking
Water Temperature
💧 Cool river water
Best Season
📅 Late spring–summer
Water Type
River swimming hole beneath a historic 1936 bridge
Managed By
US Forest Service (Angeles National Forest)
County
Los Angeles County, California
Access Difficulty
🔴 Difficult
🗺️ Getting There
Address / Access Point:
East Fork Trailhead, Camp Williams Resort area, East Fork Rd, near Azusa, CA
Access Notes:
Strenuous ~10-mile round-trip hike with numerous river crossings to reach the bridge; the swimming hole itself is a small pool, not large enough for laps
✅ Before You Go — Checklist
-
✓
Check current water conditions — especially after recent rain
-
✓
Save GPS coordinates offline before leaving — cell service may be limited
-
$
Bring cash or card for entry: $5/day or $30/year USFS Adventure Pass required for parking
-
✓
Pack reef-safe sunscreen, dry bag, water shoes and plenty of drinking water
-
✓
Tell someone where you are going before heading to a remote location
-
✓
Pack out everything you bring in — leave no trace