San Diego's 7 Bridges Walk: a swaying suspension bridge, a 1905 wooden trestle and 5 more in one loop

San Diego's mesas are cut by deep canyons, and a century ago the city stitched them together with footbridges so people could walk to the streetcar. Seven of those bridges survive on a single loop through Bankers Hill, Hillcrest and Balboa Park. One sways, one is made of wood and older than the Panama Canal, and one carries you into the park on a row of arches 125 feet up. Here's the route, with history from the San Diego Tourism Authority and the city's landmark records.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

+−

Leaflet | © OpenStreetMap contributors

Start and finish

1. 1Start: Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden — Park Boulevard, Balboa Park

Bridges

1. 2Cabrillo Bridge — 1914, nearly 1,500 ft long and 125 ft high
2. 3First Avenue Bridge — 1931, the city's only steel-arch bridge
3. 4Quince Street Bridge — 1905 wooden trestle over Maple Canyon
4. 5Spruce Street Suspension Bridge — 1912, 375 ft long, sways underfoot
5. 6Vermont Street Bridge — 1995 rebuild of a 1916 trestle, over Washington St
6. 7Georgia Street Bridge — 1914 concrete bridge over University Ave

Pins are approximate and numbered in walking order. The route follows the San Diego Tourism Authority's 7 Bridges Hike; streets between the bridges are steep in places. Sources: San Diego Tourism Authority, SDtoday and OpenStreetMap, checked October 6, 2026.

See these on the full San Diego map

How to do it

• —Distance: 5.5 miles as a loop. Allow about three hours with photo stops.
• —Start: the Tourism Authority's version starts on the east side of Park Boulevard by the rose garden. You can join the loop at any bridge.
• —Short version: Spruce Street, Quince Street and First Avenue are all within a few blocks of each other in Bankers Hill. That trio takes under an hour.
• —Bring: good shoes. The streets dip in and out of canyons, so it's more uphill than the mileage suggests.
• —Cross Quince twice. The Tourism Authority suggests it, and the canyon view is better the second time.
• —Cabrillo Bridge at sunset is the classic photo, with the California Tower lit up at the far end.

Finish with lunch in Hillcrest or a lap of the park: Balboa Park is free to enter, and here's where to park there without paying.