This is one of the most peaceful walks you will ever go on. Not everyone loves hiking and there's nothing wrong with that. This walk is for my non hikers. It is such a beautiful, calm, relaxing trail here. I love how quiet is it. If you're scared of anything steep, don't worry. This walk is fairly easy and not at all challenging. My favorite times to come are early in the morning or around 11ish. Parking is easy and free. Sometimes people take pictures by the bridge. Pro tip, do not wear shoes you like! They will definitely get dirty. read more

Sweetwater River Bridge - Super nice walk this morning - Hiking Near Me - El Cajon, California

Very nice place for a family photo session. I can not speak to anything else at this location but the bridge was a last minute go too that was local and free. Walkers were mindful and our pictures came out great! read more

Sweetwater River Bridge - Hiking Near Me - El Cajon, California

Very nice, well maintained trails. There are a bunch of different paths to take. Not a lot of tree cover so I would recommend bringing water and a hat. Plenty of parking in the lot outside the trail or in front of the bridge which is also cool to walk across. read more

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Amazing location for family pictures and also for a hike. Best of both! There is limited parking so keep that in mind.

Great place tucked away in San Diego that is essentially a hidden gem. Unfortunately, we surpassed this spot by 10 miles as Google had us and the end of the park. This park is long and at one end is this bridge that was built in 1929, there is a lovely sign and many come here to take pictures. There is also another couple of bridges during your hike through the fields. Upon arriving a motorcyclist parked his bike at one entrance to take pictures, on the way back from our hike, a couple had a tripod setup for pictures. Oh yes, we got our picture on too!!! read more

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Nice bridge! Parking can get a bit crowded. We went on a weekend AM and had to park off the busy highway street.. The bridge connects to a hiking trail. Very family friendly. We brought our 3 yr old and he did fine, got a bit tired but we also had a hiking bag. There are lots of mountain bikers on this trail. Also plenty of neat surprises like the river running through! There is also plenty of shopping centers and restaurants near by so its easy to grab a bite after a hike. read more

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Unless you're having your portrait or family pictures taken this isn't a destination. Think of the Sweetwater River Bridge as something to check out if you're in the area. Parking lot is right off Campo road. If you're not hiking the gauntlet 8 mile hike to Mother Miguel Mountain then figure about 15 minutes to walk to the end of the bridge and back, maybe with a stop or two for pictures. - This is also the place where skunks that were captured in the surrounding neighborhoods get returned to the wild. Almost 300 skunks have been returned here. read more

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This was my first time here and it's a nice place for people of all ages. The trail itself is a loop but you don't have to do the loop it splinters off into other little trails and there is a lot to explore. I saw birds, rabbits, squirrels a lizard and two different snakes... one non venomous and the other was a baby rattlesnake. It's really beautiful and full of color st the moment. I'd definitely recommend checking it out before summer and if you go during the summer go early. Hours are sunrise to sunset. read more

Sweetwater River Bridge - Hiking Near Me - El Cajon, California

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Great spot to hike! Dog friendly as well:) We enjoyed this hike a few times and will do it again. Each time we've gone there are photo shoots or video shoots happening so obviously the location is cool! read more

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The bridge was built in 1929 pretty cool to see got that out-of-the-way water under the bridge lol read more

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As per the County of San Diego, the Sweetwater River Bridge was built back in 1929. It connected highway 94. It was replaced in 1987 by a modern bridge and now sits as a historic site and a starting and meeting point for those who adventure down the Sweetwater River Trail: a San Diego National Wildlife Refuge. Many visit the trails for walking, hiking, biking, and photography. I come here for the nature walks along the Sweetwater river not just to enjoy its beauty, but also for the added exercise. The Bridge is located in the community of Rancho San Diego. read more

It's one of most gorgeous local trails I've been. It's great for anything: hiking, running, walking. It feels like you're far away from the city, being literally 10 min away only. If you go for a run, you'll get your 5 miles work out. And the bridge at the beginning is just gorgeous. I would definitely pick it for my Photo session! read more

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First time coming to this hike with my boyfriend. Before starting our hike we found black bags with headless goats on the side of the parking lot. We don't know what the goats were used for. Just be careful when coming here alone and at night. read more

Sweetwater River Bridge - Hiking Near Me - El Cajon, California

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Here's yet another blank draft I found that I know I wrote a good review on. I wish I could figure out why my reviews sometimes don't post. I can't sleep so I've been up doing reviews that I thought I already posted but somehow ended up as a blank draft. I do this hike on Thursdays when I'm in the neighborhood too early for the Wood-n-Lips Open Mic at Hooleys. It's a beautiful hike. I've drove past it for years then I discovered it when I started Googling ,"Hiking trails near me". read more

I would definitly say this is hidden gem in rancho san diego , easy access from campo road , its across the St. from tgi & ymca , it do have limited parking but its not a busy spot , i really loved the place i kept walking in depth till i arrive behind the houses on the mountain in spring valley on lake point drive which was interesting & cool but had to go back since i was alone & there was no signs , there is i would say 2 paths to go , the path i took they say it would go all the way to bonita . I think there should be more signs at least in case of bad thing happen & you needed to call 911 you can let them know where on earth are you coz i walked 60 minute in depth and i took rights & lefts climbed some hills and there was couple times of high inclined down hills which can turn out to be bad experience if you lose stability and roll down . I would go back next week to try different route , i just hope that there is someone with me to make it more fun and safer . I wouldnt recommend you to hike in depth alone , all the people were in groups and didnt see anyone going more than 15 minutes in depth at least the route i took although i saw some foot trails on sand . There is a small nice pond & bridge , after 10 minutes walking you will not hear any street sounds just fresh air and excellent views. Make sure to lock car & dont leave things of value on sight coz someone might broke into your car . read more

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We came here for this year's holiday pictures. The colors during this time of year are beautiful and this area is picturesque. We arrived at 8:30am on a Saturday and it was already getting packed. There's a small area for parking right in front of the bridge but that was already full when we pulled up. There are also a few spots on the road and adjacent street. There are also several trails you can hike just beyond the bridge. And a very big maple (?) tree with colorful leaves is about a 3 min walk from the bridge. The pictures at the tree may be more beautiful than pictures on the bridge. Other reviewers mentioned dog poop on the bridge and surrounding areas. This is so true!! Why can't people clean up after their pets?! We actually saw a dog doing his business on the bridge and the owner barely wiping it up. People sit and walk in this area! Consider yourself warned. read more

I'm not sure how a trail system like this doesn't get 5-stars. Sure, if you go to the bridge thinking there is enough around it to stay more than 10-15 minutes you will be disappointed. This isn't a destination to go to unless you want to get that perfect holiday photo or go for a hike. The bridge is very cool and gives you a sense of the history of the area. The trail system that is connected to it that is part of the County of San Diego is amazing! I'm an avid runner and have been all over San Diego for training runs but this was a real gem. Rolling hills on well-maintained trails that extend for miles and miles. A few options to choose from as well. Another bonus is that the YMCA is just across the street so if you are a member you can tag on a swim or gym session there. Parking at the bridge is minimal - it's a dirt lot that can accommodate maybe 15-20 cars with a few more spots on the road. No big deal though because you can park in the mall lot where the YMCA is located and walk 5-minutes to the bridge and trail head. read more

I really enjoyed this hike..It was the perfect weather when I went. Lotta people out, but that was good for a first timer, in the event I got lost. It is a about 5miles or more, didnt know that at first, so be prepared. Its beautiful though, will be going back to do more rugged side, with hills. read more

This place is amazing! A lot of people choose to stay at the entrance to take professional photos which is cool but there is so much more to see! I would head into the trail and when you make it to the go left. You'll start to hear some running water and there you'll see another bridge. Underneath the bridge, there is a running river (depending on the season) there will be a nice flow or it will be a bit dried out. It's a tiny river but still so peaceful and beautiful! If these directions sound confusing, do you and enjoy! Parking is weird because you can park in a small patch of dirt or along side some of the trees. Depending on the day, you could find a spot with no problem. If you don't want to deal with it, you can park across the street near the Edwards movie theater (just be careful crossing the street, cars move very fast in that area) Have fun to whoever is ready this! read more

You cannot get past this bridge w/o annoying, mask-less (during COVID), people doing photoshoots darn near any time you go and they are always talking and doing the most. Also, several people in general do not wear a mask and cannot be courteous enough to just at least put it on while passing someone then they can take it off for goodness sakes - gggrrrr how hard it is to do that considering the explosive #'s we have - I dont care if we are all outdoor, you never know what droplets can travel from someone else and land on you! Once you get pass the bridge, the trails have no real clarity re: where you should go etc., and some of the trails have so many weeds, bushes etc., and are narrow you are concerned because you have to ensure what you might step on ... later as you progress from the initial part I can see some opportunity for a mini-adventure but again, no clarity with where you should go (signage) this is moreso a very nice place for a walk, observe nature (it is a wildlife preserve etc.,) but so far based on my initial trials here - not impressed OH but someone wrote about this place being haunted, I felt no such thing and it looked nothing like the pic they posted w/that comment. read more

Very pretty place to have a nice hike. To be honest I did take a wrong turn at some point and ended on a jeep trail. It was very pretty though. Some obvious pointers but not that obvious for beginner hikers like me, there's no trash cans on the trail, just in the beginning area. There are obviously ticks but that's something I didn't really keep kind mind of; my dog and I got 5 ticks total. It was bad. Anyway, very pretty nature and it's serene. Just keep track of where you're going and stay conscious about insects & ur all good. read more

Sweetwater River Bridge - Hiking Near Me - El Cajon, California

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It's a great place to take pictures. The only bad thing is the the trails are covered with dog pop. It's sad that such a beautiful place is being trashed and destroyed. read more

*HAUNTED AS FUCK AND CREEPY* So today my boyfriend and I both had the day off so I yelped hiking trails nearby to try something new and this Sweetwater River Bridge popped up. We get there and we took photos of the bridge and started on our journey. We weren't even halfway through the bridge and already I felt off. We were laughing because we were thinking it had IT vibes because we had just seen the movie a week ago. We get to the actual trail and it's really narrow and bends a lot where you really can't see more than 10 feet ahead of you. My boyfriend likes straying from trails all the time and he did 5 minutes into this trail and he comes back with nervous eyes and says there's a shoe and boxers just lying on the floor. We both laugh nervously and by this point I felt scared and paranoid like something is watching us. I kept looking around. always a trooper though so he wanted to continue but I turned around and start fast walking to exit the trail. My heart was pounding and I felt really bad vibes. My boyfriend says he feels weird. We get to the bridge and we both start running towards the car. I legit started the car and pulled out of the parking spot so fast. My boyfriend said he's never felt that kind of fear before. I was convinced that this bridge is haunted AF. I googled it and check this fucker out. This hiking trail is #2 on the Top 10 Scariest Trails in San Diego. And there's a description of cryptid humanoid shape on all fours sighted by other hikers. Like fuuuuuuck that shit. We had no idea. It's been 3 hours and I still can't shake off how I felt. I literally have never felt that kind of bad vibes before. It was so scary read more

Sweetwater River Bridge - Hiking Near Me - El Cajon, California

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I love this trail! It's awesome because there are so many trails you can do. Basically it starts off as a head trail (a couple hundred feet after the bridge to your right), then it branches off into Mount Miguel's trail, you can take the loop by going over another bridge (wooden), you can also take this jeep trail that's my favorite to take my dogs because it's wider and isn't near any poison oak. I'm sure there are many more trails because I see different trails when I pass by and one that also is to the left of Steele canyon bridge that goes to water towers I hear is cool too. But a few things I want to make people aware of because I always see tourists and those who don't know a lot of important things with hiking. THERE IS POISON OAK EVERYWHERE. So please be cautious when you see bushes with 3 leaves and look oily and they'll have bumpy sides. There's a trail that takes you to the creek which is great except a couple of them are overgrown with poison oak that people walk right through not noticing. Also, BEWARE OF RATTLESNAKES. Please keep your dog on a leash especially during summer. I just went out the other day and finally saw one. But I hear them rattling all the time. My brother runs these trails everyday and sees a rattlesnake every other day. Another thing is to keep expensive or stuff that is valuable in your trunk because I hear of break ins all the time and glass shards are always on the ground. Please have fun but be cautious. (I didn't get a photo of the rattlesnake but this is what poison oak looks like.) read more

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As a little kid, I'd ride in the bed of my Dads truck and we'd drive across this bridge to go to Puckett's Christmas Tree Farm in Jamul every Xmas. Now I ride across it on my mountain bike to hit the trails and it brings back memories. Beautiful site for wedding/family photos. Just passed a wedding photo shoot today on my bike and congratulated them. read more

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Picturesque. This bridge is so beautiful that it is captured in many family pictures. Weekends can get a little busy with families taking pictures or simply going for a stroll. That being said, watch your step. There are many irresponsible dog owners who do not pick up after their pet. read more

I had a photo shoot here a few weeks ago and it was so beautiful! Nice trees and fields led to a great session with this sweet couple. The bridge also makes for great pictures! read more

Sweetwater River Bridge - Hiking Near Me - El Cajon, California

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Awesome place for photographs. The bridge is great for bringing in some architecture and nearby trails allow for great backdrops to photographs. I'll be heading back here again in the near future. read more

Sweetwater River Bridge - Hiking Near Me - El Cajon, California

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Popular spot for photographers but really more just the starting point for trails by the Sweetwater River. There is a small dirt parking lot available as well as paved street parking - but pat attention to signage. The most popular trail parallels the (south side of) the river and can as far to the reservoir before it is blocked. There are also bridges crossing to a hard packed dirt road on the other side of the river that will bring you back by the water treatment facility on the street just before the bridge parking area. It is possible to access Mt. San Miguel from here but is probably no longer legal or encouraged to do so. read more

Came here to take pictures & ended up walking the trail. It's so soothing & relaxing walking through the mountains. Beautiful area

Careful leaving items in your car ladies! Came back from an 8 mile hike to find my window busted and my purse stolen! Put your valuables in your trunk!!! read more

Sweetwater River Bridge - Hiking Near Me - El Cajon, California

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So pretty, tranquil and flat. There are trails that lead up on the sides of the mountains if you want a challenge, and there are lots of mountain bikers. Great for a family walk and in some spots you can leave your dog loose as it's not super crowded here. A narrow creek with wooden bridge at end makes for pretty pictures. The Steel Bridge is the starting point. If you keep walking West you'll run into sounds and sights of construction, then you realize your back in reality. read more

Beautiful place for pictures.. if only people would stop polluting it with their spray paint and trash. Came during the day and there were quite a few people around hiking the area. Felt relatively safe but I still locked my goods in the trunk. It's obviously that the area is frequented by people up to no good. read more

I don't know what it is about this place but it's alittle creepy to me . Growing up as a teen in the area I heard ghost stories from this infamous bridge down to the bakery in Jamul . I came here with my pup just earlier for a walk, since it's one of the closer trails in my area . It's nice just kind of dirty ..? Hard to explain . I feel like bums live in the bushes . Like I said kind of creepy, luckily the sheriffs station is less than a mile away . Don't get me wrong though when the sun hits the grass it makes for a beautiful country feel . read more

Went here on the way to Julian. Cute bridge with great views! Great for photoshoots. It was cold when we went but I'll definitely be coming back when it's warmer! read more

Best pictures in April and May. All green and smells clean and clear. Recommend for dogs and horses. Good walk through the nature preserve too. read more

Decent hike, lots of flies. Not sure if that has anything to do with the fact that it used to be a solid waste disposal site. The mountains were nice but also didn't like all of the towers on top of them. read more