Take a Hike! To the Sacramento River Trail
By Nick Thomas
Despite its name, the 17-mile Sacramento River Trail isn’t tied to California’s state capital but to a section of the 400-mile river that winds through Redding. However, don’t panic. If your knees are protesting at the thought of attempting this long trek, you can still enjoy the popular path’s highlights via a much shorter ‘walk & drive’ combo that includes stops at three amazing bridges that span the Sacramento River.
Begin the adventure at the South Trailhead, located by the parking lot off Benton Drive. Before setting out, a short stroll down to the river will reveal the historic Diestelhorst Bridge. With its sweeping curved support arches, the century-old bridge now serves as a striking pedestrian walkway and runs parallel to the more recent Lake Redding Bridge for traffic. You can also admire the 110-foot-high Union Pacific Redding Trestle as well as a fenced community garden, although access to the latter is only available to registered users.
After exploring, return to the parking area where the paved trail follows the river for several miles. Of course, you can hike all the way to Keswick Dam, but to appreciate the swift flowing river just walk about a half mile from the carpark to a small restroom and return.
The second phase involves a brief drive to Turtle Bay, east of the Diestelhorst Bridge, and home to the breathtaking 700-foot Sundial Bridge. Although not entirely transparent, the translucent glass paneled path across the pedestrian bridge provides an eerie view of the river beneath. At the bridge’s north end stands the world’s largest functioning sundial which, on a sunny day, can measure the time from 11 am to 3 pm (although I think it was running a little fast during our visit!).
The bridge also links the north and south sections of Turtle Bay Exploration Park, worth exploring for its gardens, playgrounds, museum, and refreshments. The paved trail continues winding through the park, offering a scenic setting to walk and burn off some calories should you indulge in an exotic coffee, smoothie, or mimosa at the Branch House Riverfront Bistro.
The final stage of the trail is a 6-mile drive to Keswick Dam, west of the Diestelhorst Bridge. There’s a parking lot with a small restroom opposite the dam off Keswick Dam Road. From there, a paved path to the right leads about half a mile to the red-railed Sacramento River Trail Bridge. It’s a beautiful walk, with the Sacramento River flowing on your left, the dam behind you and, to your right, rolling hills speckled with wildflowers and shrubs. The path is also popular with cyclists, so be sure to watch for them.
Also known as a Stress Ribbon Bridge, the 13-foot-wide concrete structure is 418 feet long and supported by 236 steel cables inside the bridge deck – the first of its kind in North America and formally opened in 1990. Just a few steps passed the bridge is the Infinite Journey concrete sculpture that, according to its black and gold plaque, “evokes a Mӧbius, a … never-ending path (that) resonates with the cycles of nature on the Sacramento River Trail.”
Whatever order you tackle the trail sections, the three iconic but very different bridges beautifully connect nature while conveying humanity across the Sacramento River, making the trail an unforgettable journey.
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Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery in Alabama and has written features, columns, and interviews for many newspapers and magazines. His book, “Raised by the Stars: Interviews with 29 Children of Hollywood Actors,” featured a lengthy interview with June Lockhart talking about her father.
See www.getnickt.org.
