Red Rock Bridge

Red Rock Bridge spans the Colorado River near Topock with a steel cantilever through-truss design that was advanced for its time. The structure measures roughly 300 meters across the water and rises about 40 feet above the river surface.

Construction of this bridge began in 1890 to replace an earlier wooden crossing that suffered repeated flood damage during spring runoff. The crossing initially served rail traffic before being adapted for other purposes in subsequent decades.

The bridge appeared in the opening sequence of the 1969 film Easy Rider, gaining recognition through this cinematic moment. This appearance connected the location to American road culture and countercultural history in the public imagination.

The bridge is no longer in active use, so visitors should plan to view it as a historical structure from outside observation points. Early morning or late afternoon light tends to highlight the steel framework and details more effectively for photography.

The entire steel structure was assembled in less than three months, a rapid pace that reflected confidence in modern engineering methods of that era. This speed of construction stood out as a notable achievement for the time period.

GPS coordinates: 34.71817,-114.48767

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:04