Foresthill Bridge

The Foresthill Bridge is a bridge in California, United States, linking two communities across the North Fork American River with a span of nearly 900 feet (about 270 meters). The structure was assembled from steel segments built as a cantilever and carries two lanes of traffic with pedestrian walkways on both sides.

The bridge opened in the early seventies to serve the growing population of the Sierra Nevada foothills and replace earlier routes. The fabrication took place in Japan before the segments were shipped to California and assembled on site.

The bridge serves as a central reference point for the local community, with regular photography sessions capturing the surrounding Sierra Nevada foothills landscape.

Pedestrians can experience the crossing on wide pathways protected by tall barriers from both wind and falls. Those sensitive to height should prepare for the view and stay near the center of the walkway if needed.

Below the roadway there is more than 700 feet (over 200 meters) of open space down to the water surface, placing the structure among the tallest bridges in California. Filmmakers have repeatedly used this location for scenes requiring extreme height.

Location: California

Inception: 1973

Official opening: 1973

Height: 2 m

Length: 263 m

GPS coordinates: 38.92240,-121.03900

Latest update: December 17, 2025 08:31