Old Bidwell Bar Bridge

Old Bidwell Bar Bridge is a steel suspension bridge spanning 73 meters across Lake Oroville, built from materials transported from Troy, New York. The structure connects both shores with an elegant design and serves as a relic from the Gold Rush era.

This structure was built in December 1855 and was California's first steel suspension bridge of its kind. In 1966, it was relocated to its current site at the lake due to Oroville Dam construction.

The bridge served as a vital crossing for the mining community of Bidwell Bar during California's Gold Rush. It allowed people and goods to move quickly between mining sites and was central to daily life in this extraction region.

Access to the bridge is from the south side of Lake Oroville, where parking and walking paths lead to the structure. The walk across is fairly short and does not require any special preparation.

This is the last remaining suspension bridge from several that were built across the region during the gold mining boom of the 1850s. Its preservation makes it a rare witness to this particular era of engineering development.

Location: Butte County

Length: 73 m

GPS coordinates: 39.53746,-121.45419

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:45