Two hundred canyons and hills separate the mesas of San Diego, its geography making the use of bridges inevitable. Within the architectural menagerie there are a few select bridges just for the special use of pedestrians, connecting neighborhoods once isolated by natural boundaries, and adding a bit of adventure to your day.
+Quince Street Trestle is an expansive whitewashed wooden bridge built in 1905.
It crosses a deep natural canyon to connect the Bankers Hill and Hillcrest neighborhoods.
A stunning bridge to simply walk and snap photos of, but what makes this place even greater is the option to partake in an urban hike that starts right beside it. The Maple Canyon Trail is a linear path, when taken point-to-point is two miles roundtrip.
Start by descending in to the canyon, losing 200 feet of elevation quickly, at some points slippery.
Find a whole new view of the wooden framework from down here, before bottoming out at the canyon floor.
Continue through the towering eucalyptus trees on a comfortable and now flat path.
A sunshine-y second bridge appears, and although not pedestrian, it is picturesque.
Built in 1931, the First Ave. bridge is the only steel-arch structure of its kind in San Diego.
+Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge in the heart of downtown, you’ve probably noticed this snazzy structure while driving to the big sights.
But how do you get to it, if you aren’t staying right in the neighborhood? Parking could be a nightmare down here, if you didn’t know this great tip. The Hilton at One Park Boulevard offers 15 minutes of free parking, just enough time for you to run over to the bridge.
It’s amazing that a city would create something so modern and costly ($26.8 million) simply for walkers to cross the busy road…however, six lanes of traffic, a rail yard, and trolley tracks could deter a few people – but not since 2011. The bridge spans 550 feet making it a record holder, the longest self-anchored pedestrian bridge on the planet, supported by a 130’ tall pylon.
The view from the center of the bridge gives a unique skyline scene and connects the Gaslamp Quarter to the Harborfront.
PS it’s accessible, you can reach the bridge by both stairs and elevators.
+Spruce Street Suspension Bridge is a charming secret squirreled away in a residential neighborhood. Built in 1912 seventy feet above the lush Kate Sessions Canyon, named for the horticulturist who planted its flora below.
The bridge spans 375 feet and on a windy day it has a gentle sway, being held up by cables.
It only takes a few minutes to experience this hidden gem, but you can extend your time here by taking a short hike to the bottom of the canyon.
+Crab Carillon Musical Bridge – Disclaimer! This bridge isn’t entirely pedestrian, but there is a barrier in place to protect pedestrians from vehicular traffic. 
Observant walkers might just notice that the barrier looks like a big xylophone of sorts, and they’d be right…but most people would just keep walking.
A tiny plaque reads the instructions: To play, ring chimes while walking, so come equipped with a stick, or anything you can find in your accommodation, to make some music!
This song, called the Crab Carillon, was composed just for this interactive piece and is a palindrome – playing the same way in either direction.
So glad you enjoyed the bridges!
This was a great way for us to explore San Diego. Thank you.