7 Bridges Hike Through Urban San Diego
One of the most popular hikes in San Diego doesn’t involve climbing mountains or crossing rural roads. It’s a walking tour through some of the city’s nicest, most densely populated neighborhoods with seven bridges as focal points.
I first did this 5-mile loop with friends shortly after it was publicized in the San Diego Reader. We liked it so much we came back to Balboa Park about a year later to do it again, and this time I documented our trip with my GoPro (RIP, dear camera companion). It’s been four years since I made that video, so we were overdue when everyone gathered this morning to start the trek.
IMPORTANT: You can start from anywhere since the course is a loop. However, you are more likely to find free parking if you start and end in Balboa Park.
1. Park Blvd Bridge
No coincidence the hike starts at the bridge spanning Park Blvd. on the east side of Balboa Park. The bridge links gorgeous gardens to lawns by the Natural History Museum. Staff at the Nat created the course. If you arrive early enough, it’s easy to snag free parking in the lot adjacent to the museum off Village Place. If you come later, your best bet for free parking is at the San Diego Zoo lot a block down. Don’t worry: It won’t cost you extra mileage or time since you can finish at that massive lot too.
2. Cabrillo Bridge
Once you cross over the first bridge, you’ll see the Bea Evenson Fountain that anchors The Prado, where you’ll head next into the heart of Balboa Park. The non-profit that oversees the park has for years now pushed for a facelift. Based on the number of places off-limits, it looks like a refurbishment is underway (hooray!) Take in the majesty of the Spanish-Renaissance buildings of mostly museums that line the pedestrian thoroughfare. There’s also a large koi pond set off by the botanical building that appears in many tourism photos. On weekends, that spot and another you’ll see on your left in the distance (The Spreckles Organ) are peppered with photo shoots. This is a popular place for engagement and wedding pictures.
After you pass the newly renamed Museum of Us, you officially arrive at the next bridge that straddles the 163 freeway. Officially the Cabrillo Bridge, it is better known locally as the Laurel Street Bridge. You’ll see part of the downtown skyline and maybe catch airplanes descending toward the nearby airport. There’s lush landscaping all around and you might even spy a large dog park and several popular dirt trails once you reach the other side. Just be sure to bring a friend if you amble down into wooded areas since that part of the park is also known for aggressive itinerants.
3. First Street Bridge
Stay on the straight path to continue down Laurel Street into the residential neighborhood known as Bankers Hill. Buildings here are mixed use, so it’s easy to stop for a hot or cold beverage to take with you as you head downhill and turn right onto First Street, home of the city’s only steel-arched bridge that was manufactured in the Midwest and then brought here to be constructed in 1913. Here you can look down onto the trails of Maple Canyon or off toward the harbor before turning right onto Quince Street and hitting the next bridge where the street appears to dead end.
4. Quince Street Bridge
I worked for four years in Hillcrest, best known for its walkability, restaurants, offbeat shops and embrace of the LGBTQ community. In those days, this bridge was in terrible condition, with plenty of tilted or missing planks, making it impassible to all but daredevils. I think that’s one reason the 7 Bridges Hike took several years to gain popularity; this bridge was dangerous until those planks were fixed in the mid-2010s. Originally built in the early 1900s as a pedestrian connector to a nearby (now abandoned) trolley line, it was designated a historic site in 1987 and updated over two years in the early 1990s. There are several steps on both ends, so be aware of that if you are using a stroller or wheelchair.
5. Spruce Street Bridge
Of the seven bridges, this is the one that gets the most attention. I admit until doing the hike the first time, I never knew there was this short, lovely suspension bridge that brings you to the edge of Mission Hills. It too is a historic landmark, and the span sways as you walk. Depending on the time of day, it may be crowded with other hikers/walkers/neighbors/photographers.
On the other side is Brant Street, hang a right and you’ll basically follow the equivalent of a trail spur, moving through a neighborhood of beautiful custom and historic homes until connecting with Front or First Street (both get you to the same location, eventually). It always feels like a homecoming for me, given I went for daily lunchtime walks in these parts to clear my head. You’re now halfway to your final destination, so if you want a pitstop for breakfast or lunch, there are plenty of options all around. I highly recommend Crest Café on Robinson between Fourth and Third streets. There’s also a Bread & Cie about a block up on University, which is where you’ll head, turning right once you do, to the next bridge. If you want more of a sweet treat for a mid-day sugar rush, the gelato at Chocolat is sublime, as are the cookies at Uncle Biff’s, both near each other on University Ave.
6. Vermont Street Bridge
Tucked just beyond a small shopping area is the sixth bridge that links another section of Hillcrest to University Heights. You get to it by turning left at Vermont Street. High-rise condos and multifamily units give way to tidy Mission and Craftsman bungalows along wide residential streets beyond the span. The bridge itself is lined with aspirational quotes to make you smile as you move over busy Washington Street and soak in the quiet of semi-suburban life. Hang a right onto Lincoln Street, which will take you to a major intersection with Washington. On one corner is one of the best breakfast joints in all of San Diego: The Great Maple Dinette. If you’ve bypassed all other eateries, here’s a great place to head before or immediately after the last bridge on nearby Georgia Street.
7. Georgia Street Bridge
This Romanesque bridge was under construction when I made my video, but it’s again a nice respite from the rush of traffic underneath and introduces you to the non-hipster section of North Park. Continue down Lincoln and cross over Park Blvd, then turn right and you'll run into the small bridge on Georgia Street. It’s nice to see it fully restored since my last trip here; however, it was disheartening to see taggers leaving their mark.
From here you can amble up and down North Park streets that parallel Park Blvd; just be sure you are heading south toward Balboa Park. If you started at the zoo, then you’ll arrive sooner than if you left your car closer to the museum. The Spanish Village Arts Center is a great place to visit after you’ve given yourself a high five and before you head home.
