KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK – A key bridge along the John Muir/Pacific Crest Trail in Kings Canyon National Park has been replaced after being destroyed by record-breaking snowfall in the winter of 2022-2023.
Work to rebuild the bridge wasn’t easy. All materials for the 69-foot San Joaquin Bridge had to be flown in via helicopter or hauled by mule, among other challenges including a short building season and its remote location.
“This vital crossing…served as the primary passage for thousands of hikers and horseback riders,” said the National Park Service. “Its loss forced hikers to take dangerous, long-distance detours through rugged terrain.”
The new bridge was completed in September of 2024 at a cost of $1.25 million.
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