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    Felton Covered Bridge County Park

    3.9 (42 reviews)

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    Reviews With Photos - Felton Covered Bridge County Park

    David F.

    We had just been to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and were cutting through Felton on our way back to the freeway and the Eastbay. Stopped at a red light, we saw a small sign about a Felton covered bridge. Really? A covered bridge here? OK, we had to investigate... The Felton Covered Bridge Park was just down the street. We parked, didn't see any bridge immediately, got out and took a short walk through the park. There's a nice grassy play area, and a playground for kids that was well populated this Sunday afternoon. Earlier reviews mentioned this as a homeless hang out but there were no homeless today. We quickly spotted the bridge at the far end of the park and went to take a look. The covered bridge is quite impressive. Super tall, all built of very solid wood beams. It's a pedestrian bridge now, so we walked through it, our footsteps echoing while we admired the unique architecture. We exited on the other side and there found a plaque detailing the history of the bridge. Amazingly, this is considered the tallest covered bridge in America! It's also on the list of National Historic Places and is a California Historic Landmark. The original bridge was built in 1892 and restored in the 80s after damage by a devastating storm. What I couldn't figure out: why a covered bridge? Especially here? Covered bridges are needed to protect from excessive snow build up that could risk a collapse. Probably not a problem in Felton...

    Very tall covered bridge
    Lawrence M.

    We were in Felton early Sunday after watching the sunrise from Mt Hermon, and we drove by the covered bridge park. Now we've been past here many times on the way to Roaring Camp when the kids were train crazy. But this park was always so crowded. Despite our interest in historical landmarks, we never made it to see this bridge. Today, however, the park was empty. The bridge was empty. The playground and parking lot were emtpy. Perfect opportunity to stop by, enjoy our coffee and pastries from the White Raven, and check out the historical markers. We were not disappointed. The first thing you notice is the size. This is a tall covered bridge, one of the tallest in the country when it was built, in 1892. Tall enough for the steam engines carrying loads of lumber. You can see the walking path in line with the bridge where the tracks must have been, linking up with the main road. Very impressive. Unfortunately, after it was retired in the 1930s, it was almost wrecked in the 1980s, so everything you see now is a restoration. Its kind of good and bad. You can see what it was like when it was built without having to worry about stepping on rotting planks. And they now take pretty good care of it. It still looks new after 30 years of retrofit.

    Natalie M.

    Friendly looking bridge! It's underwhelming lol but there's a cute park nearby where you can picnic and eat. This is pretty cool that it's the highest covered bridge in the country. Felton is a cool town. I recommend grabbing a burger nearby and eating it here (that's what I did). Clean area! And it's pretty tranquil. I can see why this is a hangout spot for some folks but I was there earlier in the day.

    Sunil R.

    What an incredible spot! Did you know that this is considered to be the tallest covered bridge in the United States? It was built in 1892 and restored in the late 80s. Saw some folks walking their dogs and some were working out and they were all super friendly. Check it out!

    The Bridge I Previously Spoke Of
    Willy R.

    I like this bridge. It allows you to look at it and walk on it (and if you'd like to take a photo - that is allowed too). On a sunny day, the cover provides a good shade. If you accidently fell down, you might stop to think how many other travelers have taken that same fall (mostly before sneakers, am I Right?). Many drawings of this bridge depict an evil being just being evil. The devil perhaps? Though I do not believe in the devil, the drawings can make you quite scared if, like me, you have anxiety. I'm not afraid of everything. I am afraid of dying. And everything can kill you. And letting someone see all of the places I have checked in can be a road map to my death, if you were following me. Thank you

    Harold S.

    This is an interesting place to visit if you happen to be in the area. It's not far from the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, so it's good to stop here for a short while if that's where you are headed. You will probably not stay here very long, unless you have children that want to just play in the park. The bridge is located inside a very small county park. There should be ample free parking right next to the bridge. This bridge is definitely worth seeing as it's one of the very few remaining covered bridges in California. You can walk up onto it, but it is closed to cars. It would have been nice if they had some kind of sign telling you a little more about the history of bridge. Perhaps that was there, but I did not see one. You can find some historical information, however, if you simply go online.

    John D.

    "I'm just trying to find the bridge... Has anybody seen the bridge?" -- Led Zeppelin "The Crunge" Covered Bridge Park (CBP) is a ±7-acre that was built around the historically significant Felton Covered Bridge (FCB). The park doesn't have a lot of amenities, but it (like much of the Santa Cruz area) does have a rather bad Local Outdoor Enthusiast (LOE) issue. The surrounding area is rife with them, and you can tell that there's all sorts of other shady nonsense happening around you. The reviewers that think there isn't a problem, are obviously not paying attention. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, here's what the CBP has to offer: -Adequate Playground, and Tot Lot -Sand Volleyball court -×2 Port-O-Potties, that are fairly clean, but not very well-stocked. -Picnic tables -Decent-sized grassy field -I didn't see any BBQ pits, but the Santa Cruz County Parks website says that it's OK to Q it up; I guess it's a BYOB type of situation. -Fishing in the San Lorenzo River is allowed, with proper licensing. -No street parking, but there's a parking lot with thirty-two spots available. -The awesome FCB is the real and only reason that anybody should come here. The FCB was built in 1892-93 and is believed to be the tallest covered bridge in the country--at a whopping 35'. For 45 years it was the lone entry point into and out of Felton, before it was "retired" in 1937. It's a CA Historical Landmark, and listed on the National Register of Historic places. It's a wonderful piece of architecture, and should be admired. If you take this park on it's face with just the available facilities, and factor in the LOE issue then you're probably looking at a 1-2 star park. However, the coolness and "must-see" factor of the FCB throws a monkey wrench into that. So, using my gozintas, 1.5 plus 5....carry the one....divide by six.....oh, screw it--3-stars! Now, to quote the the Godfather of Soul, James Brown: "Take 'em to the Bridge!"

    The swing on the left is the "couch swing."
    Kristine D.

    Located practically next door to Roaring Camp Railroads, we've made a habit of stopping here on our way home from Day Out With Thomas to unwind and get any last bursts of energy out before driving home. Named for the wooden covered bridge which provides an amazing and unusual backdrop for the place, this bridge was once Felton's only road link with Santa Cruz. It remained in use until the 1930's when a concrete span was built to carry Graham Hill road across the San Lorenzo River. Today the bridge is the biggest curiousity in the Covered Bridge Park. My kids enjoyed chasing each other around in it and experimenting with the structure's "echo factor." Other amenities in the park include a cool playground complete with a rock climbing mountain, swings (including what my daughter deemed the "couch swing) and a play structure that had a bridge, big and small slides and a sort of zip line across it. There are plenty of picnic tables as well as lots of space to spread a blanket out on the grass and enjoy.

    Vaishali J.

    Saw this on a road side attractions website and decided why not make a quick stop here on the way to Santa Cruz. It is worth it! Free parking which is great and around 3 minutes after the exit from the highway. Very easy to find the place. I don't know what kind of air I have been breathing but the air in Felton is FRESH! It was a little chilly. The park is nothing too special. There were a few pathways or trails in the park and seemed to be popular to locals with dogs and kids. A small creek was located to the left side. The playground right by the parking lot seemed like a hit. Some homeless people and some random people were walking through the park or hanging around the park at 9 in the morning! Now the main attraction is the bridge within the park. The bridge is 80 feet long and has been restored back in the 80's. It is amazing that this bridge was the entry point to Felton! Some neat details can be found in the bridge when you look up. Overall, it is Worth a quick stop because of the bridge not for the park itself. However, don't see how people can spend more than a hour here really. I missed out on the area with horses!! Had no idea there were horses there.

    Paul S.

    A really cute park, as evidenced by this the fourth 5-star review for the place. The lawn is so big and expansive, I would love to play some flag football out there with some friends. There is also a sand volleyball court, a nice playground, decent parking, and some picnic tables which my wife and I took advantage of after a long day. The bridge itself is awesome in the truest sense of the word. It inspires awe. Massive structure, and historic to boot. Worth the drive for sure.

    Pennie L.

    This is a beautiful park, they have a nice outdoor play area for the kids and the bridge was cool to walk through. I say this is somewhere to get some cool pictures, not a must see but cool. They only downside would be that there seemed to be a lot of Homeless in this area.

    Early morning walk at the park, the fog still lingering above the tree lines

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    So disappointed! Homeless hanging out on the bridge and around it. We couldn't even see or go on to the bridge. Not a safe place!

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    Way to many creepy jruges for me to go there but great ol bridge and playground. There great space to have picnic

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    Ask the Community - Felton Covered Bridge County Park

    Review Highlights - Felton Covered Bridge County Park

    An absolutely beautiful place to go, the Covered Bridge Park is a great place to hang out amongst the wooded mountains of Felton.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    Fall Creek - Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

    Fall Creek - Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

    4.6
    (97 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    This checked all my boxes for a great hike: woodsy, water, scenic, peaceful, moderate, posted…read moresigns, and free parking was a bonus. We arrived around 10:15 am on a Thursday, and there were still a few parking spots in their smallish parking lot. I'm sure you'd have to come much earlier on the weekend. There's a map of the various trails. We decided to do a loop of: Fall Creek - S-cape - Ridge trail - back to parking lot. The Fall Creek section was very easy, and you're walking along the creek with a few small waterfalls to admire. A couple of times you cross over the creek, but there are planks to walk on. I couldn't stop taking pictures during this section. There's a bit of elevation when you get to the Ridge trail section, but nothing too bad. The only thing to be cautious of is the abundance of poison oak. There are some narrow paths where the poison oak was spilling over from both sides of the path. TIP: wear long pants. This is a hike that I'd come back to.

    #641 #1/25 A very…read moreBeLated review of '23 summer hike... til next visit to a Lusher forest :) Started from Big Ben near Bonny Doon airport to Fall Creek and return. Climb Dry rebirth after the fire Me n this Forest Scenery is an old growth forest with little ground cover other than Redwood sorrels after the fire. Entirely canopied, easy and well kept but a steep trail. Heard owls at the top near Big Ben, a squirrel, few birds and some grasshoppers. Otherwise pretty quiet. Fall Creek had steady water flowing and a tiny waterfall at the time of my visit. Pups are NOT allowed here. Less visited old growth forest as the trail is continuous elevation down to Fall Creek and back up to Big Ben. A couple of crossing to HC Lime Kilns where the lime was used to rebuild SFO post 1906 earthquake and to Lost Empire. Signals were virtually nonexistent and the BBT is NOT marked! I took pictures of the Trail descriptions and maps prior to and that was helpful. Go with someone who is familiar with these trails or download descriptions and good trail mapS. Felton Empire Rd runs through it. There is NO parking lot or any signs to per se. Once you find the trail, you can park on the shoulder. Pro tip: It's MUCH easier to find and start from Bennet Creek to Fall Creek Trailhead as there is a parking lot off Felton Road. About 3 to 8.4 miles hike depending on the trails (partial loop) you choose with little to ~1500 ft elevation if you hike to Big Ben and entire loop (8.4 miles). Recommend water, protein bars and comfortable shoes.

    Photos
    8/23 BBT - dry dusty wide trail
    8/23 BBT - dry dusty wide trail
    8/23 about 7 feet in diameter & could not see the top
    8/23 about 7 feet in diameter & could not see the top
    Carlos and Bear at Fall Creek

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    Carlos and Bear at Fall Creek
    Garden Of Eden - Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

    Garden Of Eden - Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

    2.6
    (90 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    I spent a Saturday afternoon hiking at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, getting lost in the forest…read moreamong the massive towering trees, and running along the dirt-covered train tracks. Don't worry, I wasn't being chased by a train, I purposely came there to run (note, there are "no trespassing" signs, so you venture along the train tracks at your own risk). Following the tracks, you'll see below, parallel to it, the river that turns into the Garden of Eden lagoon. Peaceful, isolated, with no other visitors in sight while I was there this past weekend, the whole area was pristine and picturesque (no pesky college kids or trash laying around as other reviewers have described... but maybe that's cuz it's October). Just a flowing river forming tiny waterfalls over the giant rocks in the water. A hidden oasis and sandy shore in the middle of the forest! There's a bit of climbing needed to get to and from the swimming hole, but it's not too steep and totally worth the trek. The best place to park is Henry Cowell "Ox Parking Lot" off Highway 9 (it looks like a turnout area along the highway and can easily be missed). Don't google map "Garden of Eden", it will lead to the middle of the forest, and there is no vehicle access. The Garden of Eden is gorgeous, and feels like stepping inside a Thomas Kinkade painting. Will definitely be back.

    I used to come here 50 yrs when it wasn't many people there, only locals and you could really relax…read moreand breathe in the tree air. It's a gravelly walk so DO NOT BRING CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 6 at least. It's not Disneyland! Even the JrHigh to Highschoolers were acting overly careless. I went there the other day and it was a moronic madhouse. You used to go there to be in lovely nature and the smell of the trees. Now It was overrun with kids from god knows where with aftershave and perfume on. I think a bunch of university students and tourists saw it now on social media unfortunately. Some were spraying awful smelling spray on sunscreen, many acting as if they were at a waterpark as if the rocks were really made of rubber. Reports of accidents, weeding out stupid but maybe someone was an innocent bystander accidentally pushed by stupid. It was NOT FOR KIDS! Selfish entitled parents bringing their children tired, whiney and crying! (Don't make excuses) ruining for everyone else. There was even a stroller parked nearby. No bathrooms for kids or anyone else so that can't be good for the environment. you need to be somewhat fit ! I've seen so many lovely places closed to the public because it got ruined by the public. So help make it nice again, don't wear anything perfumey, wear unscented deodorant only. NO SUNSCREEN. wear a hat and tshirt. Don't bring kids unless they are older and well behaved. Thank you and you will thank yourselves.

    Photos
    Trail
    Trail
    Walk to the river
    Walk to the river
    Train tracks

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    Train tracks

    Felton Covered Bridge County Park - parks - Updated August 2026

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