New Bridge Built on Fallen Redwood Tree in Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park

What happens when a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it? Sometimes it just lucks out and lands perfectly. This is a tale of a tree that found a purpose in its new position.  

In 2017, storms knocked a redwood tree down across the watershed in Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park. Once the fallen tree was discovered by park staff, they envisioned turning it into a bridge across the creek, and eventually their vision was made into a reality.

The tree was cut and stabilized by park staff in 2018 in anticipation of creating a bridge crossing. With input from the Park District's stewardship and design/construction staff, the project was moved through the required permitting and design process. Finally, with funding provided by the Park District's general fund, the District's Small Trails Crew - experienced trail and bridge builders in remote locations - along with assistance from Reinhardt Redwood park rangers and CiviCorps crew members, set to work. Construction began in September 2024 and took approximately 30 days to complete. The bridge was completed and accessible to the public in early November, 2024.

Fun facts about the project:

• The redwood tree is still alive! A “tree sucker”, a growth of a new tree coming from the root ball, is sprouting and is approximately 10 feet tall. It is genetically the same tree, and will continue to grow in place as long as it is safe for the public.
• The northern approach of the bridge is cut through the live root ball of the tree.
• Much of the bridge material was sourced from the park. In particular, the tread boards for the bridge are recycled from old picnic tables and bench boards from the park, with some boards still bearing signs of graffiti carved in them long ago. 

The bridge is located in the western side of the park on Tres Sendas Trail between the junctions of Star Flower/Tres Sendas and Tres Sendas/Stream, approximately .04 miles from Stream Trail. 

Trail access to the bridge (one-way mileage):
The access is steep from the western side of the park and Skyline Gate, with an elevation gain/loss of over 400 feet in one mile.
From Skyline Gate Staging along Stream Trail, the bridge is approximately one mile.
From Skyline Gate to West Ridge Trail, French Trail, and Tres Sendas, it is approximately 1.4 miles.
From Waterloo Gate to Tres Sendas Trail, it is approximately 0.7 miles.
From the eastern end of the park, Stream Trail provides a more gentle slope, but longer access, from Canyon Meadow Staging Area, approximately two miles with an elevation gain/loss of approximately 300 feet.