The View Across This Abandoned Train Bridge Will Make Your Stomach Drop
Sophia
Author
Located in the arid desert of Anza-Borrego and only 15 miles from the Mexican border, the Goat Canyon Trestle is probably the best-known abandoned railroad bridge in California. This marvel of engineering is a haunting reminder of the power of nature. The dramatic railroad bridge, one of the neatest abandoned places near me, has stood vacant for 40 years, but intrepid adventurers can still take in knee-knocking views near this incredible site.
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While this trestle is abandoned and unused, this abandoned railroad bridge in California is still considered railroad property. The railroad and Carrizo Gorge Road are closed to recreational use, patrols are conducted at random, and trespassers can be fined. It is recommended that folks keep a distance of 100 feet from the trestle to avoid any possible citations.
However, this beautiful area is still a popular hiking destination with smaller trestles to explore, interesting tunnels, and many other historical discoveries along the way.
Since we can’t go to the trestle, check out this awesome footage including amazing aerial shots of the bridge. Thanks to YouTube channel “California Through My Lens.”
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More to Explore
Abandoned Places In California
What are some abandoned places in California?
This list of 15 abandoned places in Northern California are being reclaimed by nature. Here are a few highlights.
- TeePee Woodchip burner (Anderson): Teepee or beehive burners were used in the old days, when the logging industry was booming, to get rid of waste wood in logging yards and sawdust by incineration. This one is Anderson is an abandoned remnant of the past.
- Abandoned house (Moss Beach): Sitting along the pretty coast, this little, red house was once full of life. Someone must still own the place. Would they sell it for a cheap price?
- Old bridge (Sacramento River Canyon): This old abandoned bridge is full of character, and a reminder of days gone by. Sitting near the Delta, the curved, metal structure is fodder for our imaginations.
- Gas station and general store: (Old U.S. Highway 99, Castella): If gas pumps could talk, this one would have a lot to say about the train rides across the street. We like the old design of this pump and prefer the style of the vintage cars it once serviced. Nature is taking over this old place and relic from the past.
- 16th Street Train Station (Oakland): Due to the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, this historic Beaux-Arts building stands vacant. Opened in 1912, the building was a Southern Pacific Railroad station designed by the distinguished architect Jarvis Hunt and has not been in service since 1994.
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Historic structures of Point Reyes National Seashore: The Seashore staff has preserved about 300 old structures of which 60 are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Some include barns, farmhouses, radio stations, and lighthouses — all with great stories hidden in their bones. Find out more on the National Park Service website.