Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge

Cold Spring Arch Bridge from Stagecoach Road Chuck Abbe (Creative Commons)

Overlooking a canyon in the Santa Ynez Mountains, the Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge carries motorists up to 400 feet above the canyon floor. The bridge is on a stretch of State Route 154 and, in addition to its impressive height, also boasts the title of being California’s largest steel arch bridge.

Completed in 1964 and representing a massive feat of engineering, the bridge has earned a designation as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. A plaque recognizing this honor can be viewed along the side of Stagecoach Road below the bridge.

Looking over the sides of the bridge, motorists are greeted by sweeping panoramic views of the mountains all around and the valley below through a tall mesh fence barrier added in 2012 as an additional safety precaution. For a view of the bridge itself, a drive along Stagecoach Road offers views from many different angles with several designated areas to pull over for photo ops.

Know Before You Go

The bridge is located along a stretch of State Route 154 connecting Santa Barbara, California with Santa Ynez, California across the Santa Ynez Mountains.

To get a view of the bridge itself, drivers on State Route 154 can exit onto Stagecoach Road. Along the way, there are opportunities to see the bridge from below and from various angles, as well as multiple locations to pull over to take photos or admire the view.