Swinging Bridge, also known as Swinging Bridge Picnic Area, is a scenic spot in

Yosemite National Park Yosemite National Park ( ) is a List of national parks of the United States, national park of the United States in California. It is bordered on the southeast by Sierra National Forest and on the northwest by Stanislaus National Forest. The p ...

. It offers a view of

Yosemite Falls Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in Yosemite National Park, dropping a total of from the top of the upper fall to the base of the lower fall. Located in the Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra Nevada of California, it is a major attraction in t ...

and the

Merced River The Merced River (), in the central part of the U.S. state of California, is a -long tributary of the San Joaquin River flowing from the Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra Nevada into the San Joaquin Valley. It is most well known for its swift and st ...

Description

Contrary to its name, the bridge itself does not swing. The original bridge was replaced with a fixed bridge after it was damaged by a flood in 1964. Severe flooding in 2018 caused debris such as trees and mattresses to stick to the sides of the bridge. The land in the area resembles that of a beach. The area on both sides of the bridge has mostly shallow water with a few areas from to deep.

Safety

Although official policy does not allow visitors to jump off the bridge, this is sometimes disregarded. Visitors are encouraged to shout at bears to scare them away.

References

Buildings and structures in Yosemite National Park Bridges in Mariposa County, California {{Yosemite-stub