Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States California Santa Barbara Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge
AO Edited

Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge

California's largest steel arch bridge.

Santa Barbara, California

Added By
pavlovs dog
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Cold Spring Arch Bridge from Stagecoach Road   Chuck Abbe
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
Under the bridge   Avoiding Regret
Cold Spring Arch Bridge   Dreamyshade
  Avoiding Regret
Cold Spring Arch Bridge   Ken Figlioli
Old Stagecoach Route historical marker   Avoiding Regret
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

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.

Related Tags

Nature Architecture Bridges

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.

Community Contributors

Added By

pavlovs dog

Edited By

Avoiding Regret, jonathancarey, joeypesto

  • Avoiding Regret
  • jonathancarey
  • joeypesto

Published

May 25, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge
State Route 154,
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
United States
34.525962, -119.834372
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Cold Spring Tavern

Santa Barbara, California

miles away

Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park

Santa Barbara, California

miles away

AlloSphere

Isla Vista, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara

California

Places 12
Stories 4

Nearby Places

Cold Spring Tavern

Santa Barbara, California

miles away

Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park

Santa Barbara, California

miles away

AlloSphere

Isla Vista, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara

California

Places 12
Stories 4

Related Places

  • The Garbh Allt Falls Footbridge.

    Ballater, Scotland

    Garbh Allt Falls Bridge

    More than a century old, this cast iron bridge on the Balmoral Estate leads to nowhere.

  • Telgárt, Slovakia

    Chmarošský Viaduct

    A gorgeous stone viaduct crosses over a bucolic valley.

  • Martorell, Spain

    Pont del Diable

    A gravity-defying "devil's bridge" that has a surprising architectural feature for its stability.

  • West Virginia’s New River Gorge Bridge is the longest steel bridge in the Western Hemisphere.

    Lansing, West Virginia

    Bridge Walk

    In West Virginia, you can walk across the longest single-arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere.

    Sponsored by West Virginia Department of Tourism
  • Pause to admire Jože Plečnik’s masterpiece.

    Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Triple Bridge

    Inspired by the Rialto Bridge in Venice, these three clustered bridges were just one part of a Slovenian architect’s grand vision.

  • Conwy Suspension Bridge

    Conwy, Wales

    Conwy Suspension Bridge

    One of the oldest suspension bridges in the world blends in perfectly with a medieval castle.

  • The Gilahina Trestle

    Chitina, Alaska

    The Gilahina Trestle

    In the middle of the Alaskan wilderness, lies a train trestle to nowhere.

  • Vigo Bridge

    Chioggia, Italy

    Vigo Bridge

    A bridge to rival those in nearby Venice but without the crowds.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.