The phrase, “this place is in the middle of nowhere,” is probably overused, and often exaggerated for effect. The Bridge To Nowhere might be an exception. The John Seals Bridge was completed in 1936 and was part of a roadway meant to connect the San Gabriel Valley with Wrightwood. In 1938 a major flood wiped out the road, but the bridge remains. It is now privately leased and operated by Bungee America.

The trail to the bridge is a popular hiking route, forcing you to cross the East Fork of the San Gabriel River several times. I was pleasantly surprised by this hike and the crystal clear mountain water so close to Los Angeles. At the bridge itself, there are large pools of water to swim in and ample places to watch the jumpers from below.

That’s my 17-year-old son, Noah, taking his second jump of the day, backward. His first jump was “Superman” style and the crew suggested he take a different approach on his second jump. He liked the second one best, which is a popular opinion. The video certainly indicates this might be the way to go.

I can say this for certain. We’ll be back. If not for the bungee jumping, for the hike itself. It’s almost five miles to the bridge, so it makes for a long trek, and it’s 90 minutes from our house. It’s worth it.