Abandoned Stuff, California, Trip Reports

exploration quikie: Salt creek bridge

One of the usually submerged historic highway bridges in Shasta Lake

The Salt Creek Bridge was built on the Pacific Highway in 1925 between what is now Lakehead and Redding. This bridge apparently replaced one built some years earlier, as the older abutments are visible underneath the newer structure. It was later abandoned in 1941, as US Route 99 (the former Pacific Highway) was rerouted in anticipation of Shasta Lake inundating the older route (as happened in 1948).

In dryer or drought years, the Salt Creek Bridge is one of the first submerged artifacts to make its appearance as the lake level falls. It is easily accessible from the Salt Creek exit on Interstate 5. Take Lower Salt Creek Road west for about 3 miles at which point you will come to the bridge underneath the towering Union Pacific railroad trestle.

My visit to the site got a little more interesting, as I ran into a gentleman making casts of footprints in the muddy bank of creek upstream of the bridge. He believed them to be evidence of Bigfoot-like creatures. I have to say the footprint and casting of others he had made in the area didn’t look quite human. He proceeded to show me dozens of pictures of like footprints he had found at numerous sites, as well as other weird things that apparently Bigfoot hunters believe are evidence of the mythical creature actually existing. I came away from the conversation thinking I might have to make my forays into the area forests with a new viewpoint.

The Salt Creek Bridge underneath the towering Union Pacific railroad trestle. This is looking south, as the Salt Creek Bridge is oriented east-to-west.
The south side of the bridge.
Looking west down the old highway grade. The shadow is from the trestle above.
Looking east.
Another south side view.
Date stamp on the Salt Creek Bridge.
Another south side view looking east. Notice the flared ends of the railing.
Flared railing at the ends.
Footing from a previous bridge on this spot, probably built when the US 99 predecessor Pacific Highway was built. The previous bridge would have probably been only 15 feet wide.
The underside looking towards the east end. The previous bridge footing can be seen in the center.
Since the 1925 bridge was higher than its predecessor, the road approachmentds had to raised. This is the reinforcement of the east approach.
Evidence of Bigfoot?

All in all, the bridge is in great condition. This is likely due to being submerged in the cold waters of Shasta Lake most of the year. If you decide to drive across the span, beware of the approaches, as there are gaps between the bridge and the road.

Heading west along US 99 through the settlement of Salt Creek before the site was inundated by Shasta Lake. Some structures were move elsewhere before inundation.
Eastman, Jervie Henry. (1941). “Salt Creek Bridge” on Highway 99 near Redding, Calif. Retrieved April 2, 2021, from https://digital.ucdavis.edu/collection/eastman/D-051/B-1/B-1367

The Salt Creek Bridge on bridgehunter.com