The 1892 Felton Covered Bridge is a covered bridge over the San Lorenzo River in Felton, Santa Cruz County, California. The bridge employs a Brown truss structural system and is 163 feet long. For forty-six years, the Felton Covered Bridge was the main wagon bridge for the transport of freight between the San Lorenzo Valley and the outside world. Standing thirty-five feet tall, Felton Bridge is considered to be the tallest covered bridge in the United States and was the main entry point for the town of Felton for 45 years. In 1937, it was retired from active service to become a pedestrian bridge and figured prominently in many films of that period.

In 1938, the bridge was destined for destruction and replacement by a new iron structure. The citizens of Felton protested in support of its preservation, and the bridge was saved. The iron structure was placed farther down the San Lorenzo River, and the Felton bridge was retired from use. This action is said to be the first Western example of preserving bypassed bridges. Although this was common in the East, the preservation of the Felton Bridge was a precedent for the Western United States.

Felton Bridge was severely damaged during the 1955 floods, and in 1956, the County spent $2000 on repairs. In 1960, Felton’s volunteer firemen, through an agreement with the County, made the restoration of the bridge their project, with Fire Chief Ted Toft leading the effort. They hoped that the County would agree to “establish a small park on the land with a picnic area and restrooms.” It was Toft’s idea to hold annual bridge breakfasts to raise the necessary funds for the restoration, and in 1960, $800 was raised and used to refloor the bridge. In later years, the “Race Through the Redwoods” and an arts and crafts festival helped raise funds for the bridge. The fund-raising breakfasts ended after the devastating storms of 1982. Although revived in 1989, funds from the breakfast would now benefit town improvements in general. Between 1982 and 1987, the County undertook a $750,000 phased renovation of the bridge.

The bridge is no longer used as a roadway, but is accessible to pedestrians visiting the Felton Covered Bridge Park.

Felton Bridge became a California Historical Landmark in 1957 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Located at:  N37 03.049   W122 04.256       -       WGCB #05-44-02

Photographed in May of 2025

Photos by Millard Farmer