MBOSC Trail Crew Completes Pogonip Creek Nature Loop Bridge

Photos by Bruce Dorman

When you picture our Trail Crew, you probably imagine them digging in new bench cuts, repairing berms, or brushing trails to perfection. What about milling lumber from a fallen redwood tree to construct a bridge? Well guess what, they do that too!

The MBOSC Trail Crew recently built a brand new bridge on the Pogonip Creek Nature Loop Trail. The existing bridge was very old and rotting from the inside out, so it was starting to become a hazard to trail users.

MBOSC was tasked with replacing this bridge, and in its place is a beautiful new bridge built with local redwood timber. This project was funded by the City of Santa Cruz with grant funding allocated to improve the Pogonip Creek Nature Loop, a hiking trail in the City’s Pogonip Open Space Preserve.

The project began in mid-June, and over the course of the last few weeks, our Trail Crew partnered with numerous volunteers, Parks and Recreation staff and the City of Santa Cruz’s Summer Youth Trails Program on construction of this project. The bridge is large and composed of two 26-foot spans that meet together in the middle. Support for the bridge is provided by four 680-pound abutments that are buried into the ground providing a solid foundation. The wood needed for these abutments could have cost thousands of dollars, but the team instead was able to mill the lumber out of a fallen redwood that was partially blocking the trail. The lumber was milled onsite using an Alaskan chainsaw mill provided by one of our volunteers.

The decking and railings were supplied by Big Creek Lumber our local experts in sustainable and locally harvested redwood lumber. Construction also included six Alaskan Cedar laminate stringers for support. All of this comes together to mean that the bridge is strong and will last a very long time.

In addition to its strength, the bridge is also stunning. The clean, simple design fits beautifully in the surrounding natural landscape. In the center of the bridge, you’ll find a bench where you can take a quick break and appreciate these surroundings.

You’ll also find a new bench just off to the side of the bridge, which was built out of the remaining pieces of the fallen redwood that was used to mill the abutment lumbar.

We hope you’ll find time soon to enjoy Pogonip Creek Nature Loop and see this great new bridge!