Swinging Bridge - River Views of Yosemite Falls

A stop on Yosemite Valley, a free self-guided tour.

This footbridge over the Merced River has kept its old name even though it no longer swings. Earlier suspension bridges here were battered by floods again and again, and after the flood of 1964 the park replaced them with the sturdy fixed bridge you see now.

Walk out to the middle and look north. Yosemite Falls pours down the cliff above the trees, one of the best full views of it from the valley floor. Below you, the Merced winds slowly past sandy beaches and meadows on its way west.

That calm surface can fool you. Snowmelt keeps the river cold and fast in spring and early summer, and the current has swept visitors away before. Stay off the slippery rocks at the edge, keep kids close, and never jump or dive from the bridge, which is prohibited at all times.

When the water is low in late summer and fall, the beaches here become a favorite place to dip your toes, skip stones and sit with a picnic while the light moves across the cliffs.

Getting here: Head back across El Capitan Bridge and turn left (east) on Southside Drive. Continue about 2 miles to the Swinging Bridge picnic area on your left.

Did you know?: The fixed bridge proved its strength in the January 1997 flood, holding firm while other roads and facilities in the park were damaged or washed away.

Photo op: From the middle of the bridge, frame the Merced River in the foreground with Yosemite Falls rising above the trees.

Nearby: Picnic tables and grills here. Food, water and restrooms are at Yosemite Valley Lodge, a short walk north on the path across the bridge.

More on Wikipedia: Merced River · Yosemite Falls

Swinging Bridge - River Views of Yosemite Falls

Stops on this tour