Deep in the arid wilderness of California’s Anza-Borrego Desert, just 15 miles from the Mexican border, stands a structure both awe-inspiring and elusive: the Goat Canyon Trestle. Hidden in a remote canyon, this towering wooden bridge is the world’s largest freestanding wooden trestle. Though abandoned by trains, it beckons adventurers to conquer the unforgiving desert and behold one of engineering’s most remarkable achievements.
The Impossible Railway
The story of Goat Canyon Trestle begins with the creation of the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway, an ambitious project conceived in the early 20th century. Connecting San Diego to Yuma, Arizona, the railway had its fair share of problems. From rockslides to cave-ins, it soon earned the nickname “the impossible railway.” By 1919, it was considered a triumph that the rail line had been completed despite the punishing desert landscape.
In 1932, after yet another tunnel collapse, the engineers decided it was time for a different approach. Rather than burrow through the mountains, they span Goat Canyon with a massive wooden trestle. The bridge was designed to curve gently to withstand the area’s strong winds and fluctuating temperatures. Built entirely without nails, the trestle stands 57 meters tall using sturdy redwood beams and stretches 185 meters across the canyon.
What makes this accomplishment even more extraordinary is that the bridge was constructed to survive the extremes of the desert. Redwood could handle the desert’s constant shifting between hot and cold, unlike metal, which would expand and weaken in the scorching summers and bitter winters.
Hiking to the Trestle – A Brutal but Rewarding Journey
While many structures of its kind have crumbled over time, the Goat Canyon Trestle is remarkably well-preserved. Those who make the grueling hike to reach it are often surprised by how solid and impressive the bridge still appears, as if time has left it untouched. But getting there is a challenging feat.
The journey is half the story for those brave enough to venture into the desert to see the trestle. The six-mile round trip hike, starting near the remnants of the Dos Cabezas train station, must be revised. Even seasoned hikers caution others to take the challenge seriously. With 2,500 feet of elevation gain over steep, rocky terrain, the hike involves scrambling over boulders, navigating narrow ridgelines, and descending treacherous slopes.
There is no shade along the trail, and temperatures often exceed 30°C (86°F) even during cooler months. The trail becomes a dangerous oven in summer, and hikers are discouraged from attempting it in the heat. Proper preparation is essential: a four-wheel drive vehicle must reach the trailhead, and hikers must bring enough water to survive the punishing sun. Without GPS or a map, the path can be easy to lose, adding to the danger of this remote trek.
But for those who reach the trestle, the struggle is worth every bead of sweat. The moment the bridge comes into view, its overwhelming size and scale leave most visitors in awe. It’s a rare sight in an isolated part of the desert—something so grand and intricate standing alone in the vastness of the wilderness.
A Desert Adventure Like No Other
The Goat Canyon Trestle hike isn’t just about reaching a bridge; it’s a full-scale desert adventure. The trail winds through stunning but harsh landscapes. Desert plants, spiky cacti, and strange rock formations dominate the surroundings, giving the hike an otherworldly feel. The silence of the desert is punctuated only by the crunch of boots on sand and stone and the occasional howl of the wind.
The desert surrounding the trestle is not without its mysteries. Local legends speak of strange glowing orbs that workers once saw during the railway construction. There are stories of a mysterious creature, dubbed the Borrego Sandman, rumored to roam the lonely stretches of land near the canyon. While most hikers are too focused on the challenging trail to entertain these tales, the eerie isolation of the place adds a hint of mystery to the adventure.
Exploring the site offers more than just the bridge itself for those who make it to the trestle. An old abandoned train car rusting in the desert sun and the remnants of tunnels collapsed decades ago. Though sturdy, the trestle offers a dizzying view for anyone daring enough to walk across it.
Though the Goat Canyon Trestle remains an incredible feat of engineering, its future remains uncertain. Since 2008, no trains have run over its tracks, and despite occasional efforts to revive the railway, it seems unlikely that the line will ever return to regular use.
