Full Suspension Ahead

Hike to Angkula Seo Suspension Bridge near Nevada City

Angkula Seo Suspension Bridge Nisenan Tribute Site Nevada City

Fall colors, a beautiful suspension bridge, and an interesting history comprise this easy 2-mile loop through the Nisenan Tribute Site located just outside of Nevada City. The site is part of Nevada City’s Deer Creek Tribute Trail System and includes the Angkula Seo Suspension Bridge.

Access the trailhead directly from Nevada City (see Tip below). Or start at the Nisenan Tribute Site trailhead and take the Deer Creek Access Trail, crossing the road at one point and coming to the first historical marker. It has information on the contributions of native Nisenan and Chinese people to the history of the area. Next, hike through a forest currently filled with autumn colors, and to Angkula Seo Suspension Bridge. Built by the Forest Trails Alliance and Seattle Bridge Company, the bridge is 150 feet long over Deer Creek.

Angkula Seo Suspension Bridge Nisenan Tribute Site Nevada City

After crossing the bridge (and getting all the photos!), follow the Deer Creek Trail along the canyonside through mixed forest with everchanging views of the canyon. As you approach an access road, take a hard left to remain on the trail, which dips back into the forest. Pass a few more signs providing information on the area’s history. The final turn before returning to the suspension bridge is marked by a historical marker titled “California’s Indigenous Diversity.” Head back across the bridge and out of the canyon to complete the hike. 

Angkula Seo Suspension Bridge Nisenan Tribute Site Nevada City

TIP: Hike Right from Town: From the Miner’s Foundry on Spring Street in downtown Nevada City, head west onto Factory Street. The road will soon curve to the left, the pavement will end, and you will be on a one-lane dirt road (Wyoming Street) that parallels Deer Creek. In about 0.3 mile, the dirt road will come out onto the pavement of Old Downieville Highway, which you can follow another 0.3 mile to where Champion Mine Road goes down to your left. The Nisenan Tribute Site trailhead will be on your left. 

Parking can be tight right next to the trailhead but additional parking can be found further down Champion Mine Rd. No water or restrooms are available along the trail. Dog-friendly (Rocco approved)!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  3. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  4. Roaring Good Time

    There’s nothing quite like the majestic beauty of California’s redwood forests. Now, imagine experiencing those towering giants aboard a historic 19th-century steam train. Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton is home to some of the oldest and most authentically preserved narrow-gauge steam engines in America.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  3. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  4. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View