{"id":4434,"date":"2011-06-07T06:21:26","date_gmt":"2011-06-07T06:21:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/?p=4434"},"modified":"2022-09-14T04:31:26","modified_gmt":"2022-09-14T04:31:26","slug":"natural-bridge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/natural-bridge\/","title":{"rendered":"Natural Bridge near Angels Camp"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you are visiting the California Gold Country along Hwy 49 near Angels Camp<\/strong> and would like to enjoy a great hiking experience, then try out this hike down to a very unique geological formation. \u00a0This unique formation is called Natural Bridge.<\/p>

Inside Calaveras County, this site is within a 20 mile radius of the towns of Angels Camp, Vallecito, Sonora, Murphys with its dozens of wineries, historical Columbia and the railroad town of Jamestown.\u00a0 It is real close to New Melones Lake.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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The Natural Bridge hike takes you into a forest of Oak Trees where a small creek has dug a tunnel for itself through solid rock.\u00a0 Known to geologists as a “karst”, the rushing waters of Coyote Creek eroded through a layer of soluble bedrock and created a unique cave or cavern.\u00a0 Most people refer to it as a tunnel as this cave has two ends.\u00a0 The river enters the cave from the north end and exits out of the south end.\u00a0 The tunnel’s distance is about a quarter of a mile.\u00a0 The inside of the tunnel is very similar to a cavern with its oddly shaped formations hanging from its roof.<\/p>

Getting There<\/h3>

The trail head is right off of Parrots Ferry Road (County Route E18).\u00a0 Coming from the north, it is located about 3.7 miles from the junction of Parrots Ferry Road and Hwy 4.\u00a0 Coming from the south, it is located about 6.2 miles from the junction of Parrots Ferry Road and State Street in downtown Columbia.\u00a0 The trail head is marked with a brown sign that reads “Natural Bridge”.\u00a0 Turn off Parrots Ferry Road on to the small road and you will see some restrooms. The trail begins past the restrooms.<\/p>

More…<\/p>

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Pictures<\/h3>

Below are some pictures of what you will see along the way.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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