The Run of Six Footbridges
Six footbridges, located in Hillcrest, on the edge of downtown, and on Banker's Hill, are landmarks that link a unique San Diego run of nine miles. The start and finish is at the Beers Center in Uptown.
Footbridge One
Just to the north of the Beers Center is Footbridge One, the Vermont Street crossing over Washington Street and a semi-canyon. The bridge, in concrete and black/blue steel, is decorated with messages and definitions of the word bridge. It replaces an earlier, wooden bridge that was torn down in the 1970s.
After crossing, turn right on Lincoln and continue to Park Blvd. Proceed south on Park, staying on the east side, until reaching the old Navy Hospital. On the lower level of the hospital grounds, head diagonally across the parking lot in a southeasterly direction to Footbridge Two.
Footbridge Two
Footbridge Two, a covered-cage affair, connects the old Navy Hospital to Balboa Stadium of San Diego High School while spanning 12-lane Interstate 5.
Pause midway across to savor the views of downtown, Coronado, the Silver Strand, and conditions permitting, Mexico, 15 miles distant. On the Balboa Stadium side pop into the stadium area for a water stop in front of the women's rest room if the stadium area is open.
Continue through the school campus to Russ Blvd. and make a quick right to Park Blvd. Keep to the right side of Park, heading north for a steady climb to the Rose Gardens with a stop at the adjacent water fountain.
After a drink, smell the roses, and cross Footbridge Three, immediately to the left.
Footbridge Three
A brief span over Park Blvd., Footbridge Three accesses Balboa Park at its major decorative fountain. Meander north through the Spanish Art Village and pass the Zoo entrance. Proceed to Theodore Roosevelt Junior High School on the comer of Park and Upas and have a drink at the school fountain.
After admiring the student wall mural, "Free Your Mind," head west on Upas. Where Upas dead ends proceed down the blacktop trail into Balboa Park to Footbridge Four.
Footbridge Four
Footbridge Four goes over Freeway 163. Once across, turn right and take the two switchbacks up into the park. Proceed across the lawn with water fountain in the middle, cross Sixth and continue west on Upas to Fourth Avenue. Turn left at Fourth. At Quince Street is Footbridge Five.
Footbridge Five
Footbridge Five is the oldest footbridge in San Diego, having been built in 1904. A well restored, wooden structure, it spans a large canyon between Fourth and Third Avenues. After crossing, proceed ahead to Second Avenue and turn right. At Spruce Street, turn left; ahead is Footbridge Six.
Footbridge Six
A well-maintained suspension structure, the 1912 Spruce Street Bridge, with wooden planking, flexes and gives under the runner's weight. Beneath is another large canyon.
On the bridge's far side turn right on Brant Street. Three quick turns follow, easy because they all dead-end into one another; right on Upas, left on Albatross, right on Walnut to Fifth Avenue. Head north on Fifth to University, right on university to Uptown. Here coffee and pastry choices wait at Uptown bistros. Nosh the coffee and pastry down and reflect on The Run of Six Footbridges. Is there an undiscovered seventh footbridge in the area?
Contributed by John Lockhart