Sundial Bridge

More fun than it should be! Incredible architecture and exciting experience to walk across the bridge plus enjoy the trails on each side of the Sacramento River. It was easy for my Mom who is 86, kids all ages or dogs on a leash. There was convenient to park with clean bathrooms. It was a great family activity.

This was MAGICAL!! The displays and themes were awesome, just be aware that PARKING SUCKS do NOT pay extra for parking bcuz there are no parking attendants to guide u where to go. It's basically a free for all. If u have children the train ride is extra and there was a 49 min wait when we were there. If you do NOT have children I suggest u DONT go until later. Everyone seemed to arrive between 530 and 6pm. It's open till 10pm. I wish we would have gotten there at 8pm instead. There's only 2 maybe three places that sell hot chocolate beer and wine and I "WINED" about the wait. Lol we didnt get anything bcuz it took too long. Also b very aware if u are handicapped, there is LOTS of walking.... and NO "shortcuts" if u get too tired and dont want to do the whole tour. If u are not familiar with the parking situation leaving can be very confusing. We didnt know which way to go to get out. Other than those minor pitfalls it was sooo worth it! Took lots pics and videos, it could be VERY romantic too. It was a beautiful evening and u won't be disappointed!

I love visiting this area and beyond. We brought our bicycles and took the bike path around the local area and got a good little workout then ended up at the bridge. At this time of year they have the garden area decorated with lights and woukd loved to have walked through however we thought the price was a little steep to pay. We stayed the weekend up the freeway at The Inn At Shasta Lake which is worth checking out as well.

Visited on the way back from California last Christmas season, exceeded our expectation for this small town. There is a light show at adjacent park which is so popular that we quite after in line for 10min. The bridge is really pretty.

The Sundial Bridge is a beautiful spot with a great view of the water. It’s a relaxing place to walk, and there’s plenty for kids to enjoy. The nearby museum and park make it even better, offering both fun and learning opportunities. A wonderful place for a family outing. After parking there is a nice river and picnic area as well but it’s not clean space while I visited,this area isn’t connected to the bridge so not to worry!

This cool, architectural wonder in Redding is at Turtle Bay Exploration Park is super cool. Use the QR code at the beginning for an audio guided tour with lots of cool information as you walk across. On the other side is an Arboretum and Botanical garden. The audio tour says that the bridge is lit up at night... how cool is that!

Do visit this place if you visit Redding. The whole bridge is lit up at night making it a surreal experience. They also have bikes and scooters that you can rent. Bike rentals felt cheaper than the scooters. Many scenic trails besides the river. So take your time and have fun exploring the place. Sunday they had the farmers market setup.

Very beautiful bridge day and nite. The only down side was there isn't much other things to do around, which makes our driving distance of about 4 hours each way not really worth it. I'd say it's a great attraction if you live closer or if you are on the way to somewhere else on a road trip, or here for hiking or rafting. The hotel right next to it is not worth it's value. I would recommend to stay a little further and save some money. The only value of it was the walking distance to the bridge. (Star did not deduct for this cause the main review was for the attraction)

Fun spot to stop and take it all in. Also, very dog friendly! Would recommend that if your pup is skittish or does not like certain textures on their feet you'll likely have to pick them up. We have a travel backpack that we use to go hiking or for situations like this. Great spot for Pictures as well

The sundial bridge (and surrounding park) is a fantastic spot to relax and enjoy some beautiful nature. Highly recommend getting a nice view of the river from the bridge. It's quite nice.

A cool place to visit in Redding.. they have it lit up for Christmas.. it's beautiful. It's worth the visit.. dress warm at night for its cold - really cold this winter..: I've been in the summer and it's just as beautiful

I recently decided to check out the Sundial Bridge on my way up to Shasta. I showed up around 9am, easily found free parking, and easily walked the short, flat, accessible distance to the bridge. For anyone else who is from Sacramento, this bridge is about the same size as the Truss Bridge next to the Rainbow Bridge in Folsom. Size wise, it's not the biggest bridge, but it has really cool architecture. The bridge is designed to look like a giant sundial, but doesn't actually function as a real sundial in real life. It does provide access across the Sacramento River to the Turtle Bay Exploration Center, botanical gardens, and Sacramento River Trail. I wish I had known about the Sacramento River Trail ahead of time, because I might have taken a bike ride while I was there. Maybe next time. Most of the bridge walkway is made of glass, which is not as slippery as it sounds, although the ceramic tiles in between the glass are EXTREMELY slippery, and I would recommend avoiding walking on these. Normally, I enjoy standing in the middle of the bridge and looking out over the river, but in this case, the design of the bridge made this kind of hard to do. The sides of the bridge have steel slots that convex outwards so that you can look directly down into the river, which looks cool, but is kind of scary to stand over. Since it was right on the other side of the bridge, I ended up visiting the museum and botanical gardens, but was still only in the area for about an hour or so.

Had a pitstop here to charge the car and I'm glad I ventured off to discover the area. The bridge is along the Sacramento river and it's a beautiful view walking along the bridge and soaking in the view. The weather was perfect for a stroll. I would recommend making a stop here if you have time. I definitely want to come back to spend more time here.

now that they have cleaned up all the homeless people that hang out here it doesn't stink. And it's a nice place to bring your kids for outings although I will say their membership to turtle Bay is incredibly expensive and it's a shocking because they that more than half of the money goes to the feeding care of the animals there but I have actually discovered it really goes towards the paychecks of the employees who worked there which more than half of them are pretty lazy.

Loved e biking around this pretty place. It's very busy and had to really go slow to allow walkers safety.

A bucket list type thing for everybody in California. A must see attraction. A glass bridge that is about 20 years old and over 20 million dollars to create. The first I ever heard of this was when my little brother shoved a brochure of Redding in my face. Hes showing me the Sundial Bridge and all these touristy things in Redding and wanted me to drive him. I grew suspicious and questioned his motives not believing he actually wanted to see all this - there had to be some other motive. When it came to the Sundial bridge he had all the enthusiasm of a German tourist eager to see Yellowstone. I just couldn't figure it out. Did he just meet somebody online who lives there? Whats going on? Lets get to the bridge. Its a unique piece of art and functional and absolutely over the top for what it needed to be. I suppose so many people visit this every year perhaps the cost to build is recovered by all the tourism it brings. The glass floor to the bridge is super unique. I'm not sure I personally would have encouraged such a build due to slip and falls - I mean what are the chances some elderly person who was doing just fine has a fall that puts them in a nursing home? I found myself in flip flops slipping and sliding around the glass warning the elderly around me to 'be carful!' I carefully made my way over the whole bridge carful not to flip or flop. So what was all that with the kid brother!? Who knows. My best guess is that he just loves brochures and I think has good taste in wanting to see an architectural wonder such as this. A unique bridge for a unique surrounding landscape.

Magnificent. I can be here all day to enjoy every moment and surrounding of it. I can see the beautiful snow mountain from the bridge. I enjoyed looking down to see people on their boat fishing in the river. Everyone is enjoying nature.

The Sundial Bridge is awesome! It is a great place to walk or ride a bike across, enjoy the river views, see wildlife and enjoy God's creation around you. I recently saw the Bandaloop performance on the Sundial Bridge and it was so unique and peaceful. They were hanging on lines from the top and performing to music as they descended.

While in the Redding area, we wanted to see the famous bridge that the city is known for, the Sundial Bridge. It was a nice way to see this part of town and even learned about the Turtle Bay Exploration Park where Sundial Bridge is located. The bridge's design is the highlight of this landmark. It's built using cables, which miraculously holds it all together. The surface of the bridge is translucent, so lights up when it gets dark. It crosses over the Sacramento River and connects you to the other side of the park where the botanical gardens are and other trails. When we visited on a Sunday night, it was cool to see how many people visit the bridge, locals and tourists. Given that it's located in a large park, there's other activities going on nearby. If you're in Redding, this is a nice landmark to visit, providing for a nice scenery in a location that's worth exploring by foot.

We walked from Green Acres RV Park to and from Sundial Bridge. It was worth the trek. There was a small festival and the bridge and views are very nice. For those that want to park there's plenty of parking. The RV crowd might need to park on a street.

We came here to the Turtle Bay Park to check out one of the few things to call an attraction in Redding, the Sundial Bridge. It's a very unique design, but it's for pedestrians only with the see thru floor. No cars allowed, so you can't drive across it. It's pretty popular place and it's fun to check out once, I've never seen a bridge like this one before. Maybe make a stop in Redding if you're passing thru to break up a trip. If you're into photography, this is a cool place to come an try some art shots.

Amidst the flowers the Sundial Bridge tells the hours. We come here every year to visit family and the bridge is our "always" destination for a family and dog walk. The Sundial Bridge is not only a spectacular bridge but, in fact, a working sundial ---one of the largest in the world. It's a huge structure and Its shadow traces a large arc that can record only four hours a day, from 11am - 3pm. HoAn incredible working Sundial. Parking: Convenient and nearby parking is available on each side of the river. Also--the bridge connects the McConnell Arboretum and Botanical Garden and the Turtle Bay Exploratory Park -which includes-a museum, cafe, and restrooms. It's a perfect stop to enjoy and view the beautiful bridge architecture but also stunning gardens and beautiful river trails. In fact-the river trail is a popular spot for walking, biking, and families. Many people ride bikes and walk across the bridge to access the river trail. Something for everyone including Dogs----to enjoy.

I think I was expecting a bit more but to think this is the biggest sundial in the world and it crossed the Sacramento River, you take in the awe of it and it becomes a 10. This place is FREE to see and walk across. Parking was easy and free as well. As you stand on the bridge looking down upon the Sacramento River you see a beautiful view of flyfishermen standing in the water along with boats all trying to catch something. As the sun sets below the horizon the colors are beautiful. We actually came twice to ejoy the beauty and peacefulness. A must see at least once in your life.

This place is great! It's still remains the same as I remember it from my childhood. It's very well kept up and a great place for a walk, ride or even photography! Tuttle bay exploration is amazing as well the museum is great with really giving you a lot to interact and learn! The outside section is also very good. Not only can you learn but you can play around with an amazing playground. When I was a kid and now I still enjoy this place for all the reasons listed above.

When you're in Redding, the Sundial Bridge is a must visit landmark. We were in town for a stay before heading to Burney Falls the next day, so we opted to come here to check it out. The Sundial Bridge is an architectural beauty and overlooks the Sacramento River. Great scenery and nature vibes as we walked around the area of the bridge.

Pretty meh to be honest. Glad I stopped on my drive south but definitely not worth another stop

STEPH JUDGEMENT: A surprisingly cool landmark. When I read about this landmark, I must admit I wasn't expecting much, but the hubby and I ended up having a great time around here. Not only is it a really beautiful world-class structure--its majestic spanning of the Sacramento River affording some amazing views--it's a popular gathering place for people and it was great to be out enjoying a beautiful day as part of the crowd, especially after the lockdown. There is also a really nice science park at the base, and we spent a few pleasant hours wandering and meandering about the bridge and its environs. I think if you have kids it's a must, but it's great for just adults too!

First time there and it so breathtaking. We were at aw of how beautiful and clean they keeped it. The pure white bridge with the teal glass flooring was very beautiful!

Beautiful & safe place to people watch or meet. Great place to walk. Dogs must be leashed. Gift shop, raft rentals. I go here often.

What a picturesque view! I was in awe!!! So relaxing and breathtaking!My family and I enjoyed the sights from watching the fly fishermen to the boaters and canoeists...Truly a American experience!!It is a great people watching area..From walking their dogs to riding their bikes!!The parking is excellent and if you have a electric car..they have the hook up for you!!!One word of caution!!!Beware of the transients!!

GORGEOUS My jaw dropped as I drove over it, seriously photos do not do this bridge justice! I cannot wait to take my children back to see sundial this summer!

Now is your chance to cross the Sacramento River in style. Redding California offers the Sundial Bridge which was completed in 2014 and already has a fan base. Easily accessible and handicapped friendly this beautiful architectural Wonder crosses the Sacramento River and it's an easy walk and a beautiful view. You can elect to walk across the bridge or just sitting on one of the many benches and watch people doing the same thing. It spire 217 ft reaching into the sky which accurately illuminates by shadow your time of the day. And then added bonus at night it is illuminated with blue lights and you can watch the bats flying under the bridge trying to gather all the bugs they can while The Sparrows do the same thing during the daytime. It's located very close to the Turtle Bay Exploration Park which is an echo friendly informational adventure for the whole family. Come and watch the birds the bats and the Salmons. It's a wonderful idea and a successful project to bring into the community.

It's a cool bridge. The Turtle Bay Exploration Park is nearby. There's a hiking/biking trail that runs along the Sacramento River. Nice area to just take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The Sundial bridge is located within the Turtle Bay Exploration Park. There is a museum, forestry & wildlife center, arboretum and botanical gardens. My wife had read something about the bridge and wanted to see it.  She also knows I am into architecture and engineering projects. We parked in the lot nearby and took the short walk to the bridge which spans the Sacramento River. It is a cable stayed bridge with cables extending from only one side of the bank. It spans the river without any supports in the river, only on each side. It was a nice evening and the bridge is definitely different and cool looking. It also provides access for people to explore other paths. The glass floor is frosted and does not provide a "see-through" experience to the river below. Overall if you are in the area we would recommend you check it out. If time allows you can also explore the trails nearby.

Great design and beautiful view. Park nearby gets you a one mile loop. Restaurant within walking distance, Mozaic, was really great.

A very nice spot to check out if you are driving through the area on a road trip! This clear glass bridge is a fairly short walk across the Sacramento River. At the end of the bridge is a giant sundial that is held with several metal wires. It gives a nice view of the river and cute Instagram-able shots. They have tons of parking, a hiking trail, a gift shop, and a museum if you are interested in the Turtle Bay Park. Unfortunately, the museum is closed due to the pandemic... but you are still able to access all other parts of the park. Be sure to wear your mask! A few people were not wearing one as they were jogging through, so be wary. I recommend coming when the weather is nice. When it is hot here, the glass really makes everything so much hotter! When it is cold here, you will be FREEZING and sometimes ice will freeze on the bridge. So plan accordingly if you are coming during extreme temperatures.

I have been here twice already but when I came on 6/25/2022 it was 105 degrees at 4p!! Gah! The reflection of the white and glass made it unbearable. This was a very expensive but beautiful bridge to make at Turtle Bay. I would recommend for the best time to visit is right before it gets dark to see the bridge glass tiles light up and when the sun is not beaming down on you. If you pass by Redding, I totally recommend to visit this short bridge since it's free to be on it. [67th R]

Cool bridge to check out if you're in the area. It's connected to the museum so there's a parking lot you can use. The bridge isn't very long but it's a great view of the river. On the other side of the bridge is a botanical garden you can visit.

Did you know? The Sundial Bridge is, in fact, a working sundial and is one of the largest in the world. The sundial shadow traces such a large arc that it can record only four hours a day, from 11am - 3pm We decided to try to catch the sunset, but with the fires that was not possible. But it was an experience walking across a glass bridge overlooking the Sacramento River.

Unique bit of sculpture in Redding We stopped by to check out this bridge located a short walk from the Convention center. Very cool and photogenic footbridge with a glass deck crossing the Sacramento River at Turtle Bay park in Redding. The Sundial Bridge is quite a popular attraction and is located in a lovely area that includes a museum, aboretum, park, and trails. The museum was closed due to Covid-19 but the park and trails were open to visitors. We walked across the bridge and checked the time the sundial indicated on the tile covered garden border on the north side of the bridge against our smartphones and it was accurate! We then walked down towards under the bridge. It was a hot 108° that day and some people were cooling off at the River. We came back that night and the opaque glass deck was illuminated with color blue. We walked across the bridge and towards underneath. There are no other lights other than the lights that lit up the bridge and it was pretty dark so take caution. The park is an easily accessible path for bicyclists, joggers, walkers and those just seeking to watch the fisherman in the river below. There is ample parking. Redding residents are lucky to have this in their city, amazing to see by day and night. Review #1909

What an awesome view of the sundial! Pretty cool seeing the time shift in real life but in a massive way! The only thing negative I have is I wished they fixed the glass on the bridge so you could see the river.

Spent the night in Redding on a road trip and decided to visit this bridge with the pups in the morning before heading out. We really liked the architecture of the bridge, and we thought the Sacramento River in that area was quite scenic. It could've been better if they would clean all the cobwebs out of the railings of the bridge, but c'est la vie.

Nice place to visit. There were fishers in the water, small boats going by. Good place for a walk, but didn't like that there are so many spiders everywhere in trees and bushes. It was a gorgeous evening

Very unique and interesting bridge to visit if you are in the Redding area. It's free to visit, and is also right next to the Turtle Bay Exploration Area, which includes a wildlife museum and botanical gardens! Although walking the bridge is free, there is a suggested donation to enter the botanical garden, and you also have to pay an entrance fee on the Turtle Bay side. I loved the opaque glass they used for the bridge, and it's the colors are pretty too look at in the sunlight. Parking is also free for this area, and there were plenty of spots. It's just a short walk from the parking lot to the bridge.

Nice bridge a little freaky to cross it was hit so our shoes did slip on the plastic plates it was a nice walk across the Sacramento River you get to see the river on both sides of the bridge once you cross over you can keep on walking along so many different trails we walked around a few of them saw some lizards and spiders and nice nature trees were great we didn't have much shade so we Harare's back to the hotel I would stop By again on a much cooler day it was over 100 degrees out

Well architected pedestrian bridge with gorgeous view. It forms a large sundial & it's a must visit place if you ever in Redding. Parking is free & I suggest go there early to find a good spot & also more cooling in this hot summer weather. The Turtle Bay exploration park ($) is on the right hand side of the entrance of the bridge. And once you cross the bridge, you will see a botanical garden with amazing plants from around the world.

After taking the afternoon at Turtle Bay we left and meandered around the Sundial Bridge. Its free to do, so why not take advantage of it. We couldn't have picked a better day. Lightly cloudy with minimal little sprinkles. The water looked amazing. The light was muted enough to take fantastic photos. If you're into that kind of thing like I am. The bridge is actually a sundial. If you couldn't tell by the name. The frosted walk way over the water sets a particular type of ambiance. The nature around the bridge is beautiful. We saw a bald eagle cruising the skies. Now that is not something you get to see everyday. If you're on your way to or from up north, stop and take a walk around the bridge. Its well worth it.

Absolutely breathtaking views of the Sacramento River! This bridge also leads to a wonderful botanical garden and is also dog friendly. Super cool view of the bridge night too.

Beautiful, specially lit up at night. The surrounding area had lots of Christmas lights and a nice park to stroll through.

We enjoyed walking through the gardens to the sundial bridge. When you get there you can go down to the river and enjoy the water or cross to the other side to the museum. The museum is fun and enjoyable but the entrance fee is a little high. What is nice is you can bring your 4 legged friend but I would suggest putting dog boots because the ground gets very hot.

For anyone that has never been to Redding, CA (or Shasta County for that matter), the "Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay" is one landmark that I highly recommend visiting. Best of all, this cantilever cable-styled bridge is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, rain or shine. And it is FREE to cross! I ended up coming to Redding for work-related business on the afternoon of Friday 2/22/19. Since the weather had beautiful blue skies, I figure why not see what this bridge was all about. Designed by Spanish architect/sculptor/engineer Santiago Calatrava, this bridge has been a part of Redding's history ever since 2004. Best of all, it spans over the Sacramento River and is visible from several major surface streets as well as Highways 5, 44, and 273. Parking here was very simple to find as there is a dedicated lot specifically for people that wish to visit here. Additionally, this place houses a nice gift shop, small eating area, and an arboretum botanical garden. The name 'sundial' is exactly what this place is - the gnomon of a large sundial. And on any clear day, you can see the shadow of what time of day it is based on the earth's rotation depending what time of year it is. Since I am a big science enthusiast, I find this entire design to be useful and educational. In addition to the progressively sculpted look that this bridge represents, there is an amazing transparent walkway that spans from one end to the other. Overall, the "Sundial Bridge" is definitely worth checking out when visiting Shasta County. Kids, adults, and even dogs will absolutely love it. And with the amount of people who take picturesque photos for Yelp, Instagram, and other social media platforms, many don't realize just how amazing the artwork and aesthetics of this bridge really is until you see it in person. My rating, an amazing five-stars!

Listed as a roadside attraction, I stopped on my road trip. Considering that it's free, it's freeway close and easily accessible, and it has clean bathrooms, it's a no-brainer for architecture fans or kids. Redding isn't just known as the birthplace of actress Francesca Eastwood, graduation site of Amblin producer Kathleen Kennedy, and former workplace of Sportscenter's Rich Eisen, no, it's also known for this landmark: The Sundial Bridge (also known as the Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay formerly known as Prince) is a cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge, crossing the Sacramento River, within Turtle Bay Exploration Park, which has museums, gardens, and assumably turtles. A single mast, 217 feet high, makes it the world's largest sundial* (*if you don't count Taiwan). By the way, the sundial only works once a day, so it might be the world's laziest sundial. So go at summer solstice if you need to know what time it is, or at night when the aquamarine glass is illuminated from below. The 700' long Sundial Bridge is a cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge, which means it is less structurally efficient but it's prettier, like high heels. The bridge was originally budgeted at $3 million in the 90s, and cost $23.5 million when completed in 2004 (thanks to cable from England, tile from Spain, and glass from Quebec). The expense justified on the basis that it would increase tourism. I helped out by buying a patch. As a result, the city manager claims the park saw a 42% increase in visitors. Sadly, this has caused a drop in attendance at the Francesca Eastwood Birthplace and Museum.

Pretty nice, recognizable. So if that is what the designer/architect/engineers were going for, they did well. It's a pleasant walk and a great place to host events for the community. I'm relatively new to the community so cannot add to what economic impacts it has or has had on the community, but it is a nice draw to the city. It has a couple of facilities around it, and now that we are allowed to be social, I would encourage as many outdoor events there.

We had a quick stay in Redding and wanted to see at least one thing while we were here. Very cool place. We went in the early morning when there was a fog hanging over the river. Really nice area to take a walk or run.

Lovely spot for a walk and photos. Mask wearing is negligible so go early if that worries you. It's a flat easy walk for those who want to avoid hills.

Love to have my morning walks here. So beautiful and peaceful. Coffee shop opens at 8 and life seems perfect. If only for awhile

Sundial Bridge was a quick, easy, fun stop. Parking was easy to get on a Saturday afternoon and the lot was right off the entrance to the bridge. The bridge is a very easy walk, and at the end opposite of the parking lot we found markers to read the time of the day with the sun.