There’s a small creek that crosses Negro Bar, emptying into what is now Lake Natoma — and was once a portion of the American River. Nowadays the creek is mostly hidden amongst the trees and undergrowth, but it is visible in a few spots.
One of these spots is a lot more difficult to find these days. Prior to construction of the new Natoma Crossing bridge, which opened in 2000, this spot consisted of a long wooden staircase leading down to what looked like a stone wall across the creek. The water flowed through the barrier, and there was a wooden handrail held in place by metal poles. It was one of my favorite spots at Negro Bar.
Summer 1990:
Sadly, this forgotten little bridge was mostly destroyed during the building of the Natoma Crossing. Parts of it still remain intact, but it’s no longer a bridge. If you look closely, you can still see fragments of what it used to be.
Summer 1990:
