Calendar | Save Our Bridge

EVENTS AT THE PARK

Bird Walk

hermitthrush

Spring and Fall (free; donations welcomed).

Meet at the north parking lot.


Our resident bird experts will lead an easy 2 hour stroll around Bridgeport. Bring binoculars and a field guide if you have one. You might spot the Canyon Wren, American Dipper, Acorn Woodpecker, Golden Crowned Kinglet, Bald Eagle, Phainopepla and more.

Learn More...

Wildflower Walks

swallowtail

Mid-March through Mid-May

 

Saturdays 10am and Sundays, 11am (suggested donation $3)
Meet at the Bridgeport north parking lot.

Current Schedule...

The Buttermilk Bend trail is well known among locals for its spectacular explosion of wildflowers most springs. The display changes every week, so come more than once! Docents will identify the flowers and explain some of their natural history and traditional uses. Plan on 1.5 hours and 2 miles. No dogs.

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Bridgeport History Station

barnwagon

Summer (Memorial Day - Labor Day)
Every Saturday and Sunday,
11am - 2pm (free; donations welcomed).
You will find a history station staffed by friendly docents who will explain the history of the bridge, barn, wagons, and the pioneers who lived here.

Gold Panning Demonstrations

prospector

Summer (Memorial Day - Labor Day)
Every Summer Sat, Sun & holiday,
12 noon - 2 pm at Bridgeport
Free; donations welcomed
No demonstrations the weekend of the Nevada County Fair- come join us at the fair for gold panning in August.
Docents will demonstrate how to pan for gold in our troughs which are very likely to yield a bit of gold for most everyone. Practice in the troughs, then try your hand in the river. Remember, only pans and hands allowed in the park.

 

Interested in trying your hand at Gold Panning? When you visit Bridgeport in South Yuba River State Park this summer, be sure to stop by the troughs near the Visitors Center.

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Independence Trail Nature Walks

bobcat

Celebrate Springtime on the Independence Trail!

 

Join our knowledgeable docents to learn more about the flora and fauna of the Independence Trail and South Yuba River. Tours are wheelchair-accessible and last about 2 hours.

 

Call the Visitor Center for the schedule.

 

Learn More...

Festivals

wagonbridge

Fall Festival - 2017

 

At the Bridgeport Fall Festival, we celebrated our park with music, food and drinks, root beer floats, demonstrations, and children's activities. Adults and children alike tried gold panning, basket weaving and wool spinning. They watched wild bird exhibits, took a wagon hay ride drawn by a vintage tractor, toured the barn and gas station, enjoyed live music while picnicking under the trees. Children played games, painted pumpkins, and made bird feeders. Rangers, volunteers, and our local community organizations such as Audubon, SYRCL, Bear Yuba Land Trust, and the Nisenan were there to engage with attendees. A truly great time was had by all.

 

Fall Festival 2017 Photos...

More Fall Festival 2017 Photos...

Fall Festival 2017 Video...

 

Spring Fundraiser 2016 Photos...

Auto Tours

carBridge

Call to schedule.
Your guide will give a personal tour about the history of transportation at Bridgeport to your car club or group . You will then drive on a piece of the historic Virginia Turnpike and pose for a photo with your car at the entrance to the covered bridge.

 

Click on the Learn More button below to read about tours taken by local automobile clubs.

 

Learn More...

School and Group Tours

bald eagels

Call to schedule.
Bring your group of children or adults to Bridgeport for a diverse day of history, nature and hands-on activities, or for a wildflower walk. Our docents will explain the covered bridge, our collection of historic wagons, local plants and animals, and teach how to pan for gold. Children may keep the gold they find.

Humbug Day at Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park - The Video

A fun little video produced free for our enjoyment by Matthew Heilmann of Organic Media in Penn Valley, Ca.

 

Matt had never attended Humbug Day at Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park before, so a few years ago, he just showed up for fun with personal curiosity.

 

Having a camera with him was a good opportunity for Matt to shoot a home movie for his own entertainment.

 

Years later, when Matt heard about the new Friends of North Bloomfield and Malakoff Diggins Association, he made contact with us and offered to share his video.

 

After showing it to the Executive Committee and receiving their thumbs-up, it is now available to you on You Tube. We will eventually play it in our visitor centers as well. Please enjoy!

View Video...

Photo Credits: Steve Pauly (banner), Herb Lindberg, Ardie Obert, John Field, Giovanni and Lenka Vodicka-Paredes, Shirley Moon