Steel truss sections built in Loveland, Colorado, are scheduled to be set over the Carmel River at Palo Corona Regional Park by mid-October. The plan calls for a 150-ton crawler crane working from a temporary steel platform, with some sections weighing as much as 55,000 pounds. The Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District planned to set the five-part bridge starting in late September, with the crane moving to the far bank partway through for the last pieces. The district expects the span to be in place by mid-October if the weather holds. Once it is up, it will be about 265 feet long, close to the length of a football field. It will also be off limits to walkers until next summer.
That delay is the clearest sign of where the Rancho Cañada unit stands this fall. The golf course that once ran along this part of the river is mostly gone. The park replacing it is only partly built. The bridge connects the two, and for the next several months it connects them only on paper.
A Long Span Built So the River Can Move
The new bridge replaces three aging golf cart bridges with one crossing. The district describes the design as a long, clear span "that gives the river room to wander, shift, and do what rivers naturally do." Project documents describe a prefabricated steel truss that reaches across the channel without piles or footings in the river.
That choice explains the size. A shorter bridge with supports in the water would be cheaper to set, but it would keep the river in place, and the whole project is meant to let it move. In its September 2 progress report, the district listed footings, walls, and wingwalls at both new abutments, followed by temporary supports and the bridge itself, "currently anticipated at the end of September." The same list included demolishing two former golf course bridges, depending on river levels. Teichert Construction holds the prime contract.
Anyone who wants to watch the lift can do so from open trails outside the construction fencing. The district is posting updates on the Palo Corona restoration project site.
Why It Stays Fenced After It Lands
A bridge without trails at both ends leads nowhere, and the trails on the far side are still being built. The district has said the bridge will stay closed while it finishes the new trail network that connects to it, and that both are scheduled to open together next summer.
The trail numbers show how much of the old layout has already been removed. The district's September report lists 7,540 feet of cart path demolished in May 2026 and 2,004 feet of the decomposed granite Multi-Benefit Community Trail removed in June. In the same period, it installed 1,070 feet of new trail. So for now, far more old pavement has come out than new trail has gone in. The rest of the new network is what the bridge is waiting for.
The district is paying for this trail work itself instead of using grant money. Its stated purpose is to meet its obligations to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and to ensure "a contiguous trail network at the Park after the Project is completed." It chose to do the work while Teichert was already on site, which the district says costs less than bringing a crew back later.
What the Old Golf Course Is Becoming
Phase 1 of the Rancho Cañada Floodplain Restoration Project wrapped up in the 2025–26 fiscal year. It removed old golf course structures and reconnected 7,600 feet of the Carmel River, and the district built new and improved trails at the same time. Phase 2 started April 20, 2026, and covers the eastern, upstream part of the site. Its work list goes well beyond the bridge:
- In-stream rock riffles, boulders, and large wood placed across the eastern side channels
- Fish exclusion, fish rescue, and dewatering at the two old bridge crossings before they are demolished
- Irrigation, willow trenches, and large-scale container planting
- Gravel surfacing on new trail segments
When finished, the project will have restored about 40 acres along a one-mile stretch of the river and planted more than 175,000 native plants. The main goal is slow water. Backwater channels and alcoves are designed to give young South-Central California Coast steelhead a place to rest, feed, and grow during winter and spring high flows. The project also aims to create habitat for red-legged frogs.
The long clear span connects those goals to the walking experience. A river that is allowed to spread across its floodplain needs a crossing that stays clear of it. Funding partners include the State Coastal Conservancy, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Wildlife Conservation Board, and NOAA.
Walking Rancho Cañada This Fall
The park you can walk this fall sits between the old course and the finished project. According to the September report, the trail segments open since the June work are near the Discovery Center and Gateway Plaza. The district's access plan for June 15, 2026, through June 15, 2027, calls for removing Phase 1 fencing on the north and west sides and reopening access to Bridges 4 and 5. The entire southern floodplain stays closed. The September report noted no changes to public access during its late July to late August reporting period. The fencing on site is the best guide to what is open on any given day.
Palo Corona has three entrances, and each has different rules:
- Rancho Cañada unit, no permit needed. From Highway 1, take Carmel Valley Road to Village Park Road, next to the Community Church of the Monterey Peninsula. Turn left into the park, where there is plenty of parking.
- Highway 1 west gate, permit required. The entrance is about 200 yards south of the Carmel River Bridge, with limited parking on the shoulder. The district issues 13 permits a day and asks that you apply at least two weekdays ahead.
- Big Sur Land Trust's South Bank Trail east gate, permit required only if you park. The small gravel lot at the Santa Lucia Conservancy, 26700 Rancho San Carlos Road, is first-come, first-served, and roadside parking is not allowed. The district allows eight vehicles a day. You don't need a permit if you walk or bike in.
Palo Corona is open for hiking only. The Palo Corona Discovery Center is open Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Around the Edges of the Park in October
The no-permit entrance shares a corner with the Community Church of the Monterey Peninsula at 4590 Carmel Valley Road. On October 9 and 10, the Carmel Orchid Society holds its free Fall Orchid Market there, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Speakers include Chris Thomas and Dennis Olivas on Friday and Amanda Nixon and Albert Satterfield on Saturday. A morning walk to the construction fencing pairs easily with a stop at the market.
Getting there may still involve some road work. Monterey County's Carmel Valley Road resurfacing runs from Carmel Rancho Boulevard to Via Petra and began June 29. The county expects it to finish by the end of October 2026. Daytime work runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with some night work from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., under lane closures and one-lane reversible traffic control. Granite Rock Company of Watsonville holds the contract.
For a longer river walk while the southern floodplain is closed, the district's fall guide lists two guided outings up the valley at Garland Ranch. On October 25, from 9:30 a.m. to noon, volunteer naturalists Mary Dainton and Cath Farrant lead a lower-elevation nature walk. On November 14, volunteer Bruce Merchant leads "Seasons of Garland," a five-mile autumn hike, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Garland Ranch Visitor Center is open Thursday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The district plans to open the Rancho Cañada bridge and the trails that connect to it together next summer. Until then, the crossing at the mouth of the valley can be seen but not walked.
If you own near the mouth of the valley and want to talk through what the restored river and new trails could mean for your property, Carmel Coast is happy to share what we're seeing on the ground. Schedule a local consultation.
