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Redding · Turtle Bay · Pedestrian bridge and working sundial

Sundial Bridge

Walk Santiago Calatrava’s glass-deck bridge across the Sacramento River, watch the 217-foot pylon tell time at midday, then pick up miles of river trail from either end. It’s free and open daily.

4.7 on Google · 6,828 reviews

Official info Directions Call (530) 243-8850

Opens Turtle Bay’s Sundial Bridge page. The bridge and river trails are free; only the park’s museum, gardens and Forest Camp charge admission.

Details checked October 2026

Featured video

Video thumbnail from Destination UpClose’s YouTube walk across the Sundial Bridge in Redding
Play video

Walking across the Sundial Bridge · Destination UpClose on YouTube

Overview What you’ll see Why go RV tips Reviews Plan your visit Stay nearby FAQs

Type

Pedestrian bridge

Glass-deck span and working sundial

Admission

Free

Turtle Bay’s museum and gardens cost extra

Hours

Open daily

Lit after dark. Turtle Bay’s buildings keep set hours.

Time needed

Your pace

700 ft each way, plus miles of river trail

Parking

Free lots

Dirt overflow lot for RVs and trailers

Pylon height

217 ft

The pylon is also the sundial’s pointer

What you’ll see

A glass bridge that tells time

The Sundial Bridge is three things at once: a river crossing, a working sundial and the front door to Redding’s river trail system.

The Sundial Bridge’s tall white pylon rising above the north-bank plaza against a clear evening sky
The pylon from the plaza
Photo: cifraser1 on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Start here

Walk the glass deck

The 700-foot deck is surfaced with translucent, non-skid glass panels set in a steel frame with granite accents, so you can look down at the Sacramento River as you cross. Cables from the 217-foot pylon carry the whole span, with no supports in the water, which keeps the bridge clear of nearby salmon-spawning habitat. After dark the deck is lit from below.

RV tip: Redding summers often top 100°F, so walk the bridge early in the day or come back after dark, when the deck glows and the heat has eased.

More to see

  • The sundial plazaOn the north bank the pylon’s shadow sweeps across a large dial. It reads only from 11 am to 3 pm, moves about a foot a minute, and isn’t accurate in winter, when the shadow falls too far into the arboretum.
  • Sacramento River TrailThe bridge is the downtown entrance to Redding’s river trail system, and the paths along both banks are free to walk or ride.
  • Turtle Bay Exploration ParkThe bridge links the north and south campuses of the 300-acre park. Its museum, Forest Camp, Wildlife Woods and botanical gardens are the paid parts.
  • Riverside plazasPlazas sit at both ends, and the north-side plaza stretches down to the water so you can sit at the river’s edge.

Turtle Bay’s bridge facts

Translucent green glass panels of the Sundial Bridge deck stretching toward the white pylon
The glass deckPhoto: cifraser1 on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Bronze “Summer Solstice 1:00, June 21” marker set in white tile on the Sundial Bridge sundial plaza
The 1:00 solstice markerPhoto: Prayitno on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
The Sundial Bridge deck and white support cables spanning the Sacramento River, seen from beside the pylon base
Cables over the riverPhoto: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The Sacramento River flowing between tree-lined banks toward distant mountains, seen from the Sundial Bridge
The river from the bridgePhoto: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Why go

Redding’s landmark, and it costs nothing to see

Spanish architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava designed the bridge, his first free-standing bridge in the United States, and it opened on July 4, 2004. The McConnell Foundation, a private foundation based in Redding, funded most of its $24 million cost. The cable-stayed design hangs the deck from an inclined pylon built of 580 tons of steel and more than 4,300 feet of cable, so the bridge crosses the river without a single support in the water.

For RVers it’s an easy stop. The bridge is free and open daily, Turtle Bay’s parking is complimentary with a large dirt overflow lot set aside for RVs and trailers, and Marina RV Park is about 4 minutes away. Plan on a short stroll, or stretch it into a long walk or bike ride on the river trail.

Timing matters. The sundial reads only between 11 am and 3 pm and isn’t accurate in winter, while evening is the time to see the glass deck lit up. In summer, when Redding often tops 100°F, early morning and after dark are the comfortable hours.

The Sundial Bridge’s lit deck and white pylon under stormy evening clouds
The bridge lit at dusk
Photo: Prayitno on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Why it made our list

  • Free and open daily
  • A working sundial, one of the largest in the world
  • A glass deck you can see the river through
  • The gateway to Redding’s river trail system
  • An overflow lot for RVs and trailers

For RVers

Visiting the bridge with an RV

The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.

Use the RV overflow lot

Turtle Bay’s parking is complimentary, and the park encourages RVs and trailers to use the large dirt overflow lot next to the Sundial Bridge lot. More overflow parking is at the Rodeo Grounds. Turtle Bay isn’t responsible for vehicles or anything left inside, so lock up and keep valuables out of sight.

Bring the dog on a leash

Leashed dogs are welcome on the Sundial Bridge, the Sacramento River Trail and in the Botanical Gardens, but not in Turtle Bay’s paid areas such as the museum. Waste bags are at the bridge and in the parking lot, and Turtle Bay asks that pets never be left unattended in vehicles.

Plan around the heat

Turtle Bay notes that Redding summers often top 100°F. The deck and plazas are open to the sun, so walk in the morning or evening, carry water, and on hot days leave pets at camp rather than in a parked rig.

Smoke-free, and stay on the paths

The bridge and the surrounding river trails are smoke-free, including vapes. Stay on marked paths: Turtle Bay warns that rattlesnakes, deer and birds of prey can turn up along the trails and in the gardens.

What visitors say about Sundial Bridge

The visitor report card

We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 24, 2026.

A world-famous pedestrian bridge and public art installation.

Turtle Bay Exploration Park, describing the bridge · turtlebay.org

Google

4.7/5

6,828 reviews

Read

Tripadvisor

4.5/5

1,522 reviews

Read

Yelp

4.6/5

382 reviews

Read

All three sites

4.7/5

8,700+ reviews combined

Average weighted by review count. All three sites rate the bridge between 4.5 and 4.7.

What visitors often mention

Recurring themes in Google’s review topics

River trailsGlass bridgeSundialArboretum

Google’s review topics point most often to the trails (399 reviews), the glass bridge itself (150), the sundial (69) and the arboretum next door (45). Yelp doesn’t show review highlights for the bridge. Checked October 24, 2026.

The bridge by the numbers

Sundial Bridge dimensions in feet: deck width 23, pylon height 217, bridge length 70023 ftDeck width217 ftPylon height700 ftBridge length

Dimensions from Turtle Bay’s Sundial Bridge statistics. The pylon doubles as the sundial’s pointer, and its shadow moves about a foot a minute.

Good to know

Bridge & river trailsFree open daily

ParkingFree RV overflow lot

Sundial reads11 am–3 pm not accurate in winter

Paid areas next doorMuseumForest CampWildlife WoodsBotanical Gardens

From Turtle Bay’s Sundial Bridge and Plan Your Visit pages, checked October 24, 2026. Admission for the paid areas is listed on Turtle Bay’s website.

Know before you go

Plan your visit

Sundial Bridge

  • Address844 Sundial Bridge Dr., Redding, CA 96001
  • HoursOpen daily
    Lit after dark. Turtle Bay’s buildings keep set hours.
  • Phone(530) 243-8850 (Turtle Bay)
  • CostFree. Paid areas: plan your Turtle Bay visit
  • Getting thereFrom I-5, head west on CA-44 and take the Auditorium Drive exit, then follow Sundial Bridge Drive to the Turtle Bay lots.
  • ParkingComplimentary lots at Turtle Bay, with a large dirt overflow lot for RVs and trailers next to the Sundial Bridge lot and more overflow at the Rodeo Grounds.
Official info Get directions

The bridge is free and open daily, but Turtle Bay’s museum, gardens and Forest Camp keep set hours. Check Turtle Bay’s daily calendar if you plan to add them.

Where to stay nearby

RV parks near Sundial Bridge

These are the Redding parks we have visited and written up, closest first. Marina RV Park sits on the same stretch of the Sacramento River, just downstream.

Travel trailers parked under large oak trees at dusk at Marina RV Park in Redding
About 4 min · 1.2 mi via Park Marina Dr

Marina RV Park

Riverside park on Park Marina Drive with 30-amp sites for rigs up to 40 ft, a pool, and nightly or monthly stays.

See Marina RV Park

Fifth wheels parked along a shaded paved road at Boulder Creek RV Resort in Redding
About 6 min · 3.3 mi via I-5 S

Boulder Creek RV Resort

Formerly Premier RV, with 65-ft pull-thrus, a pool and dog parks on Redding’s north side.

See Boulder Creek

Fifth wheels and trailers parked under red-leafed trees at Green Acres RV Park
About 10 min · 4.5 mi via I-5BL/S Market St

Green Acres RV Park

Concrete full-hookup sites, a pool and a dog park on Westside Road. Note that the park has no restrooms.

See Green Acres

Helpful answers

Frequently asked questions

The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.

Yes. Turtle Bay says the Sundial Bridge and the surrounding river trails are free and open to the public daily. Only Turtle Bay’s museum, Forest Camp, Wildlife Woods and botanical gardens charge admission.

Turtle Bay’s parking is complimentary, and RVs and trailers are encouraged to use the large dirt overflow lot next to the Sundial Bridge lot. Additional overflow parking is available at the Rodeo Grounds.

Yes, on a leash. Pets must be leashed on the Sundial Bridge, the Sacramento River Trail and in the Botanical Gardens, and they aren’t allowed in Turtle Bay’s paid areas. Don’t leave pets unattended in vehicles.

The shadow traces such a large arc that it records only four hours a day, from 11 am to 3 pm. It isn’t accurate in winter, when the shadow falls too far into the arboretum. When it’s visible, the shadow moves about one foot per minute.

Yes. The bridge carries cyclists as well as people on foot, and it connects to the paved Sacramento River Trail, so many visitors ride across as part of a longer loop. Share the deck with walkers.

The deck is made of non-skid glass panels, and Turtle Bay offers complimentary wheelchair and stroller rentals during park hours on a first-come, first-served basis.

Open daily · Free

Ready to walk across the river?

Park in the RV overflow lot, cross the glass deck, and come between 11 am and 3 pm if you want to watch the sundial at work.

Plan your visit

or call (530) 243-8850

Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: cifraser1 (pylon, glass deck), Prayitno (1:00 marker, bridge at dusk) and inderwadhwa (sunset) under CC BY 2.0 and CC BY-SA 3.0, and Doug Kerr (cables, river view) under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; the images were resized. Video: Destination UpClose on YouTube (bridge walk). Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.

Disclaimer

RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Sundial Bridge unless otherwise stated.

The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including Turtle Bay Exploration Park’s published materials and publicly available sources. Hours, rules and other details are set by Turtle Bay Exploration Park and the City of Redding and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm details directly with Turtle Bay at turtlebay.org or (530) 243-8850. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.

We will always do our best to keep this page up to date. Thank you to everyone who contributes; we truly appreciate your help and support.

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