The Goat Canyon Trestle - The World's Largest Wooden Railroad Trestle

In southern Anza Borrego Desert rests the largest freestanding wooden trestle in the entire world: the Goat Canyon Trestle. Built in 1932, this engineering marvel requires a 16+ mile round trip hike across (as of this writing) abandoned railroad tracks, through train tunnels, and over smaller wooden railroad trestles. By the time you see the trestle, it's clear why this railroad was deemed "the impossible railroad."

[@jeffinjersey9094]

"Down In The Valley" by The Head And The Heart, perfect song for this vid

[@MillerMeteor74]

I enjoyed the scenery, the wildflowers, and the beautiful girl.😊 And cool trestle of course.

[@dougbillman2333]

Lucky man, to be following her, lol.......

[@allancron1936]

Beautiful lady, beautiful scenery, I was wondering when this rail road was last used , what an opertunity to set up a speeder tour operation as track still looks in reasonable order and those trestle are truly amazing feat of engineering indeed. Great video thanks ever so much for sharing.

[@Welzy79]

Hugh Jassel such a good ass

[@makpazon11]

2008 railroad last used (wilipedia).

[@HardRockMaster7577]

Loved your use of the drone. I would have like to have seen you use the drone to take some close-ups of collapsed tunnel entrance.

[@clayboutin400]

At about the 4:37 mark, behind the bridge, there is something coming out of the mountain that looks like it connected to the road / pathway / trail that is across from it. Is that an old road?

[@dougbillman2333]

One is next to my home town, doesn't get used anymore... Be one of a kind..,...

[@tre57production]

Thanks for sharing beautiful

[@robertmcdonnold3038]

The other smaller trestles are called the seven sisters.

[@dougbillman2333]

Rail road trestle, east ridge, Butte Montana

[@makpazon11]

Beautiful all around. So much magic in this clip.

[@melperry3576]

you have a keeper, give her credit

[@-Stephen-]

+1

[@bobbyphillips7302]

youre a pretty woman

[@ijakis1891]

I love bridges.... I love your video... Greetings from Mediterranean and Greece!!!

[@davidhuber9418]

thank you!

[@claytonhowe2309]

Beautiful. Been there.

[@rubenrodriguez3164]

Nice video, the music was chillingly well placed too. it looks beautiful. (The poor girl looks sunburnt already haha!)

[@christophertmunro4503]

That's the kind of thing & place I would LOVE to go and see up close & personal!!!!

[@Peter43John]

No, Florida East Coast RR Key West Extention: now THAT'S the impossible railroad!

[@jamesleathers5488]

Best music selection of any similar video on KZbin !!! great job ...

[@-Stephen-]

Thanks, James! I'm glad you liked the music/video. The song really seemed to fit the mood and scenery of this trip.

[@tmaster3332]

love this, I would love to see you hike the Kinsol Trestle on Vancouver island, built in 1920 and restored in 2011, largest wooden trestle in Canada

[@metingokbulut837]

Siz güzelsiniz müzik güzel doga güzel video güzel teşekkürler Türkiye'den semlar

[@roberts.1400]

Appears it might be used again - I was in Jacumba Hot Springs recently - I wish I had heard of this trestle prior as I certainly would have taken the hike... This link explains the plans to resume operations - kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3e0oWZ9jZt2la8&feature=emb_logo

[@garfto1]

Woah, I would love to go there.. But I don't live in the US.. I live in Slovakia.. But very nice footage!

[@michaeloakes2200]

she's beautiful

[@alanbellkey4592]

Great video I love all the wildflowers in spring like that awesome job And what a cool old railroad line

[@David-nl1zt]

Great video, love the camera angles and the wildflowers. Heard they are trying to reopen this rail line.

[@-Stephen-]

Thanks, David C! Glad you liked the video. I hadn't heard anything about the reopening of the rail line, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone gets it up to shape and running again.

[@AbuPaul]

I think you hiked in from the other side than all the other videos I have seen!

[@urs2867]

Well done your movie. A beautiful area when everything is still blooming. I was on the same hike in April 2017

[@-Stephen-]

Thanks, Urs! I'm glad you liked the video and got to experience the hike for yourself. It's one of the more unique hikes I've been on, and the super bloom made the trip all the more memorable.

[@dougbillman2333]

Mine is all steel though... Butte Montana, east ridge......

[@dougbillman2333]

Can't believe they just Left those cars there......

[@rica967]

Great video, love the vertical shot looking down! Fantastic!

[@-Stephen-]

Thanks, Ricardo! Glad you liked the video.

[@dougbillman2333]

Been thinking about turning one of them into a house...

[@rparret]

Excellent photography!

[@-Stephen-]

Thanks!

[@randallgreen6746]

Nice job on the video. 👌

[@edwardmounsey9208]

Is the line still operating? Seems that I’ve seen recent videos of a train going from California eastward to the end of the line including over the tressel?

[@-Stephen-]

This gives a good description of the history and current usage of the treacle: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goat_Canyon_Trestle Looks like it's been out of operation since 2008.

[@George21113]

That'd make a great ATV trail!!

[@eriknielsen138]

What’s the easiest way to get to that bridge

[@NadiMich]

What a beautifully edited video, who is the singer? We did the trail from the other side last year. I just realized how beautiful the desert is.

[@-Stephen-]

Thanks for the kind words, Juan. Glad you liked the video and that you've experienced this trail for yourself. The singer is "The Heart and the Head," and the song is called "Down in the Valley."

[@Flashback50s]

Great use of drone......sad but tunnels have gates now...…...

[@-Stephen-]

Interesting. I didn't know they closed this down. It was fun while it lasted.

[@mikepedersen1061]

Rattlesnake flowers

[@drew002002]

Great video! How long did it take you to complete the trip? I might have to take a trip down there and go check it out.

[@-Stephen-]

Thanks Andrew! This trip is about 9 miles and it's flat the entire way, so if you're walking the entire time, you could probably knock this out in ~4 hours. It's a fun hike, but be mindful of two things: (1) it's exposed, it gets hot, and there are zero water sources, and (2) hiking the railroad route may technically be trespassing. Just do your research and go into this one with eyes wide open, and you should have fun.

[@adamfrbs9259]

Just guessing but massive timbers then were probably dirt cheap....they had big equipment then and a rail line built to haul it there, they could've brought a shitload of that hill down and just filled it in. Today with big timber way more expensive and heavy equipment much easier to come by I bet that's how they'd do it now.

[@Steve-hf6ox]

Wow

[@adamfrbs9259]

When I watch this I hear yelling....."Bohannon!!" Lol

[@Crewsy]

As in Joe?

[@adamfrbs9259]

@@Crewsy not sure first name...lead actor in Hell On Wheels show....good show.

[@sammarachino5427]

Again repeating the fella below me.... Video editing done quite nicely, the video itself was done quite nicely. And the music was apropos and it left one with a feeling of abandon. One negative comment... I think you're absolutely nuts to walk on that lower catwalk not me baby LOL

[@-Stephen-]

Thanks Sammorxman! Glad you liked the video. And my wife thought I was nuts too, so your opinion is in good company!

[@sammarachino5427]

Stephen Blea so Steve if I may call you that did you look down and what did it feel like. BTW my name is Sam

[@-Stephen-]

Hi Sam. Looking down felt precarious. Definitely don't want to be too foolhardy on a structure as old as that.

[@don679]

Awesome trestle, and awesome drone footage

[@-Stephen-]

Thanks Don. Glad you liked the video.

[@מיכהפישביין]

גשר עץ מקסים והכל מעץ? אני העשה כזה מודל בעתיד בטוח..קשה. מענין ומענג..

[@jcmac185]

Really well done!

[@-Stephen-]

Thanks!

[@ryaninman6307]

That was really nicely done, good music selection. nice place to get away.

[@-Stephen-]

Thanks for the kind words, Ryan. It's a really special place. Glad you liked the video.

[@georgebrouillette7820]

ryan inma

[@kendesjarlais7577]

nice lil vid-- not exactly-'' tom pettys, freefallin'' but at least the musicians doin the song used an acoustic instead of a ukulele lol-- not really your problem stephen, ha@@-Stephen-

[@edwardbenkert2618]

That was awesome

[@-Stephen-]

Thanks!

[@aurktman1106]

I read where they are doing a study on reactivating that section of line.

[@hastingsbnsfnscalemodeler8594]

Two things - first off, great video. Second, how was this video monetized when you have fewer than 1000 subscribers?

[@-Stephen-]

Hey there, glad you liked the video. I don't monetize anything, this is just for fun. The copyright holder for the song playing in the video apparently asked for commercials in exchange for use of their media. A deal that's ultimately fine by me.

[@hastingsbnsfnscalemodeler8594]

Stephen thanks, I didn’t know that.

[@jeffinjersey9094]

Wonder if that trestle is safe for rail carting?

[@-Stephen-]

I've heard that actual trains ran over that thing as recently as a decade ago. Seems a little risky, but I would bet rail carting would be possible.

[@jeffinjersey9094]

@@-Stephen- Rail carting on my bucket list but tough to find anywhere to do this in NJ. Perfect place to do this is the old CNJ Southern spur line once used by the famous Blue Comet in the 1930s. It has been partially restored from Manchester to Lakewood but still sits idle? For more go to abandoned rails.com/Lakewood to Winslow Junction Email me at [e-mail] for many cool pictures I took myself walking those tracks. Many still there but overgrown with pine trees, like a trip in a time machine. Obviously I`m a stone rail fan lol :)

[@devairalves9038]

Belíssimo lugar ,com uma belíssima garota .

[@jimihendrix1575]

Where's that mute button...

[@LuisMendoza-nk6nq]

♥♥♥♥♥

[@permadifauza5251]

☺ wow man.. ha woman

[@Allriteyeah12]

Which country?

[@-Stephen-]

USA.

[@Allriteyeah12]

@@-Stephen- cool tahnsk

[@kathrynmulryan4340]

Hi, how many miles is the hike? Also where can you park? Thanks

[@stephenblea8991]

Hi Kathryn. The hike is approximately 16 miles round trip, and there are several points where you could potentially start. If you're coming from San Diego, take the 8 East and exit on Ocotillo. From there, head towards the wind turbines. There's quite a bit of off-roading, but you'll eventually find a railroad, as well as several different areas where you could potentially park. I'd recommend searching for more specific parking places online.

[@Steve-xf4uv]

Anyone know whose rail line this is & why it was abandoned ? Looks like it was not long ago.

[@skydiverclassc2031]

According to the Wiki article, it was in service until the late 90's, and parts of it until the early 2000's. Maintenance has always been a problem, plus it runs from San Diego down through Mexico and back to the US in the Imperial Valley. It was built in the early part of the 20th Century to connect SD with the Southern Pacific line in eastern California. Previously you had to go all the way up to LA and catch an eastbound train through Barstow to get anywhere east.

[@ernestturnage3653]

Jenga.

[@jwrestoration5513]

This video just moved me to get out of the house

[@jockellis]

It doesn’t look as big as the one that crossed a valley on the long gone Tallulah Falls RR in NE Georgia. My cousins and I were caught in the middle when a southbound log train’s whistle was heard. I didn’t know I could run so fast on wooden ties.

[@christianfreedom-seeker934]

You got that from a Steven King movie "The Body" unless it actually did happen.

[@jockellis]

@@christianfreedom-seeker934 Troll. It actually happened. Believe it or not, many kids walk on trestles when they shouldn’t oughter.

[@christianfreedom-seeker934]

Does anyone know what year the "Goat" was abandoned?

[@kjhenriksen9967]

2012

[@jonmacdonald5345]

Wonderhussy was Just There!

[@-Stephen-]

I'll have to check out her video! Thanks for the info.

[@fredrichardson8647]

what the name of this song and is it on any cd .and where can you get it????

[@stephenblea8991]

Hi Fred. Here's the Amazon link to the CD: www.amazon.com/Head-Heart/dp/B004IXWI6E/ref=tmm_acd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= It's by a band called The Heart and the Head, and the song is called "Down in the Valley."

[@fredrichardson8647]

thank you Stephen Blea

[@Crewsy]

An absolutely beautiful trestle on a part of a rail line that needs to be modeled on a train layout the curves around the different slopes and the mini trestles need to be a part of it. Thanks for posting the Wikipedia link in another comment since I was going to look it up myself. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Apparently now the tunnels are gated and locked. ☹️

[@courtneyhall7140]

love the music,absolutely outstanding video,period.

[@-Stephen-]

Thanks, Courtney!

[@nick90304]

How do u get there

[@-Stephen-]

Hey Nick. It's technically a part of Anza Borrego Desert State Park, east San Diego County area. I got here through a small town called Ocotillo.

[@nick90304]

Stephen Blea Thanks braddah

[@eds1994fatboy]

You would think that people would get together and open those tracks for speeders to travel.......Yep.....Wonderhussy was here just last week before the rains came.

[@rickobrien4025]

It (they) are closed as of 12-18. Railroad Police patrol on karts and issue citations 1,000.00 bucks ! Tunnel entrances are locked.

[@imchris5000]

only a matter of time and this will get burned down now that its abandoned

[@Cockroach2008]

Looks like the kind of a trestle where 5 gallons of kerosene poured about & a lit match would be an improvement!