OVER THE BOW: THE OLD SALMON FALLS BRIDGE & FOLSOM LAKE

 History is a symphony of echoes heard and unheard. It is a poem with events as verses. ---Charles Angoff 

The water was low. So low, I doubt the summertime crowds would recognize the place just off the Salmon Falls Road at the Skunk Hollow access to Folsom Reservoir. It's the usual take out spot for rafters and kayakers after running the South Fork of the American River. Bustling with traffic on any hot summer day, but on a quiet afternoon in February, I had the place pretty to myself.

It was a long walk down the grade to the water. The exposed rock and dirt of the rim of the reservoir resembled the surface of Mars from the vegetation down to the stream, while parch white and sand-colored boulders are blotches along the water's edge.
I sunk into the mud and muck up to my ankles along the shoreline, plowing my boat's keel through the sediment of goo before I found solid footing and clear water.
There was current here as the river converges with the lake. In places, the water tumbles over rocky slopes saying it's way to shallow to paddle much upstream. Feeling the tug of the current, I paddle towards the lake.

It's a pretty lonely spot. I marvel at the engineering of the rock retaining walls built by hand in the 1850s to support the Natomas Ditch that supplied water to the miners, wineries, and ranches along the banks of the South Fork of the American River. Historical records say, By 1853, the Natoma Company had constructed 16 miles of canals and ditches to divert water from the river, particularly from upriver at the Salmon Falls area, and carried it to Mormon Island and Prairie City. Of course, the construction of Folsom Dam in the 1950s ended that, making that ditch obsolete and a footnote in the area's history.

As I moved, further along, I caught sight of the old Salmon Falls Bridge looming ahead. The only remnant left behind of the washed away gold mining town of Salmon Falls, now also under the lake. Now the out of place monolith spanned the lake partially submerged in the water and was lined with caution buoys.
Built-in 1925, the bridge is now dubbed Hidden Bridge because it's usually covered over by the lake. It is said, on extremely rare occasions, when the reservoir is low enough, the bridge is accessible for foot traffic like it was during the drought year of 2014. During that year, it was the last time I paddled here, and I paddled under it.

Over the Bow is a feature from Outside Adventure to the Max, telling the story behind the image. If you have a great picture with a great story, we would love to see it. Submit it to us at nickayak@gmail.com

Want to see more about Outside Adventure to the Max. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram