If you’ve driven along the 5 Freeway near Griffith Park recently, you’ve probably noticed the beautiful, cable-still bridge on the right. This is the La Kretz Bridge, named after philanthropist Martin La Kretz, who donated the seed money for the bridge.

La Kretz Bridge joins the equestrian district of Atwater Village to Griffith Park, making it easier for horses & their riders to get to Griffith Park for the many equestrian trails there.

Before the bridge, horse & rider would have to cross the LA River to reach a tunnel that passes under the 5 freeway. If you were a pedestrian, you could also cross the LA River, or walk along Las Feliz, dodging the cars both entering & exiting the 5 free way.

The La Kretz Bridge has 2 sides, one for horses, and one for everything else — pedestrians, bicyclists, skateboarders, roller bladers, etc. The horse side has a path made for horse’s hooves, with tall wooden slats to block the horse’s view of the river on one side & the people/bicyclists, etc. on the other side. It wouldn’t do for a horse to get spooked on the bridge!

The pedestrian side is made of wooden slats along the path, with a railing that lets you enjoy the view of the river, if you want.

The bridge from Atwater Village towards Griffith Park ends on a busy bike path, so you’ll want to look both ways before continuing. If you’re on a horse, the dirt path that leads to the tunnel under the 5 freeway to Griffith Park is directly across the end of the bridge. This part of the path is well used by the equestrian community.

If you’re a bicyclist or hiker, you can also go to Griffith Park, or travel along the bike path north and south.

When Mr. La Kretz donated the funds, he wanted the bridge to be not only functional, but beautiful as well. He wanted a steel cable bridge, he wanted an iconic structure. This gorgeous bridge has definitely succeeded in both functionality and beauty.

You can access the La Kretz Bridge from North Atwater Park, which has a small parking lot.