The Carbon River suspension bridge is a highlight of the Wonderland Trail’s northwest section—a narrow, swaying footbridge that spans the powerful, silty waters of the Carbon River, just downstream from the snout of the Carbon Glacier. Even if you’re not staying at Carbon River Camp (just across the river), the bridge is just a short walk off the main trail and absolutely worth the stop.
From the middle of the bridge, you get dramatic views of the river’s braided channels, roaring with glacial melt, and a clear look up the valley toward the towering foot of the Carbon Glacier. The scale of the landscape is humbling—ice, rock, and rushing water all shaped by the slow but relentless movement of the glacier. It’s a perfect spot to pause, catch your breath, and take in one of the most dynamic, glacially sculpted scenes on the entire Wonderland Trail.