There are bridges that get you from one side of a river to the other, and then there is the Sundial Bridge — a structure so breathtaking that people drive hours just to stand on it and stare. Spanning the turquoise waters of the Sacramento River in the heart of Redding, this translucent glass-decked pedestrian bridge is one of the most photographed landmarks in all of California, and it earns every single snap.

Designed by the legendary Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava — the same visionary behind the Milwaukee Art Museum and the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia — the Sundial Bridge opened in 2004 and has been stopping people in their tracks ever since. Its soaring white steel pylon leans at a dramatic 217-foot angle over the south bank, and the entire structure doubles as a fully functional sundial, casting a shadow precise enough to tell the time on the summer solstice. That detail alone makes it worth the visit.

You’ll find the bridge anchored at Turtle Bay Exploration Park, right off Highway 44 on the north end of downtown Redding. Parking is easy and free along the riverside, and access to the bridge itself costs nothing. Step onto the frosted glass deck and you’ll feel the river moving beneath your feet — slightly unnerving in the best possible way. The glass panels are engineered to diffuse light beautifully, giving the whole surface a soft, luminous quality whether you’re crossing at noon or at golden hour.

Speaking of golden hour: come in the evening if you can. As the sun drops over the western hills, the pylon and cables catch the light in a way that makes the entire bridge seem to glow from within. Local photographers know this secret well, which is why you’ll often find a cluster of tripods set up on the south bank around 7 p.m. in summer. The reflections off the Sacramento River complete the picture.

The bridge connects to miles of riverside pathways that wind through native gardens and riparian habitat. Walk north into the Turtle Bay botanical gardens or head south toward the Diestelhorst Bridge for a longer loop. Egrets, herons, and the occasional river otter make regular appearances along the banks, so keep your eyes open.

If you have kids in tow — or even if you don’t — the Turtle Bay Exploration Park on the south side of the bridge is well worth a few hours. The museum features hands-on natural science exhibits and a butterfly house that operates seasonally. But truthfully, the bridge itself is the main event.

Redding gets a reputation as a pass-through city on the way to somewhere else, and that reputation is simply wrong. The Sundial Bridge is proof that world-class design can land anywhere — and in this case, it landed right here on the banks of the Sacramento, waiting for you to cross it.