La Jolla Troll Bridges
That’s right, there are La Jolla troll bridges hidden within the hills of Mt Soledad and they are worth your time to find if you are visiting the area. Skip to the bottom of this post for directions to both La Jolla troll bridges.
La Jolla troll bridge
While you’re unlikely to find any trolls living under these bridges, they are worth the drive over to explore the surrounding areas complete with multi-million dollar homes. Originally built by William French Ludington, the son of a local La Jolla family, in the 20s and 30s. The bridges were, of course, initially constructed to make it easier to access a plot of hard to get to land that was purchased by Ludington.
An early resident, Marguerite R. Ames, reminisces on them saying “the street was made of cobblestones, and as a little girl, I could hear the milk wagon go clopping by in the morning.” The La Jolla troll bridge’s aesthetic features are quite pleasing with beautiful landscaping that drapes over them and, of course, their amazing ocean views.
Bridge 1: 1501-1503 Kearsarge Rd. La Jolla, CA 92037 // 32.844028, -117.265141.
From 5 North
Exit onto La Jolla Pkwy 1.1 mi. Then continue onto Torrey Pines Rd 1.1 mi. Turn left onto Exchange Pl. 0.1 mi. Continue onto Soledad Ave 292 ft. Turn right onto Al Bahr Dr 0.1 mi. Keep going onto Kearsarge Rd.
From 5 South
Take Exit 26, CA-52 E, La Jolla Pkwy, and Torrey Pines Rd to Exchange Pl 9 min (5.1 mi) Continue onto CA-52 E 0.6 mi. Use exit 1B for Regents Rd toward Clairemont Mesa Blvd 0.3 mi. Keep to the left lane to turn left onto Regents Rd 0.1 mi. Use the left 2 lanes to turn left to merge onto CA-52 W 0.7 mi. Don’t forget to use the left 2 lanes to take the La Jolla Pkwy exit 0.5 mi. Keep going onto La Jolla Pkwy 1.1 mi. Continue onto Torrey Pines Rd 1.1 mi. Turn left onto Exchange Pl. 0.1 mi. Continue onto Soledad Ave 292 ft. Turn right onto Al Bahr Dr 0.1 mi. Continue onto Kearsarge Rd.
Bridge 2: 1818-1800 Puente Dr. La Jolla, CA 92037 // 32.845510, -117.259716.
From 5 North
I-5 N toward Los Angeles. Take exit 26A for W La Jolla Pkwy 0.7 mi. Continue onto La Jolla Pkwy 1.1 mi which will turn into Torrey Pines Rd 0.6 mi. Make sure to turn left onto Hillside Dr 217 ft. Turn left to stay on Hillside Dr 0.2 mi. Then turn right onto Castellana Rd.
From 5 South
Take Exit 26, CA-52 E, La Jolla Pkwy, and Torrey Pines Rd to Exchange Pl 9 min (5.1 mi). Use the left lane to turn left onto Regents Rd 0.1 mi. Use the left 2 lanes to turn left to merge onto CA-52 W 0.7 mi. Then left 2 lanes to take the La Jolla Pkwy exit 0.5 mi Please continue onto La Jolla Pkwy 1.1 mi which will turn into Torrey Pines Rd 0.6 mi. Turn left onto Hillside Dr 217 ft. Turn left to stay on Hillside Dr 0.2 mi. Turn right onto Castellana Rd.
