Is The Little Golden Gate Bridge in Arkansas a Best Kept Secret?

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Franciso is one of the top landmarks in the United States but have you ever crossed over the Little Golden Gate Bridge in Arkansas?

Little Golden Gate Bridge

Well, that's the name of the 70+-year-old Beaver Bridge in Arkansas that has been renamed the Little Golden Gate Bridge due to its eerie similar look. The wooden suspension bridge that crosses over the White River is the last one of its kind in Arkansas unlike the Golden Gate Bridge which is orange in color this bridge is yellow.

Of course, it's not quite as big as the Golden Gate Bridge(4,200 feet), the Little Golden Gate Bridge is 554 feet wide but is very narrow at only 11 feet wide. The bridge is held up by two steel cables that rest over two towers in concrete piers, the bridge has gone through several repairs over the years most recently in 2019 replacing the bridge deck.

Narrow Bridge

It is so narrow that only one car at a time can drive over it, the bridge leads into a very small community of Beaver. Like most suspension bridges you may feel the bridge sway back and forth as you drive over it, just don't look down. There is also a strict weight limit on the bridge as well.

The bridge carries Arkansas Highway 187 over the White River at Table Rock Lake, the Little Golden Gate Bridge is the only suspension bridge that is open to traffic in Arkansas. There are some very nice cabins and an Airbnb cottage near the Little Golden Gate Bridge that is simply a beautiful place to stay.

Movie Fact

If the bridge looks familiar that's because it was seen in the 2005 movie, Elizabethtown, and a nearby railroad bridge was seen on the television mini-series The Blue and The Gray.

The river crossing has historical significance dating back to before the Civil War. The bridge coincides with a ferry landing by William A. Beaver in 1850 who settled in the Ozark Mountain Region where the town Beaver got its name.

The bridge that was constructed in 1949 is on the National Register of Historic Places. If you are curious about how to get there follow these directions to see this charming bridge.

Now that you know about the Little Golden Gate Bridge, have you ever been to the Little Grand Canyon in Arkansas?