Oregon's Covered Bridges

Between 1905 and 1925 Oregon had around 450 covered bridges in total, but by 1977 that number had dropped to 56. The remaining covered bridges were added to the National Register by the State Historic Preservation Office due to public concerns about the dwindling number. Some of the covered bridges we visited aren’t on the State Historic Preservation list.  

If the print is too small to read, click on the photo and it will enlarge. 

Drift Creek Covered Bridge by Otis
We visited all the bridges in 2023 except this one.  We took this photo in 2018 when we were renting a home by this bridge.  Built in 1914, the bridge is 66 feet long. The original bridge was about 1.5 miles from the ocean and once carried the main north–south route along the coast. Newer bridges later carried most of the north–south traffic and, after a concrete bridge bypassed the Drift Creek Bridge in the 1960s, Lincoln County preserved it as a pedestrian crossing and a monument to 19th-century pioneers. In 1988, however, county officials closed the bridge entirely after rot and insect damage made the structure unsafe. The county dismantled the bridge in 1997 and gave the timbers to Laura and Kerry Sweitz, who owned land 8 miles north of the Drift Creek site. In 2000, the Sweitz family rebuilt the bridge and granted a permanent public easement at that site.

North Fork Yachats River Covered Bridge by Yachats
Otis Hamer, a veteran constructor of bridges, built the queen post truss structure for Lincoln County in 1938.  It was the last of his covered bridges. At 42 feet long, the bridge is one of the shortest covered bridges in Oregon.  After an accident damaged the bridge in 1987, county crews repaired it. They returned in 1989 for a more complete renovation, including new trusses, approaches, a new roof, and new siding. 

Fisher School Covered Bridge by Tidewater.
Built in 1919 and is 72 feet long. It was built by a group of farmers from the area.  It was scheduled for demolition in the 1970’s but was preserved by the local community with the aid of Lincoln County.  In 1998, an inspection showed the bridge had become unsafe and would need to be demolished or renovated.  A federal grant was obtained in 2001 with help from the Oregon Department of Transportation. It paid for most of the renovation.    

We had a choice between a long, paved route to the next bridge or a shortcut through the forest.  Well, we had a 4-wheel drive pickup so why not take the shortcut.  We almost backed out at the start when it looked like this.

The route got better at times, but it also got worse.

Where's the road?  We found two dogs running loose at the top of the pass.  They looked well-nourished but thirsty.  They were trying to climb into the truck.  We were miles from anywhere, so we loaded them in the  back of the truck and drove them to a real gravel road.  A local man took them in and found the owners the next day.

Deadwood Covered Bridge by Deadwood
Built in 1932 by Miller Sorensone for $4,814.00, it is 105 foot long.  Years later the bridge fell into disrepair.  Lane County officials decided to pay for repairs and by 1986 the bridge was fully restored.  

Nelson Mountain Covered Bridge by Greenleaf
  Also called the Lake Creek Covered Bridge, it was built in 1928 at the cost of $3,155.00 The bridge is 105 foot long.  The bridge had a major overhaul during the summer of 1984.   

Hayden Covered Bridge by Alsea
Also called the Alsea Covered Bridge, this bridge was built in 1918.  It is 91 feet long.  It is one of the only seven remaining covered bridges in Oregon that were built before 1920.  It was totally rebuilt in 1945 and then again in 2003 and again in 2006 after a driver of a logging truck crashed into it.  Nice swimming hole under the bridge.

Notice the long, narrow windows at the top of the wall and the ventilation along the bottom of the walls.

Irish Bend Covered Bridge by Corvallis
Built in 1954.  In 1975 the bridge fell into a state of repair.  It was dismantled in 1988 and reconstructed on Oregon State University property.  $30,000 was raised by the Irish Bend Advisory Committee and Benton County provided an additional $30,000 to fund the project. The bridge was completed in 1989.  

Ritner Creek Covered Bridge by Monmouth
Built in 1927 by Hamer and Curry Contractors at a cost of $6,964.  It is 75 feet long. In 1974, the bridge was deemed too hazardous and was removed from service. It was also threatened with complete removal to make way for road improvements. The people of the town of Pedee rallied to save it. In 1975, the bridge was moved from the highway and situated in the small park next to its former location. To raise money to keep the covered bridge intact, the Friends of the Ritner Creek Bridge sold engraved bricks, which were placed in a walkway at the bridge, for $75 each.

Ritner Creek Covered Bridge and the modern bridge that replaced it. 

Bricks sold to raise funds for bridge maintenance.

Harris Covered Bridge by Philomath
The bridge was built by H.W. Fiedler in 1936.  It is 75 feet long.  Some locals say it was really built in 1929.  Harris has been a community name since 1890, as one of the names of a pioneer landowner.  

Chitwood Covered Bridge by Toledo
The bridge was built in 1926 by Otis Hamer.  It was an uncovered bridge before that, but like a lot of uncovered bridges they did not stand up well to the harsh conditions of weather in the coastal range.  The covered bridge was scheduled for demolition but was instead improved in 1984 through a federally funded restoration project.  The bridge is 96 feet long. 

Wildcat Creek Covered Bridge by Walton
Built in 1925, this bridge is 75 feet long.  It has gone through lots of repairs through the years. Between 2005 and July 2012 Lane County minted commemorative coins for sale to the public to raise funds to maintain and repair covered bridges within the county.  The county issued 325 Wildcat Creek Bridge coins.  Lane county has 17 covered bridges.  

The bridge crosses Wildcat Creek just as it joins the Siuslaw River. 

Hwy 126 bridge crossing the Siuslaw River

Coyote Creek Covered Bridge by Crow
Built in 1922 and is 60 feet long.   The bridge suffered snow damage to its roof in 1969 as the weight of several feet of snow collapsed the roof.  The rafters were sawed off and the bridge was left uncovered until the county crews could repair it in the spring.  It was repaired once again in 2003.

Chambers Covered Railroad Bridge in Cottage Grove
Built in 1925 and is 78 feet long.  The covered bridge was built for the rail traffic, hauling logs to a lumber mill.  The mill closed in the 1950s after a fire burned the mill down for the second time.  The railroad tracks were removed, and the bridge was left.  It was removed in 2010 and replaced with a newly constructed bridge identical to the previous one which is open to pedestrians.

The bridge was constructed and owned by J.H. Chambers.  It was the last remaining, fully covered railroad bridge west of the Mississippi.  The original bridge regularly supported engines of up to 100 ton.  It crosses the Coast Fork of the Willamette River.  

Metal outlines portraying the trains that passed through the original Chambers Bridge adorn the walls.  Placards with information about the bridge were placed on the railing. 

Lumber boards were laid parallel on the bridge to simulate railroad tracks.  Clear roof helped illuminate the interior. 

Custom shortened locomotives stacked to fit inside the bridge. The last train passed through in 1951.  The tracks were a spur off the Southern Pacific Railroad. 

Metal outline of locomotive on east side of bridge. 

There was a kiosk with information panels on the east side of the bridge. 

Click on photo to enlarge for reading. 

Centennial Pedestrian Covered Bridge in Cottage Grove
This is a pedestrian bridge built in 1987 by volunteers to commemorate Cottage Grove’s 100th birthday and the town’s status as the “covered bridge capital of the west.” It is 84 feet long.  The lumber came from two demolished covered bridges. To build the bridge, residents raised money by selling personalized bricks and held several fundraising events.  

The Centennial Bridge led to Veterans Park where several information panels gave us more information about the area. 

Oregon Film Trail signs located by the Currin Covered Bridge.

Currin Covered Bridge by Cottage Grove
Built in 1925 and is 105 feet long.  The bridge was built by Nels Roney and like many bridges it was named after an early pioneer family who settled in the area.  The cost of the covered bridge was $4,205.00.  It has been repaired many times throughout the years and is now open only to pedestrians.  You can see the vehicular bridge that replaced it alongside.  

Mosby Creek Covered Bridge by Cottage Grove
Sometimes called Laying Bridge.  Is considered the oldest covered bridge in Lane County. Built in 1920 for $4,125. by Walter and Miller Sorenson, it is 90 feet long.  The bridge was named for 1853 pioneer David Mosby.  In 1990 the bridge was renovated and in 2002, the metal roof was replaced with a synthetic roof.  

Stewart Covered Bridge by Cottage Grove
Built in 1930 and is 60 feet long.  It was used for vehicular traffic until 1982 when it closed due to heavy damage from weather.  It was restored and then used as a pedestrian only bridge.  Now it is no longer used and is considered an inactive bridge.  This is one of the few bridges we couldn't walk onto. 

Dorena Covered Bridge by Cottage Grove
Sometimes called the Star Bridge because it provided access to the once extensive Star Ranch.  It was built in 1949 and is 105 feet long. Miller Sorenson supervised the construction, which cost $16,547. The bridge was named after two area residents Dora Burnette and Rena Martin using the combination of both their first names. The bridge was bypassed by a concrete bridge in 1974 and fell into disuse. In 1987 measures were made to restore it.

Parvin Covered Bridge by Lowell
Also known as Lost Creek bridge.  Built in 1880 and is 75 feet long. It was named after early pioneer settlers James and Salina Parvin.  In 1921, George Breeding rebuilt the bridge at a cost of $3,617.  In the 1970s the bridge was bypassed and only used for pedestrians.  In 1986 it was renovated and reopened for vehicle traffic.  In 1996 it was renovated again and raised an additional foot to increase clearance from river debris.  

Office Covered Bridge by Westfir
Also called the Westfir Covered bridge, it was built in 1924 and is 180 feet.  It is considered to be the longest covered bridge in Oregon.  High waters washed out the bridge and a second one was built in 1941. That bridge only lasted four years before high water took it out again.  The third and current bridge was built high to avoid storm waters and was designed to handle the size and load of logging trucks.  It is the only bridge in Oregon with a separate pedestrian walkway.  

We don't have very many photos of this nice bridge because there was a Mountain Bike Oregon event happening and a lot of vehicles and people around. 

Lowell Covered Bridge by Lowell
The original bridge was built in 1907 by Nels Roney for $6,295 and is 165 feet long.  In 1953 the whole bridge was raised six feet and the roadway rebuilt in case of flooding produced by the Dexter Dam.  The bridge was closed in 1981when a concrete bridge was built next to it.  The covered bridge is no longer used for vehicle traffic.

Informational panels about the bridge, covered bridges in general, and the area were located inside and outside the bridge. 

The windows sported colored lights above them.

I found this photo online of what the bridge looks like at night when the lights are lit.  Beautiful!

Cannon Street Covered Bridge – Lowell
This pedestrian bridge was built in 1988, is 20 feet long and is located in Rolling Rock Park. The bridge was set in the park to pay tribute to the town’s logging and railroad heritage.  The park also features outdoor exhibits that show the town’s logging and railroad heritage.

The sidewalk was made to look like it was a rail way.

Information on each piece of equipment is in the following photo. 

Lathyrus latifolius has many common names including; Perennial Pea, Sweet Pea, Everlasting Pea. Although pretty, this is a non-native species that can be weedy and invasive, as is indicated by its spread to almost every state in the United States. 

Unity Covered Bridge by Lowell
Sometimes called Fall Creek Bridge.  Nels Roney built the first bridge in 1890 for $2,925.  A second nearby covered bridge was built in 1936 and cost $4,400.  At 90 feet long, it was changed to a pedestrian bridge, then removed in 1953.  It is once again a vehicular bridge.  The Unity bridge was closed for repairs in 1986 and again in 2014.  

Pengra Covered Bridge – Fall Creek
Built in 1904 and is 120 feet long.  B.J. Pengra was a pioneer who surveyed Oregon in 1862.  The old railroad grade was later closed.  In 1979 the county received a grant for repairs from the Oregon Covered Bridge Program.  In 1995 it was repaired again and re-opened to traffic.  The roof was replaced in 2015.  

Earnest Covered Bridge by Marcola
Sometimes called the Mohawk River Bridge, it was built by A.N. Striker in 1903.  Later it was torn down and replaced by Lane County in 1939 for $2,449.  The new bridge, at 75 foot long, was named Earnest after a local area resident. In 1965 it served as a movie location for the movie “Shenandoah” starring James Stewart.  The film company altered the bridge to give it a Civil War era look and then, after filming, restored it with new siding and paint.  

Wendling Covered Bridge by Marcola
Sometimes called the Mill Creek Bridge, it is 60 foot long.  The bridge was built by Lane County in 1938 for $2,241.  The bridge was named after George Wendling who was a director of the booth-Kelly Lumber Company.  It was closed when we were there due to road work around it.   

Crawfordville Covered Bridge – Sweet Home
Built in 1932, it is 104 feet long.  The bridge was bypassed in 1963 by a concrete bridge and is inactive. The movie, “Flood!” was filmed here in 1976.      

Joel Whittlemore Covered Bridge in Sweet Home
This is a portable, 20-foot pedestrian covered bridge.  It was built in 1989 as a project in the high school building trades class, with the idea of promoting the conservation of covered bridges.  Joee Whittlemore bought the bridge, then donated it as a foot bridge in the city park.  

Weddle Covered Bridge in Sweet Creek
Built in 1937 and is 120 feet long.  It was bypassed in 1980 by a concrete bridge and was neglected.  The covered bridge became a safety issue and was scheduled to be demolished.  Residents and local covered bridge enthusiasts were not happy.  There is a story where one person chained himself to a bulldozer to prevent the bridge from being demolished.  The enthusiasts got Senator Mae Yih talked into saving Oregon’s covered bridges. The bridge was moved and rebuilt in the town of Sweet Creek over the Ames Creek in Sankey Park.  The bridge is closed to vehicle traffic but open to pedestrian traffic.

Too bad their nice information sign was covered by the opened gate.

Dahlenburg Covered Bridge in Sweet Creek by the Weddle Bridge.
This was a surprise find for us.  It was constructed in 1989 as a project undertaken by students at the Sweet Home High School shop class.  It is 20 feet long and was named in honor of Ben Dahlenburg, the instructor for the school’s construction trades program.

Short Covered Bridge by Foster
Built in 1945 and is 105 feet long.  It is located by a day use area with bathrooms and a short trail into the woods, which we followed.  There is a swimming hole under the bridge.  The bridge was also called the Whiskey Butte Bridge but was renamed for a long-time resident, Gordon Short.  

Gilkey Covered Bridge by Scio
Built in 1939, it is 120 feet long.  The bridge was named after the town of Gilkey.  The town itself was originally named after the settlers Allen and William Gilkey.  The bridge was closed in 1997 due to damage and, after repairs were done, it reopened in 1998.  The bridge is a great spot for swimming, rock hunting and fishing.  

Hoffman Covered Bridge by Scio
Built in 1936 by Lee Hoffman and is 90 feet long.  Sometimes called Hungry Hill Covered Bridge.  The bridge, like many, were built with hand tools.  No electric tools.  Both the town and the creek were named for John Crabtree who settled in this area in 1845.  People like to swim and fish near and at this bridge.  

Larwood Covered Bridge by Scio
Built in 1939 it is 105 feet long.  It was named after William Larwood who settled here in 1888.  The bridge was repaired in 2002.  Larwood Wayside County Park, next to it, provides swimming, fishing, and picnicking.  

Shimanek Covered Bridge by Scio
The first bridge built at this location is believed to have been constructed as early as 1861, while the first documented covered bridge was built in 1891 for the cost of $1,150.  The current structure is 130 feet long and replaced a similar structure severely damaged by the Columbus Day Storm of 1962.   It is the fifth bridge at this location.  When Nolan looked on Google maps in 2023, it showed the bridge was gone but was being rebuilt.  We checked it out anyway, it is finished and looks great!! 

Hannah Covered Bridge by Scio
This bridge was built in 1936 and is 105 feet.  It was named after John Joseph Hannah, a pioneer who settled in Oregon in 1853.  People like to fish and swim here.  Several TV commercials have been filmed at this site.  Bilyeu Den County Park, next to the bridge, has a pit toilet and steps down to the river.   

Jordan Covered Bridge in Stayton
This bridge was built in 1937 and is 90 feet long.  It got its name from the community of Jordan by which it was located.  As with a lot of the other bridges, it became too small for the vehicles, so Linn County officials decided to replace it.  A group of Stayton residents wanted to move the bridge.  It was rebuilt in Stayton and is a pedestrian bridge.  It can be rented out for wedding and other events.  

Silverton Creek Pedestrian Covered Bridge in Silverton
Located in the town square park, it has a memorial for Silverton fallen heroes.  We couldn't find much information on this bridge.  

The view from the bridge.  It has a wider area in the middle of the bridge and some photos online show a wedding taking place inside the bridge. 

Gallon House Covered Bridge by Silverton
Built in 1919 at the cost of $1,310, it is 84 feet long and is considered one of the oldest bridges in Oregon.  The name Gallon House is due to the bridge's use as a liquor drop for bootleggers.  The State of Oregon became a "dry state" when the Governor signed into law a prohibition on the sale of alcohol. At the time Silverton was "dry" and had a municipal code that prohibited liquor from being sold in town, while Mt. Angel on the other side of the bridge was "wet" and residents got around the law by "giving" each other alcohol, hiding the money that made it a sale rather than a gift. Operators at a liquor dispensary nearby sold "white lightening" whiskey by the gallon to Silverton residents from a little shack – a "gallon house" - located on the Mt. Angel side of the bridge. 

Pass Creek Covered Bridge in Drain
Official date of construction is listed as 1925.  Although others say it was constructed in 1906.  It is 61 feet long. It was moved downstream from its original location and was restored.  However, it has been closed to traffic since 1981.  There is a locked gate across it so people can’t walk on it.  

Graffiti under the bridge

Rochester Covered Bridge by Oakland

Built in 1933 by Floyd Frear, this bridge is 80 feet long. The bridge was almost lost to progress in the late 1950's as county workers had burned down another covered bridge in the local area to make way for an improved concrete bridge. Local residents fearing the same fate for this bridge, armed themselves and guarded the bridge overnight. As a result, the county decided to save the bridge from destruction.

Cavitt Creek Covered Bridge by Glide
Built in 1943 by Floyd Frear.  It is named after Robert Cavitt, who settled along the creek in the 1880's. The covered section of the bridge is 70 ft long.

Cedar Crossing Covered Bridge by Portland
This bridge was built in 1982 and is 60 feet long.  Although it isn't listed as a true covered bridge because it doesn't use a truss for support, Cedar Crossing represents Oregon’s commitment to a history rich in covered bridge lore.  

Rock O’ the Range Covered Bridge by
Bend
This 42-foot-long bridge was built in 1963 by Maurice Olson for about $4,500 for a property owner named Bowers to be able to get onto his property.  Bowers has dedicated the bridge to the public. Maintenance cost for the bridge is borne by landowners who use the bridge for access to their property.  The bridge is covered, but not technically considered a covered bridge because it is not support by a truss. 

Belknap Covered Bridge by Blue River
This bridge was originally constructed in 1890 and is 120 feet long.  It has had to be rebuilt three times and been repaired many more times after that.  The bridge was named after Rollin S. Belknap, an early settler.  The haze around it is smoke from several nearby forest fires.

Goodpasture Covered Bridge by Vida
Built in 1938 at the cost of $13,154 and is 165 feet long.  It was named for Benjamin Franklin Goodpasture, a pioneer farmer who lived in the area.   Our pickup was purchased at a dealership that is located on Goodpasture Road in Eugene.  We had wondered where the name came from.  Now we know.  In 1987, the bridge was failing under heavy traffic.  But instead of bypassing it with a new concrete and steel bridge, like so many other covered bridges, the county invested $750,000 to renovate the original structure.  

Sandy Creek Covered Bridge by Myrtle Point
Built in 1921 by A. Guthrie and company at the cost of $8,100, this bridge is 60 feet long.  It was bypassed by a steel and concrete bridge in 1949 and is no longer used.  It was restored in 1984 by volunteers from the Lions Club of Myrtle Point.  It is now in a small county park.  It is the only remaining covered bridge in Coos County.   

Myrtle Creek Covered Bridge by Myrtle Creek
This bridge is known by two names, Myrtle Creek and Horse Creek Covered Bridge. It was built in 1930 and is 105 feet long. The bridge was bypassed by a concrete bridge in 1968 then used as a pedestrian bridge until being dismantled in 1987. The bridge's wooden timbers were given to the City of Cottage Grove for salvage. Cottage Grove used some of the timbers to construct a small-scale covered bridge in their park.  That bridge is the Centennial Pedestrian covered bridge. The remaining lumber was donated to the City of Myrtle Creek in the spring of 1990. It was reassembled at its current location over Myrtle Creek at the city's Mill Site Park in 1993.

The bottom of the ceiling lists the donors who sponsor the bridge.

Neal Lane Covered Bridge by Myrtle Creek
Also known as the South Myrtle Creek Bridge, this bridge was built by the county for $1,000 in 1929 and is 42 feet long.  Some accounts claim the bridge was built in 1939.  

Canyon Creek Pedestrian Covered Bridge in Canyonville
We didn't know about this bridge until we saw it when we drove through town.  Built in 1976, it is located in Pioneer Park and is 75 feet long.  It was built there for a functional pathway over the creek.  

76 embedded in sidewalk notes the year the bridge was built.

Milo Academy Covered Bridge by Days Creek
The original bridge at this location was a wooden covered bridge constructed in 1920.  It was replaced by this 100' long, steel truss bridge in 1962 when the Academy deemed the original wooden bridge no longer safe for supporting the heavy farm vehicles needed for their agriculture program. The Milo Academy bridge is under the private ownership and maintenance of Milo Adventist Academy.  

Little Butte Creek/ Antelope Creek bridge in Eagle Point
Built in 1922 and is 58 feet long.  The bridge originally spanned Antelope Creek some 10 miles southeast of Eagle Point. In August 1987, the structure was loaded onto a makeshift trailer and volunteers hauled it to the city of Eagle Point. When the bridge was rebuilt at the new site, arched openings were cut into each side so school children could be watched as they crossed the span. This alteration caused the bridge to be removed from the National Register of Historic Places.

Lost Creek Covered Bridge by Eagle Point
Some claim this bridge was built between 1878 to 1881.  The official construction date is 1919.  The bridge is 39 feet long.  In 1979 the structure was closed to traffic when a concrete and steel bridge was constructed alongside of it. Adjacent to the bridge is the Walch Family Wayside Park. Descendants of pioneer settlers John and Marie Newsome Walch built and maintain the park, which includes picnic tables, a bandstand, flower gardens, and other amenities. 

This is the only bridge we found that had a visitor book. 

McKee Covered Bridge in Jacksonville
Built in 1917 by Jason Hartman, this bridge is Oregon's second oldest covered bridge.  It's named for Aldelbert "Deb" McKee who donated the land on which it was built.  It's one of the longest at 122 feet. It was in use for vehicular traffic until 1956 but is only for pedestrian traffic now. Since 1956 area residents have maintained the bridge, assisted at times by government funding.

This is a unique solution to the graffiti problem.  Looks like it worked.

The nearby park had a piano in the pavilion with the words "Please play me" written on it.  

Wimer by Rouge River
The original bridge was built in 1892 by J. W. Osbourne and was 85 feet long. In 1927 this bridge replaced the older span. There have been many repairs to the bridge over the years.  This bridge was very busy with vehicle traffic when we visited it.  

Love this totem pole next to the bridge.

Wild turkeys along the road.

Grave Creek by Wolf Creek
This bridge was built in 1920 and is 105 feet long.  When Interstate 5 was built nearby, ownership and maintenance of the Sunny Valley Loop Road, which includes Grave Creek Bridge, passed to Josephine County. In the late 1990s, the bridge was closed to traffic and was reopened in 2001 after repairs.  It was a very busy bridge when we were there.  There is a speed bump to slow traffic down right before crossing the bridge.  

This concludes our summer of checking out covered bridges.  If you know of any we missed, let us know in the comments below.  Same goes for any mistakes we have made.