Crossing a covered bridge in Oregon feels like stepping into another era—one where time slows and craftsmanship matters. Built from sturdy timber and wrapped in walls and a roof, these bridges were designed to shelter their bones from rain and sun, allowing them to endure far longer than an open crossing ever could.
Tucked away mostly in quiet, rural corners of the state, Oregon’s covered bridges feel like whispered secrets of the landscape. Lane County holds more of them than any other county west of the Mississippi, earning its place as the heart of this timeless tradition.
Below, we’ll share some of our favorites and the stories that make each one special. When you visit, pull over, step out of your car, and walk across. Run your hand along the weathered wood. Pause in the middle and imagine all the lives that have passed through—horse-drawn wagons, early automobiles, and now electric vehicles—each crossing adding another chapter to a story still being told.
Belknap Bridge, Lane County
The Belknap Bridge, also known as the McKenzie River Bridge, stretches gently across the emerald waters of the McKenzie River near the small community of Rainbow. Just three miles west of the town of McKenzie Bridge (which carries its name), this quiet crossing feels like a living memory tucked into the forest. The bridge you see today is the fourth to grace this spot, each one a testament to the river’s pull and the people drawn to its banks.
The story began in 1890, when the original Belknap Bridge was built by T. Thomson and named for the Belknap family, early pioneers of the McKenzie River valley. Rollin S. Belknap left a lasting mark on the area after discovering and developing Belknap Springs, a hot springs retreat nestled nine miles upstream—proof that this landscape has long invited rest, renewal, and wonder.
Time, traffic, and the river itself reshaped the bridge again and again. As years passed, replacements rose in 1911 and 1939, each serving its moment until the powerful Pacific Northwest flood of 1964 claimed the third bridge. Two years later, the current structure opened, resilient and ready to begin its own chapter. Thoughtful updates followed, including louvered windows to invite light, careful strengthening, and a new roof.
Surrounded by breathtaking scenery and rich with history, the Belknap Bridge stands today as more than a way across the river. Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979, it is a place to linger, to listen to the water below, and to feel the quiet romance of a bridge that has weathered more than a century of change.
Gallon House Bridge, Marion County
The Gallon House Bridge drapes gracefully over Abiqua Creek in rural Marion County, nestled between Mt. Angel and Silverton, its weathered timbers holding stories as rich as the land around it. Built in 1916 for just $1,310, this modest 84-foot covered bridge is Oregon’s oldest still in use—a living link to a past that feels almost tangible.
Its name carries a mischievous charm. During Prohibition, locals referred to it as the “Gallon House,” a nod to the gallon-sized jars of liquor discreetly sold by bootleggers beneath its roof. Whispered exchanges and the laughter of secret gatherings seem to linger in the air, carried away by the gentle flow of the creek. Even the great flood of 1964 couldn’t erase its presence; when the river swept it from its footings, the bridge was lovingly restored, returning as if it had never left.
Today, down a quiet road west of Highway 214, the Gallon House Bridge invites visitors to pause, touch its wooden beams, and imagine the lives, legends, and secrets that have passed beneath its roof. It stands as both a functional crossing and a romantic reminder of a bygone era—a place where history lingers softly and time seems to slow, just long enough to listen to the whispers of the past.
Gilkey Bridge, Linn County
The Gilkey Bridge rests quietly over Thomas Creek in Linn County, a graceful wooden crossing that feels woven into the landscape. Just southwest of Scio, it carries Goar Road much as it has for decades, linking the present to a place once known simply as Gilkey—a small railroad stop where travelers paused on their way through the valley.
Named for Allen and William Gilkey, early settlers whose roots in Oregon reach back to the mid-1800s, the bridge echoes a time when rail lines and creeks shaped daily life. Built in 1939 and stretching 120 feet across the water, it has weathered more than its share of challenges, yet continues to stand with quiet determination.
Though time and unexpected moments tested its strength, careful restorations—most recently in 2017—have renewed the bridge while honoring its original character. Today, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Gilkey Bridge invites visitors to slow down, listen to the creek below, and appreciate a crossing that has endured, graceful and steadfast, through generations.
Goodpasture Bridge, Lane County
The Goodpasture Bridge stretches gracefully across the McKenzie River near the small community of Vida, its long wooden span mirrored in the water below. As Oregon’s second-longest covered bridge, and one of its most photographed, it feels both grand and intimate, a beloved landmark framed by forest, river, and sky.
Built in 1938 and named for pioneer farmer Benjamin Franklin Goodpasture, the bridge has long served as a vital crossing two miles west of Vida. At 165 feet, it carries not just traffic but nearly a century of stories, earning its place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 for both its beauty and its role in Oregon’s transportation history.
When time and use began to wear it down, the community chose preservation over replacement. Careful restorations strengthened the bridge while honoring its original character, allowing it to continue welcoming travelers—from daily commuters to logging trucks—with quiet resilience.
Today, the Goodpasture Bridge stands as a symbol of devotion to history and place, and is cherished for the way it connects past and present.
Larwood Bridge, Linn County
Tucked away near Lacomb in Linn County, the Larwood Bridge rests quietly over Crabtree Creek. Set within Larwood Wayside Park, this covered bridge feels like a hidden pause in the landscape—a place where water, woods, and history meet.
Built in 1939 and lovingly repaired decades later, the bridge carries Fish Hatchery Road across the creek much as it has for generations. It bears the name of William Larwood, an early settler who once built a life here, complete with a store, a blacksmith shop, and a post office—small beginnings that anchored a growing community.
Though earlier bridges once stood nearby and have since faded into memory, Larwood Bridge remains, and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979.
Shimanek Bridge, Linn County
The Shimanek Bridge stretches across Thomas Creek just east of Scio, its long wooden frame reflecting the patience of time. As the longest covered bridge in Linn County, and its newest, it stands where crossings have existed for more than a century and a half, each one shaped by storms, floods, and the steady pull of the creek below.
Completed in 1966, the Shimanek Bridge replaced an earlier structure damaged by the fierce Columbus Day Storm of 1962, becoming the fifth bridge to grace this spot. From its earliest beginnings in the 1860s to the present day, this crossing has quietly evolved, carrying Richardson Gap Road and generations of travelers through the landscape.
Thoughtfully restored over the years, the bridge has endured challenges with resilience and care. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Shimanek Bridge invites visitors to slow their pace, listen to the water flowing beneath their feet, and appreciate a place where history, craftsmanship, and perseverance meet in quiet harmony.
Weddle Bridge, Linn County
The Weddle Bridge stretches gracefully across Ames Creek in Sweet Home, its 120-foot wooden span standing as a love letter to preservation and community spirit. Though it now rests in Sankey Park, the bridge’s story began near Scio, where it once crossed Thomas Creek before being replaced and nearly lost to history.
When the bridge faced destruction in the 1980s, local voices rose in protest, refusing to let it disappear. Their passion reached the halls of the Oregon Legislature, helping spark the Oregon Covered Bridge Program and securing the Weddle Bridge’s place as the first to be saved. Carefully rebuilt in 1989 with the help of residents, historians, and skilled craftsmen, the bridge found a new home and a renewed purpose.
Since then, the Weddle Bridge has continued to bring people together. Restored with the help of music festivals, donations, and countless helping hands, it has become a cherished gathering place—hosting celebrations, fundraisers, and even weddings. Today, it stands not just as a crossing, but as a symbol of what can endure when a community chooses to protect the beauty it loves.