Cottage Grove Covered Bridge Byway
Just 20 miles south of Eugene, the Cottage Grove Covered Bridge Byway is a great way to spend half your day and get in a little practice with that new camera.
Claiming the title of The Covered Bridge Capitol of Oregon, Cottage Grove is home to seven such covered spans, and in March of 2003 the Cottage Grove Covered Bridge Byway was established to preserve this structural aspect of Southern Willamette Valley history.
Bridge Tour Route
Dorena Bridge: To reach the first of the bridges, Dorena Bridge, one must drive down I-5 to Row River Road at Exit 174, and turn eastward, driving around the northern side of Dorena Lake. Dorena Bridge sits at the confluence of Row River Road and Government Road (also known for a stretch as Shoreview Drive).
Stewart Bridge: The second bridge, Stewart Bridge, is found by traveling westward again, but this time along Government Road/Shoreview Drive to Garoutte Road. Turning left on Garoutte, the bridge is located at the road’s termination at Mosby Creek Road.
Mosby Creek Bridge: A right turn onto Mosby Creek Road will bring a bridge seeker to Mosby Ranch/Layng Road where the Mosby Creek Bridge is situated.
Currin Bridge: Continuing on Mosby Ranch/Layng Road, one will find the Currin Bridge, the fourth in the series, near the end at Row River Road.
Chambers Railroad Bridge: To reach the remaining three, one must make a left turn onto Row River Road and travel to North Pacific Highway where a left (southward) turn will bring one into Cottage Grove proper. A right onto East Main will render Chambers Railroad Bridge in a few blocks, marking the central point of downtown Cottage Grove.
Centennial Bridge and Swinging Bridge: A left turn onto South River Road will yield Centennial Bridge before it crosses Bryant Avenue. Just a little further ahead Harrison Avenue cuts across South River Road where a left turn will present Swinging Bridge, the seventh and final in the tour for the persistent seeker.
A romantic backdrop of days gone by, many of the bridges are popular sites for weddings and professional photography, as well as less formal photo ops for the more casual shooter. With the convenience of refreshing swimming holes near some of the bridges, one can find cool water revelers on hot summer afternoons swimming, tubing, splashing and relishing.
Constructed between 1843 and 1949, most the bridges have undergone renovations to restore and/or maintain their beauty and integrity as well as serviceability. The one exception to the “antique” rule is Centennial Covered Footbridge which was constructed in 1987 to commemorate Cottage Grove’s 100th Anniversary.
After the hour or two spent on the tour of the Byway, downtown Cottage Grove is a great little place to shop for a refreshing drink or meal, or just to shop for the rest of the afternoon.
Written by C.A. Clark for DiscoverEugene.com
