Bridge of the Gods

Bridge of the Gods is a steel cantilever toll bridge carrying traffic between Cascade Locks, Oregon, and Washington State Route 14 across the Columbia. It is 1,858 feet long and rises about 140 feet above the river. It is a working landmark and trail crossing, best appreciated from shore. For the close view, head to Thunder Island in Cascade Locks Marine Park, a small islet reached by pedestrian bridge. From there, the river sits below the span and the steelwork against the Gorge. For photos, keep a slice of river below the deck so the bridge reads as a crossing, not just a roadway.

The present bridge opened in 1926. When Bonneville Dam raised the Columbia’s backwater, the bridge had to be lifted 44 feet; the work finished in 1940. The Pacific Crest Trail crosses here between Oregon and Washington, at the trail’s lowest elevation. The same span is part of a daily road commute and a marker on a very long walk from Mexico to Canada. Give the trusses a look from shore, where you can see the whole structure rather than only the road deck.

Vehicles pay a toll to use the bridge. People on foot and bikes are allowed too, but there is no sidewalk or protective barrier on the narrow two-lane span. You share the road with traffic, so use the shore for a relaxed look and cross only if that is part of your route. Bridgeside, a diner beside the crossing, is known for its charbroiled Char Burger if you want food nearby.