Nelson Mountain Covered Bridge stands in Oregon.

Covered bridges like this one were built with roofs and siding not for the comfort of travelers but to protect the load-bearing timber trusses from rain and snow. Without this protection, exposed wooden bridges typically lasted only ten to fifteen years, while covered bridges could stand for a century or more with proper maintenance.

Oregon maintains one of the largest collections of covered bridges on the West Coast, with many still carrying daily traffic through the agricultural valleys of the Cascade Range foothills.

Visitors can typically view and photograph the bridge year-round from nearby roads and paths. Fall foliage season provides an especially picturesque setting, when the surrounding hardwood forests frame the weathered timbers in brilliant color. Many covered bridge enthusiasts plan driving tours connecting multiple bridges in a single region, making these structures ideal waypoints for a day of scenic exploration.

Explore Nearby

• Smugglers’ Notch State Park — State Park in Vermont
• Elmore State Park — State Park in Vermont
• Burlington Breakwater South Light — Lighthouse in New Hampshire
• Burlington Breakwater North Light — Lighthouse in New Hampshire
• White Mountain National Forest — National Forest in New Hampshire, Maine