20 Beautiful Bridges Many of the 20 covered bridges that grace the region were first constructed in the 1880s and rebuilt starting in the 1920s. With their elegant pitched roofs soaring over rushing rivers and creeks, these historic beauties recall a bygone era when transportation and communication could not be taken for granted. Built in the mid-19th-century truss style of William Howe, 18 of these structures are listed on the National Historic Register and now delight photographers, history buffs and sightseers. In the Cottage Grove area, six bridges are located along the 36-mile (58-km) Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway and the 20-mile (32-km) Cottage Grove Covered Bridge Tour Route. Among them is the 84-foot (26-m) Centennial Covered Bridge, a pedestrian bridge that leads to the Applegate Trail Interpretive Center and is a great place to begin a self-guided tour of all six bridges. Other nearby beauties include the 78-foot (24-m) Chambers Railroad Covered Bridge, a Howe four-leaf-truss-style structure first built in 1925 and historically rebuilt in 2011. The Currin Covered Bridge, with its red siding and corrugated metal roof, is closed to car traffic. The 105-foot (32-m) Dorena Covered Bridge leads to a picturesque park and access to a swimming hole. Lane County’s oldest remaining bridge, the 90-foot (27-m) Mosby Creek Covered Bridge, was first constructed in 1920 and restored in 1990 and 2002. Open only to pedestrians and cyclists, Stewart Covered Bridge is a popular spot on the Row River Trail. Near the towns of Lowell and Dexter, the 20-foot (6-m) Cannon Street Covered Bridge is the region’s smallest and, located at a community heritage park, a favorite with kids. A must-visit is the Lowell Covered Bridge Interpretive Center — a 165-foot (50-m) bridge that was first constructed over Dexter Reservoir in 1907 and replaced in 1945. It now operates as an interpretive center for several nearby bridges. The 75-foot (23-m) Parvin Covered Bridge, also known as the Lost Creek Eugene, Cascades & Coast Visitor Center | 754 Olive St, Eugene 20 FROM LEFT: SPRINGFED MEDIA; JONI KABANA Office Covered Bridge
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