OregonHikers.org: Ruckel Creek Bridge

This bridge was built as a part of the Columbia River Highway in 1915. The bridge, located at MP 44.6, was designed by highway engineer LW Metzger. Although the actual bridge is very short, the masonry guardrail makes it appear larger from the highway. It was only used for 22 years before being bypassed in 1937 as part of the Bonneville Dam relocation.

This section if the highway was basically forgotten until the Gorge Trail was assembled in the 1970s. The Gorge Trail utilized the abandoned highway for over a mile from just east of Eagle Creek Campground across the Ruckel Creek Bridge and on to a point where the old highway was demolished to make room for the newer highway, now I-84.

In 1999, this portion of the old highway was restored as the Historic Columbia River Highway Trail. The guardrails on the Ruckel Creek Bridge were restored and reconstructed where necessary. The entire route was repaved and a tunnel was built under the freeway east of the bridge.

Just east of the bridge is a trail junction with the Ruckel Creek Trail. This trail is somewhat misnamed as the trail doesn't stay very close to the creek. The trail does form one of the main routes to Benson Plateau.

"Renovation has restored the bridge railing over Ruckel Creek to its full length of four arches. Once again, travelers will be able to pause at the sparkling creek. For decades, the only people who visited the rustic bridge were hikers on the nearby Ruckel Creek Trail or Gorge Trail 400."

Bridgehunter.com: Ruckel Creek Bridge

Overview: Slab bridge over Ruckel Creek on Historical Columbia River Highway

Location: Hood River County, Oregon

Status: Open to pedestrians

History: Built 1917

Design: Slab

Dimensions

Span length: 10.0 ft.

Total length: 10.0 ft.

Inventory number

BH 49862 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

During restoration, two arches were rebuilt... You can see the line in the moss on the rail where the old and new sections of the wall meet.

Historic Highway Bridges of Oregon (1989)

The Ruckel Creek Bridge is one of the smaller structures built on the scenic Columbia River Highway. A simple slab span, 10 feet in length, was all that was required to cross Ruckel Creek. The concrete abutments are faced with stone, and the railing is the arched masonry parapet commonly bordering the scenic highway in the Columbia Gorge. The bridge plans are signed by L.W. Metzger, State Highway Department. The bridge now serves a Mount Hood National Forest trail, accessible from the Eagle Creek Campground.

Reinforced Concrete Slab

Structure Number: Unknown

Constructed: 1917

Forest Trail 405 from the Eagle Creek Campground

Cascade Locks vicinity, Hood River Count

Ownership: Mount Hood National Forest, United States Forest Service

The bridge and highway, in a pre-restored state, appeared on the cover of Oral Bullard's 1982 book on the highway.

Links

CLICK HERE to continue exploring the highway