Steeped in stories about warring mountains, an inland sea that stretched to Idaho, earthquakes, and white hot rocks hurtling through the air, the Bridge of the Gods has moved straight out legend and into the modern world.
Warring mountains, earthquakes, and inland seas—the Bridge of the Gods near Cascade Locks is the stuff of legend. More than just a way to get across the mighty Columbia, Bridge of the Gods is a gateway to history, nature, and lore that's as unique to the Pacific Northwest as the bridge itself.
Legend Meets Modern Engineering - Bridge Of The Gods Through The Ages
It might surprise you to know that there was more than one Bridge of the Gods. One was created and destroyed by nature, the other built by man to last a hundred years or more.
A thousand years ago, a landslide on the north side of the river crossed the gorge and created a natural dam and inland sea. Scientists believe that the inland sea stretched from Washington and Eastern Oregon into Idaho. That's the boring version of history.
The interesting version is a tale told to us by Native American legend. The story goes that the indigenous people of the area had a hard time crossing the river, so the great spirit Manito built a stone bridge for them. Manito knew that the bridge was important to the people, so he placed an old wise woman named Loo-Wit (Mount St. Helens) to be the bridge's guardian. This natural landbridge came to be known as Bridge of the Gods.
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According to legend, that stone bridge might still be standing today if not for a fierce rivalry between brother mountains Wyeast (Mount Hood) and Klickitat (Mount Adams). The two mountains grumbled and growled at each other, argued, spit ashes and smoke, hurled rocks, stomped their feet, and burned down forests as they fought over pretty Squaw Mountain (Tumala Mountain). Their fighting finally got so bad that they destroyed Bridge of the Gods with their shaking and all the rocks they hurled onto the bridge.
Today, the bridge we know as Bridge of the Gods is a steel cantilever that connects Cascade Locks, Oregon to SR-14 in Washington, offering incredible views of the Columbia River Gorge.
The bridge was built in 1926, and then later in 1938 was raised up to accommodate higher river levels created by the Bonneville Dam. Today, Bridge of the Gods is 98 years old and still going strong.
Has anything exciting happened at the modern Bridge of the Gods? Once, back in 1927, Charles Lindbergh flew his plane over and then under the bridge. The bridge was also a filming location for the 2014 movie Wild featuring Reese Witherspoon.
Bridge Of The Gods, Cascade Locks Information
- Type of bridge: Steel cantilever through truss.
- Bridge length: 1,856 feet
- Date built: 1926
- Date raised up to accommodate higher water levels: 1938 (The bridge was raised up by 44 feet).
- How much traffic does the Bridge of the Gods see? Between 3,000 and 4,000 vehicles per day.
- How much is the toll to cross Bridge of the Gods? Bridge of the Gods has tolls ranging from $3 to $32 depending on type of vehicle.
- Who operates Bridge of the Gods today? The Port of Cascade Locks Commission.
Tip: Motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians all share the bridge, so it’s wise for drivers to keep an eye out for non-motorized travelers along the way.
Tip: If you plan to park at the nearby Bridge of the Gods Trailhead, you'll need a valid recreation pass, and parking costs five dollars per day.
