Riverwalk Covered Bridge
4.8(282)google
4.6(8)yelp
OutdoorPhoto SpotFreeHistoric BuildingRiver
Overview
The Chambers Covered Bridge is a covered bridge located in Cottage Grove, Oregon, United States. It is 78 feet (24 m) long and spans the Coast Fork Willamette River. It was built in 1925 to carry rail traffic hauling logs from the Lorane Valley to the J.H. Chambers Mill, a lumber mill which was located on an area between South Highway 99 and the Coast Fork Willamette River.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration0.5-1 hour
Best TimeEarly October captures the defining New England postcard scene framing the timber lattice work. Stroll along the pedestrian bridge early between 7:00 AM and 8:30 AM; morning fog rising off the Pemigewasset River water underneath as the rising sun paints the red wooden trusses and autumn woods creates world-class framing.
Getting ThereLocated right behind downtown Lincoln. Drivers should utilize the free public parking lot at the RiverWalk Resort (22 S Mountain Drive). From I-93 Exit 32, take NH-112 E east for a half-mile, turn right onto South Mountain Drive, and park. Walk north along the paved riverside pedestrian trail for 3 minutes directly to the bridge entrance.
Travel Tips
- This is a historic pedestrian-only wooden span; all motorized vehicles, ATVs, and e-scooters are banned, and smoking or open flame is illegal.
- Wooden deck planking becomes treacherous during morning frost or rain; high-traction rubber-soled footwear is required to mitigate severe slips.
- Federal clean-water statutes penalize littering near the river channel; the airspace around the span is a restricted zone for drone flights.
Reviews
Positive
- A classic New England covered bridge spanning the rushing Pemigewasset River; the vibrant red timber frames look picture-perfect.
- Completely free to the public! It links downtown Lincoln to scenic river trails, serving as an excellent roadside walking spot.
- The timber skeleton is beautifully intact, smelling of aged wood; side windows look down on jagged river ledges and rapids.
- The walkways feature sturdy safety railings, and the uncommercialized paths are kept pristine with plenty of regular trash cans.
Heads up
- The site is single-faceted, consisting strictly of the footbridge; if you don't trek onward, a walk across takes just 5 to 10 minutes.
- There's no dedicated large parking lot right at the trailhead, forcing drivers to use town merchant spots and walk over.
- The bridge interior completely lacks night lighting, turning pitch black after dark, and mosquitoes get brutal near the river bush.
- During winter freeze-and-thaw cycles, the wood planks get dangerously slick with ice, and select trail rules ban off-leash pets.