Washington state has many hidden treasures for visitors to discover, from vineyards and mountains to ocean coastlines and rivers. Discover local history on the Long Beach Peninsula, which is west of volcanic Mount St. Helens off scenic Highway 101 and home to nostalgic covered bridges.
Only 46 minutes from Long Beach and perhaps one of the more famous covered bridges in the state is the Gray’s River Covered Bridge. Built in 1905 and covered in 1908, the 155-foot bridge connects the towns of Altoona and Rosburg in Wahkiakum County and was one of the last of its kind used by a public highway. Steel cables and a new center pier have been added through the years. The bridge was last rehabilitated in 1989.
Much less grand than Gray’s River Bridge, the Court House Duck Pond Bridge in South Bend still holds its historic value within the community. Less than an hour from Long Beach, this bridge is eight feet long and was built in 1973, according to Dale Travis’ Washington Covered Bridges List. The bridge is located on the eastern side of the majestic Pacific County court house, itself listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
A quaint bridge covering a pond, the red and white Fern Hill Bridge was built in 1983 among a thick forested background. Located adjacent to the Fern Hill Mortuary in Aberdeen, this 16-foot bridge will take you off the beaten path to a small harbor town.
The Cedar Creek Covered Bridge spans the Cedar Creek in the Woodland Township of Clark County. After a visit to Mount St. Helens, Cedar Creek Covered Bridge is just 49 minutes away, near the Columbia River and Interstate 5 and still less than two hours from Long Beach. This is a two-for-one visit as spectators are fascinated with the oldest building in Washington state, the Cedar Creek Grist Mill. The covered bridge built to accompany the mill was an original covered timber truss in 1934 until it was replaced in 1994 because of weathering.
