Bridge of the Gods: Gateway to Gorge Adventure and Legends

The Bridge of the Gods is a defining feature of Cascade Locks, the oldest town on the Columbia River. This 1,856-foot (565 m) toll bridge across the Columbia River opened in 1926. It connects Oregon’s I-84 in Cascade Locks and Washington’s SR-14  in Stevenson, with an annual traffic estimate of around 1.6 million vehicles.

The original "Bridge of the Gods" refers to a natural dam formed by the Bonneville Landslide around 1450. This massive landslide blocked the Columbia River near present-day Cascade Locks, creating a temporary lake that extended approximately 35 miles upstream.

According to Native American legend, the Great Spirit built a stone bridge over the river, guarded by a wise old woman named Loo-Wit. His sons, Klickitat and Wyeast, both fell in love with the beautiful maiden Loowit. Their ensuing battle devastated the land, leading to the bridge's collapse. As a result, the Great Spirit transformed them into mountains: Klickitat became Mount Adams, Wyeast became Mount Hood, and Loowit became Mount St. Helens.

Flying Low Under the Bridge - Over the Columbia

In September 1927, Charles Lindbergh, a famous stunt aviator, was flying his Spirit of St. Louis through the Columbia River Gorge on a national goodwill tour after his record-breaking flight across the Atlantic.

Lindbergh made an unexpected and daring move as he approached the newly built Bridge of the Gods near Cascade Locks. He flew low over the bridge, turned around, and then skillfully flew under it—a bold maneuver that only a few people witnessed.

One of them was a lock tender. Later, he recalled Lindbergh passing beneath the bridge and waving as he flew by. It was a quiet but unforgettable moment—an unannounced stunt by one of the most famous pilots in history.

The Bridge of the Gods had been conquered—not by foot or car, but by air.