• Cavitt Creek Covered Bridge was originally built for logging trucks
• The bridge was never listed in the National Register of Historic Places
Cavitt Creek Covered Bridge, also known as the Little River Covered Bridge, is one of the 17 covered bridges in Douglas County, Oregon. It sits 23 miles east of Roseburg, nestled in an area with numerous scenic spots, including Cavitt Creek Falls.
The Howe truss bridge spans 70 feet (21 m) across the Little River, about 900 feet (274 m) away from the river's confluence with Cavitt Creek. The bridge carries Cavitt Creek Road over the river, leading to Cavitt Creek County Park. It is open to traffic and has a vehicle limit of 3 tons.
Cavitt Creek Bridge's upper supports are reinforced with raw logs, and the bridge is covered with a metal roof to protect the wooden framework.
Its construction includes unique features, such as Tudor arch portals designed to accommodate log trucks.
Each side of the bridge has three windows and additional narrow slits above each truss to enhance light and ventilation inside the covered space.
History
Cavitt Creek Covered Bridge was constructed in 1943 by Douglas County builder Floyd C. Frear. The bridge and the road were both named after Robert L. Cavitt, the first settler of the area, who started living by the creek in the early 1880s.
Despite its significance, the bridge was never listed in the National Register of Historic Places, at the request of Douglas County, when Oregon’s covered bridges were nominated in 1979.
Cavitt Creek Covered Bridge | Facts
Architectural Bridge Design: Howe truss
Bridge access: Vehicle
Stream: Little River
Bridge Length: 70 ft (21 m)
Built: 1943
Open: Year-round
Elevation: 890 ft (271 m)
Cavitt Creek Covered Bridge is located:
- 23 miles east of Roseburg
- 90 miles south of Eugene
- 151 miles south of Salem.
Adventures Nearby
Directions to Cavitt Creek Covered Bridge
- Take OR-138 East
- Turn right onto Little River Road and follow it for 6.7 miles
- Turn right onto Cavitt Creek Road.