Gilkey Covered Bridge | Thomas Creek

Gilkey Covered Bridge is a 120-foot-long Howe Truss bridge built in 1939 over Thomas Creek. It is a part of the scenic Covered Bridges Tour Route in the Scio-Stayton-Jordan area.

The bridge was named after the town of Gilkey which started as a railroad station in 1880. The town itself was originally named after settlers Allen and William Gilkey. The Gilkey station was a stop between Crabtree and Shelburn on the Southern Pacific Railroad serving as an important part of railroad farming products delivery. Until 1960, the railroad bridge was also covered.

Gilkey Bridge is an important piece of history and one of the few reminders of the past times in the area. Due to its historic significance, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

The bridge was closed in 1997 because of damage caused by an overloaded vehicle. After all of the needed repairs were done and structural integrity and safety were ensure, the bridge was reopened in 1998.

In addition to its historic value, Gilkey Covered Bridge is a great spot for swimming, rockhounding, and fishing.

During the summer months, the water warms up quickly to 70-75°F. The gravel beach is nestled just below the covered bridge. The spot deep enough for swimming is located under the bridge. For those who enjoy rock collecting, the summer and early fall times are the best, when the water is low and more gravel deposits are exposed.

The fishing season at the creek starts at the end of May and goes all the way until the end of October. Trout fishing is catch-and-release only. Salmon and steelhead angling is not allowed. Warmwater game-fish fishing for bass, crappie, bluegill, and yellow perch is open during trout season with no catch limit.