• Short Covered Bridge is a historic wooden structure
• This is the only covered bridge left over the South Santiam River
The Short Covered Bridge carries High Deck Road over the South Fork of the South Santiam River, about 12 miles east of Sweet Home near the small community of Cascadia. This 105-foot (32 m) bridge is one of Oregon's 17 remaining Howe truss-style covered bridges, a design that uses a combination of diagonal wooden timbers and vertical iron rods to distribute weight and keep the structure strong.
What makes Short Bridge stand out is its wooden shingle roof, a feature that only a handful of Oregon's covered bridges still have. Most covered bridges today use metal roofing, so this original material gives Short Bridge an especially authentic, historic feel.
The bridge remains open to both pedestrians and vehicles, letting you experience the rumble of wooden planks beneath your tires just as travelers did decades ago.
The Cascadia Day-Use Area at Highway 20 offers parking, picnic tables, and an information kiosk that explains the area's history. Below the bridge, a short but steep trail leads down to the river, where you can swim, wade, or try your luck at rockhounding along the rocky banks. It's an easy stop on a drive through the Santiam Canyon and gives you a glimpse of Oregon's covered bridge heritage in a beautiful natural setting.
Short Covered Bridge History
The bridge was constructed in 1945, toward the end of Oregon's covered bridge era, when most new bridges were already being built of steel and concrete. Linn County chose to stick with tradition, building a classic Howe truss design that would serve the rural community for generations.
The bridge was originally known as Whiskey Butte Bridge. Later, residents renamed it Short Bridge in honor of Gordon Short, a well-known local resident who lived near the crossing. This kind of renaming was common in rural Oregon, where bridges often became landmarks tied to the families and communities around them.
By the late 1970s, state and federal officials had begun recognizing Oregon's covered bridges as irreplaceable historical treasures. In 1979, Short Covered Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places, a designation that acknowledged its architectural significance and helped protect it from demolition or careless modification.
Like many wooden bridges, Short Bridge needed attention over the decades. In 1991, Linn County undertook major restoration work to ensure the bridge's structural integrity and preserve its overall condition. Workers reinforced the Howe truss system, repaired weathered timbers, and maintained the distinctive wooden shingle roof. Thanks to this care, the bridge continues to carry traffic safely today.
Why is this bridge so special?
Wooden Shingle Roof: Unlike most surviving covered bridges that have been re-roofed with metal, Short Bridge retains its original wooden shingle roof, making it one of the few in the state with this authentic historic feature
Last of Its Kind on the South Santiam: This is the only remaining historic covered bridge over the South Fork of the South Santiam River, a reminder of the many wooden crossings that once dotted Oregon's waterways
Short Covered Bridge | Facts
Architectural Bridge Design: Howe truss
Bridge access: Pedestrian and vehicle
Stream: South Santiam River
Bridge Length: 105 ft (32 m)
Built: 1945
Elevation: 1,400 ft (427 m)
Short Bridge is located:
- 13 miles east of Sweet Home
- 53 miles northeast of Eugene
- 64 miles southeast of Salem.
Adventures Nearby
Directions to Short Covered Bridge
From I-5,
- Take exit 228 for OR-34 toward Corvallis
- Head 5.4 miles east on OR-34 to Denny School Road
- Turn right onto Denny School Road and drive for 1.2 miles
- Continue 2.2 miles onto Airport Drive to US-20 (Main Street)
- Turn right onto US-20 and follow 25.5 miles to the destination on the left.