Larwood Covered Bridge: Linn County

Larwood Covered Bridge in Linn County, Oregon.

Built in 1939, the Larwood Covered Bridge spans Crabtree Creek in rural Linn County where the community of Larwood once stood. At 105 feet long, this covered bridge is typical of the bridges in the area with its partially exposed trusses and rounded portal. I also note that most of the Linn County covered bridges, like this one, are still in use. In 1979 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The community of Larwood was founded in 1888 by William Larwood, who settled here, built a store and blacksmith shop, and operated the post office from 1893 to 1903. The community is now gone. What you’ll find here now are the covered bridge, the remains of a water wheel power plant originally built in 1900, and the 6-acre Larwood Wayside Park.

The park, at the east end of the covered bridge, is obviously a popular spot for swimming on hot summer days. This small park is located where the Roaring River flows into Crabtree Creek. It features a wooden footbridge over Roaring River, picnic tables, a restroom, and across Crabtree Creek the remains of the water wheel power plant.

Crabtree Creek flowing under the Larwood Bridge is a popular swimming hole.

Near the town of Scio, the trip to Larwood Covered Bridge takes you through scenic rolling farmlands and the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, which is great in a car or on a bicycle.

Getting there — We visited Larwood Covered Bridge as part of a tour of many of the Linn County Covered Bridges. Since our route was circuitous and long, I refer to directions given by the Oregon Department of Transportation: From I-5 at Albany take Highway 226 (US Route 20) (exit 233) east to Crabtree. From Crabtree travel east on Highway 226 approximately 1 mile to Fish Hatchery Drive. Travel east on Fish Hatchery Road for approximately 6 miles.

Latitude: 44°37’49.1″N Longitude: 122°44’26.8″W

You might also be interested in this list of Linn County Covered Bridges: http://www.co.linn.or.us/Roads/CovBridge/CoveredBridgeRoute.htm