Rock O' The Range Bridge
Rock O' The Range Bridge is a 42-foot covered bridge spanning the Swalley Canal near Bend in Deschutes County, Oregon. Built in 1963, it is the only covered bridge east of the Cascades in Oregon and is privately owned.
Unlike most of Oregon's covered bridges, which use traditional Howe or Queenpost truss systems, Rock O' The Range lacks a conventional truss structure. Its location in the high desert of Central Oregon gives it a unique character distinct from the coastal and valley covered bridges that dominate the state's collection.
Rock O' The Range Bridge was constructed in 1963 to serve a private ranch operation crossing the Swalley Canal near Bend. Its construction east of the Cascades is unusual — the covered bridge tradition was almost exclusively a western Oregon phenomenon, driven by the heavy rainfall that accelerated decay in unprotected timber structures.
As the only covered bridge east of the Cascades in Oregon, the bridge occupies a unique position in the state's covered bridge heritage. It is maintained as a private structure and is not open to the public.