Built in 1984, this is California's newest covered bridge. Also known as Castleberry Covered Bridge, it welcomes visitors to historic Oregon City.
Built in 1984, Oregon City Covered Bridge (also known as Castleberry Covered Bridge) stands as California's newest authentic covered bridge. This charming 50-foot barn-red span welcomes visitors to Oregon City, California Historical Landmark #807, a Gold Rush ghost town between Oroville and Cherokee. The bridge represents the vision of Clay Castleberry, Butte County's director of Public Works, and was designed by engineer Donald Becker to fit harmoniously into Oregon City's historic character.
Oregon City was established in autumn 1848 by Oregon emigrants traveling the Applegate and Lassen trails. Their captain, Peter H. Burnett, became California's first civil Governor just over a year later. The town prospered during the Gold Rush as a mining and supply center before declining into obscurity. When Castleberry retired as Public Works director in 1984, the covered bridge became his final project—a gift celebrating the area's pioneer heritage and creating an architectural link to the town's 19th-century past.
The 50-foot bridge employs a Kingpost Truss design crossing Little Oregon Creek. Engineer Donald Becker, who designed and built over 35 bridges during his 30+ year Butte County career, created this structure specifically to complement Oregon City's historical character. The barn-red exterior with traditional covered design creates an immediate visual connection to California's Gold Rush era, even though built over a century later.
Located on Table Mountain Boulevard near Oregon City. From Highway 70, take Table Mountain Boulevard northeast toward Oregon City. GPS: 39.7234°N, 121.5478°W. Travelers are rewarded with panoramic views of the Central Valley while winding up Table Mountain. Visit the nearby Oregon City School (1877), now a museum maintained by Butte County Historical Society. The ghost town setting provides excellent photography opportunities combining the covered bridge with Gold Rush history.
Historic 1862 covered bridge at South Yuba River State Park. Longest single-span wooden covered bridge in the world, spanning 230 feet over the South Yuba River.
Historic 1864 covered bridge spanning the Stanislaus River. At 355 feet, it's the longest covered bridge in California and west of the Mississippi River.
Historic covered bridge in Yosemite National Park, built in 1868 by Galen Clark. The only covered bridge in the western region of the National Park System.