The 2nd Tallest Railway Bridge Located in Washington that Is Now Abandoned

Vance Creek BridgePhoto byVance Creek Bridge/Wikipedia

Situated in Mason County, Washington's Satsop Hills, the Vance Creek Bridge is an amazing arch bridge that was built in 1929 for the logging train of the Simpson Logging Company.

It is the second-highest railroad arch in the United States, surpassed only by the neighboring High Steel Bridge, rising to a height of 347 feet. This imposing building, which was decommissioned in the 1970s as the Olympic Peninsula's logging industry was coming to an end, is a testament to a lost period of the area's industrial past.

About Vance Creek Bridge

The Vance Creek Bridge, which was built during the Great Depression, is the second-tallest railway trestle bridge in the United States, towering magnificently over Vance Creek at a height of 347 feet.

The bridge, which was first commissioned in 1929 by the Simpson Logging Co., was an important conduit for local logging operations until it was abandoned in the 1950s, marking a period of history in which it stood as a testament to industrial inventiveness and resiliency.

The abandoned bridge developed into a well-liked but secretive hangout for daring visitors from outside the area, who frequently asked residents for directions. The railway ties on the bridge were more than a foot apart, and some of them had been vandalized, making navigation difficult.

Vance Creek Bridge (1940)Photo byVance Creek Bridge/Wikipedia

Access to Vance Creek Bridge

The area surrounding the bridge is open to the public as of 2018. The owners have strengthened the area, turned the walking route into a road that leads to the bridge, and placed educational signage.

Aiming to discourage climbers, modifications include the removal of railroad ties and the installation of razor wire. It is recommended that hikers utilize the established routes to observe the bridge and park at the appropriate turnoff. Climbing is still severely forbidden and incurs trespassing fines if done so.

Vance Creek BridgePhoto byVance Creek Bridge/Wikipedia

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vance_Creek_Bridge
• https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/vance-creek-viaduct