Red Bridge State Wayside
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Red Bridge State Wayside is a small park located in the state of Oregon.
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Summary
The park is situated on the banks of the Crooked River and offers visitors a peaceful and scenic setting. There are several good reasons to visit the park, including hiking, fishing, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. The park is also home to a historic Red Bridge, which spans the Crooked River.
One of the main points of interest in the park is the Red Bridge itself. The bridge was built in 1920 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can walk across the bridge and take in the picturesque view of the river and surrounding landscape. The park also has several hiking trails, including the River Trail, which follows the Crooked River and offers stunning views of the canyon.
Interesting facts about the area include that the park was once a popular spot for early settlers to cross the Crooked River on their way to Prineville. The Red Bridge was originally built to replace a ferry that operated in the area. In addition, the park is home to a variety of wildlife, including mule deer, coyotes, and golden eagles.
The best time of year to visit the park is during the spring and fall when temperatures are mild and the scenery is at its most beautiful. Summer can be very hot, but the park does offer some shade and opportunities to cool off in the river.
Overall, Red Bridge State Wayside is a beautiful and historic park that is definitely worth a visit for anyone traveling through Oregon.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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