Belknap Bridge, Covered bridge near McKenzie Bridge, Oregon

Belknap Bridge is a covered road bridge carrying traffic over the McKenzie River about three miles west of McKenzie Bridge, Oregon. The 120-foot single span rests on two concrete piers and uses a Howe truss of heavy timbers with adjustable vertical iron rods. Weatherboard siding and a shingled roof protect the truss, and louvered windows on the south side light the interior.

The structure was built in 1966 following destruction of the previous bridge during the 1964 Christmas flood. It replaced three earlier bridges that once stood at this crossing.

The bridge takes its name from the Belknap pioneer family: Rollin S. Belknap developed Belknap Springs about nine miles upstream, and his son J. H. Belknap promoted a toll road over McKenzie Pass in the early 1870s. The nearby town of McKenzie Bridge is named after the bridge, not the reverse.

The bridge is about three miles west of McKenzie Bridge and remains open to traffic; it carries logging trucks up to 39 short tons. Drivers cross a single-lane wooden deck between two concrete piers, so watch for oncoming vehicles and the louvered south-side windows that light the interior.

Louvered windows were added to the side openings in 1975, allowing selective light to filter into the interior and giving it a distinctive look. This detail sets it apart from other wooden bridges in the region.