High Steel Bridge

The High Steel Bridge is a steel arch bridge crossing the South Fork Skokomish River in Washington, featuring an exceptional span that stretches across the valley below. The structure was built to handle rail traffic and remains a notable engineering feat from its era.

The bridge was built in 1929 by the Simpson Logging Company to support timber operations on the Olympic Peninsula. The project emerged from the need to move heavy loads across challenging terrain in the region.

The structure earned recognition on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 for its role in regional transportation development.

Access is available from Highway 101 via Skokomish Valley Road, followed by Forest Service roads to reach the bridge. Weather conditions and road maintenance are important to check, as some access routes pass through remote forest areas.

The bridge holds the record for the highest railroad bridge ever built in the entire United States, yet remains largely unknown. This remarkable achievement has been overshadowed by more famous engineering structures.

Location: Mason County

Inception: 1929

Official opening: 1929

GPS coordinates: 47.36800,-123.28000

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:29