Historic Hood River
Freak Bridge and Rock Formation
10-14-2020
Notes
I’m not sure I would call this rock formation a “freak” but I’ll bet it was a major attraction at low water. Now it’s resting beneath the waters backed up behind The Dalles Dam.
The History Museum of Hood River County
Bringing the Rich History of Hood River County to Life
Will
Benjamin Gifford photo, 1905. See Wild Beauty plate 45 for non-colorized version of this gelatin silver print.
L.E.
I thought we were looking at the Washington side of the River, but reading a description at Will's link, it says, “…Looking upriver with the lower portion of Fulton Ridge in the background,…”.
Fulton Ridge is on the Oregon side, across from Wishram.
nels
That rock looks pretty rotten. And with freezing and thawing in winter….
Kevin
I agree with Nels, it arch doesn't look too sturdy but … The center portion almost looks like a keystone giving it some extra strength. For a bigger basalt arch, take the short hike at Catharine Creek.
I wonder how this arch was created? Did the Ice Age floods tear out the basalt underneath or millennia of spring floods gradually eat it away?
Wendell
Kind of gives you the (legend) story of Bridge of the Gods and what it might have looked like. Could still be there under water, or maybe it fell in before the dam went in. Sad, another piece of ancient history gone forever.