Cottonwood Creek Bridge 🇺🇸

If you are traveling through Colorado Springs, Colorado, you can experience a piece of early twentieth-century engineering history at the Cottonwood Creek Bridge. Spanning Cottonwood Creek, this historic landmark was completed in 1923 along what was once a major north–south road across Colorado. Today, the structure earns a well-deserved place on the National Register of Historic Places, making it a compelling stop for anyone interested in classic American infrastructure.

When you visit, you will appreciate its distinction as one of the few remaining long cantilevered, girder bridges built in the state during the 1920s. As you explore the site, take a closer look at the craft involved in its physical construction. The bridge features a solid concrete deck supported by four distinct 53-foot spans.

You can easily observe the unique design details that set it apart from modern crossings, including a hammered concrete treatment carefully applied to its spandrels. Additionally, you will notice the historic cast concrete balusters that form its protective guardrails. Whether you are passing over Cottonwood Creek or studying its historic craftsmanship, this 1923 bridge offers you a direct, tangible connection to Colorado's early automotive transportation heritage.

What to see at Cottonwood Creek Bridge

• Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
• Completed in 1923 along a major Colorado north–south route
• One of Colorado's few remaining 1920s long cantilevered girder bridges
• Constructed with a concrete deck across four 53-foot spans
• Showcases hammered concrete spandrels and cast concrete guardrail balusters

Visiting tips

Be sure to inspect the historic guardrails to see the original 1920s cast concrete balusters and hammered concrete spandrels up close.

How long: 15-30 minutes · Best time: Daytime

How to get there & what’s nearby

Cottonwood Creek Bridge is easy to reach on Colorado Springs’s public transport, and pairs naturally with World Figure Skating Hall of Fame and Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Colorado Springs travel guide.