A helicopter hauled a bridge that was installed across Crooked Creek on the Wenaha River Trail. The new bridge opened May 1, 2024.

PENDLETON — A new bridge across Crooked Creek on the Wenaha River Trail No. 3106 opened May 1.

The bridge, on the Pomeroy Ranger District about 6 miles northwest of Troy, reconnected sections of trail on either side of the creek, providing a safe stream crossing on the popular primary access point into the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness.

The previous bridge was destroyed by the 2015 Grizzly Bear Complex fire and was removed that fall.

The Umatilla National Forest received money through the Great American Outdoors Act to replace the bridge.

The assembly of the bridge involved coordination between the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, contractors, outfitters and the U.S. Forest Service. Preparation began in phases as work crews needed to pack in construction equipment by hand, sometimes guided by outfitters.