Muddy Fork Cowlitz River Bridge, Spanning Muddy Fork Cowlitz River on Stevens Canyon Highway, Ashford, Pierce County, WA

Significance: The "rustic style" of architecture survived into the 1950s when the Muddy Fork Cowlitz River and Nickel Creek bridges on the Stevens Canyon Highway were constructed as stone-faced reinforced concrete spandrel arch structures, echoing designs employed by the National Park Service as early as 1920. The Muddy Fork Bridge, built over the deep Box Canyon of the Cowlitz, relates especially well to the site; the gently arched bridge seems to spring naturally from the rock cliffs. The nearby tunnel (HAER No. WA-70) is a plain bore through a mountain spur; unlike other tunnels in the park, it has no masonry portals at the ends. The entire site was planned to offer access to the marvelous landscape of this site, with the deep box canyon, stretches of glacial-polished granite, and delicate subalpine plants. Site amenities include a parking area, comfort station and drinking fountains, paved pedestrian paths, an interpretive display, and a timber footbridge over the canyon. The Box Canyon site also serves as a trailhead for the round-the-mountain Wonderland Trail.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N60
Survey number: HAER WA-60
Building/structure dates: 1950-1952 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1966 Subsequent Work
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 97000344