Walk onto the St Johns Bridge Portland on a foggy Tuesday morning and you’ll realize something pretty quickly. It doesn’t feel like a bridge. Not a normal one, anyway. Most of Portland’s spans—the Burnside, the Morrison, the Hawthorne—are functional, industrial, and honestly a bit gray. But the St. Johns? It’s a literal gothic cathedral made of steel. It’s green. Not just a dull olive, but a specific "Bridge Green" that was chosen back in 1931 because the chief engineer wanted it to blend into the fir-covered hills of Forest Park.
It worked.
If you’ve spent any time in the Rose City, you know the skyline is defined by its bridges. Yet, the St. Johns sits way out there, about six miles north of downtown, acting like the gatekeeper to the Willamette. It connects the quirky, blue-collar-turned-hip St. Johns neighborhood with the mossy wilderness of Highway 30. People drive across it every day without realizing they are crossing one of the most significant pieces of engineering in the Pacific Northwest.
The Man Who Refused to Build a Boring Bridge
Let’s talk about David B. Steinman. He wasn't just some guy with a calculator. He was a poet of suspension. When he got the contract for the St Johns Bridge Portland, he was basically told to make it cheap. The county had a limited budget. They wanted something basic. Steinman, being a bit of a visionary (and perhaps a bit stubborn), decided that a bridge shouldn't just be a road over water. It should be art.
He fought for the gothic arches. He insisted on the copper-green paint, even though the aviation authorities at the time wanted it to be striped like a candy cane—bright yellow and black—so planes wouldn't hit it. Can you imagine? A yellow and black St. Johns Bridge would have been a disaster for the local aesthetic. Steinman won that fight, and we got the emerald beauty we see today.
The construction started right as the Great Depression was kicking into high gear. While the rest of the country was reeling, this project provided 500 jobs for locals. It was finished in 1931, coming in under budget and ahead of schedule. That almost never happens today. It’s the only suspension bridge in the Willamette Valley, and for a long time, it held the record for the longest suspension span west of the Mississippi.
Why the Arches Matter
Look closely at those towers. They aren't just solid blocks of steel. They have these tall, pointed gothic windows built into the frame. Steinman called them "praying hands." It’s a bit dramatic, sure, but when you’re standing underneath them at Cathedral Park, it’s hard not to feel a little bit of that reverence.
The bridge stands 400 feet tall. The clearance for ships is about 200 feet. This was crucial because back then, the Port of Portland was a massive hub for timber and grain. You needed those giant masts and smokestacks to pass through without a hitch.
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Where to Actually Get the Best Photo (Hint: It's Not the Sidewalk)
Most tourists make the mistake of just driving across. Boring. If you want the real experience of the St Johns Bridge Portland, you have to go down.
Cathedral Park sits directly underneath the eastern side of the bridge. This is where everyone takes their wedding photos, and for good reason. The concrete piers of the bridge look like the vaulted ceilings of a European church. The symmetry is wild. If you’re a photographer, show up during the "golden hour"—the hour before sunset. The way the light hits the green steel and the grass below is basically a cheat code for a great photo.
But here is a pro tip: Head over to the Forest Park side. There’s a small turnout on Highway 30 near the bridge entrance. From there, you can see the bridge stretching out over the river with the St. Johns neighborhood in the background. It gives you a sense of scale that you just can't get from the park below.
Walking the Span
Walking across is an experience, but it’s not for the faint of heart. The sidewalks are narrow. Very narrow. If a semi-truck rumbles past you at 40 miles per hour, the whole bridge shakes. You’ll feel the vibration in your teeth. It’s a suspension bridge, so it’s designed to flex and move. That’s how it survives the wind and the weight. But standing 200 feet above the water while the ground under your feet is literally bouncing? It’s a rush.
I’ve seen people lose their hats to the wind up there. Hold on to your gear.
Common Misconceptions About the St. Johns Bridge
A lot of people think this bridge is a smaller version of the Golden Gate. That's technically wrong. While they are both suspension bridges, the St. Johns was actually finished before the Golden Gate. If anything, the Golden Gate owes a bit of its DNA to the design work done here in Portland.
Another myth: that it’s haunted.
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Okay, maybe that one has some legs. Local legends love to talk about the "Lady in Black" or various ghosts from the 1930s. Honestly, most of those stories come from the fact that it looks spooky in the mist. It has that "Gotham City" vibe. Especially in November when the rain turns into a constant drizzle and the green steel fades into the gray sky. It’s moody. It’s Portland in a nutshell.
The Neighborhood Connection
You can’t talk about the bridge without talking about the town of St. Johns. For a long time, this was its own city before Portland annexed it in 1915. It still feels like a separate village. It’s got a bit of a grit to it, but it’s also home to some of the best food in the city.
After you spend some time at the bridge, walk into town. Grab a coffee at Cathedral Coffee or a beer at Occidental Brewing Co. The brewery is literally right next to the park. You can sit on their patio with a German-style lager and stare up at the bridge. It’s the perfect way to spend a Saturday.
Logistics for the Visitor
- Parking: There’s plenty of parking in Cathedral Park, but it gets packed on weekends when there are festivals or jazz concerts.
- Transit: The #4 bus and #11 bus will get you close, but expect a bit of a walk.
- Biking: You can bike across, but again, those sidewalks are tight. Be prepared to yield to pedestrians or take the lane if you’re brave enough (most aren't).
- Safety: Stick to the designated paths in Cathedral Park. The area under the bridge is well-lit, but like any urban park, stay aware of your surroundings after dark.
Engineering That Actually Lasts
Most modern bridges are built to last 50 years. We are approaching the 100-year mark for the St. Johns, and it’s still holding strong. There was a major renovation back in the early 2000s where they replaced the deck and repainted the whole thing. It cost about $38 million.
The challenge with a bridge like this is the lead paint. Because it’s so close to the water and a sensitive ecosystem, they had to literally wrap the bridge in giant plastic "diapers" to catch the old paint as they blasted it off. It looked like a giant Christo art installation for a couple of years.
Why You Should Care
We live in an era of "fast" everything. Fast food, fast fashion, and fast, ugly infrastructure. The St Johns Bridge Portland is the opposite. It’s a reminder that we used to build things to be beautiful as well as functional. It’s a piece of history that you can drive your car over.
It represents the ambition of a city that was still finding its identity. Back in 1931, Portland wasn't the "weird" tech hub it is now. It was a rugged timber town. Building a "steel cathedral" in the middle of the woods was a massive statement of intent. It said, "We’re here, and we have taste."
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Your St. Johns Bridge Checklist
If you’re heading out there, don’t just drive over and leave. Do it right.
First, start at the St. Johns Ridge Trail in Forest Park. It’s a steep hike, but there’s a clearing about halfway up that gives you the "postcard" view of the bridge towers sticking out of the trees.
Second, go to Cathedral Park and walk the pier. There’s a small boat dock where you can get right down to the water level. Seeing the bridge from below makes you realize just how massive those concrete footings are. They look like the feet of a giant.
Third, eat locally. St. Johns is famous for its food carts and small pubs. Don't go back to downtown Portland for lunch. Stay in the neighborhood. Support the shops on Lombard Street.
Finally, if you can, see it at night. The bridge is lit up, and the reflection on the Willamette River is something you won't forget. It’s quiet out there at night. You can hear the water hitting the pilings and the distant hum of the city.
The St Johns Bridge Portland isn’t just a way to get from point A to point B. It’s the soul of North Portland. It’s a landmark that has survived the Depression, floods, and the changing face of the city. It’s still here, still green, and still the most beautiful thing in the skyline.
Next Steps for Your Visit:
Check the local event calendar for Cathedral Park. They host a legendary Jazz Festival every summer that takes place right under the bridge arches. If you’re planning a photo shoot, aim for a weekday morning to avoid the crowds. For those wanting a hike, park at the Ridge Trailhead on NW Bridge Ave and bring sturdy boots; the trail gets muddy fast in the Portland rain. Regardless of how you see it, take a second to look up. Most people forget to do that.