Part of a trilogy about wood.

Wooden bridges in the wild

Because they blend with nature much better than regular bridges.

Water attracts us since our ape ancestors left the trees. Just consider how most settlements occur next to rivers, streams, lakes, seas.

Given the role of water in inhabitable and cultivable lands, bridges are essential and ubiquitous.

Humans build bridges of all types. Tall, short, long, small. Of all materials, from durable ones like iron and concrete to less durable but nicer materials like wood. In this story I set the spotlight on the latter: wooden bridges from all around here, that blend perfectly with the colors and materials of Nature.

This first wooden bridge is part of one of my jogging routes. It crosses over a small stream of water that connects two ponds:

This next one, you’ll find it along a river called Orbe, that runs some 20 km North of where I live in a fantastic region for easy hikes (story here). See how the bridge seems to die right on a vertical rock wall. And it is in fact like this, because the hiking trail turns right after crossing the bridge.

Here’s a bridge you’ve seen already in a former summer story, but this time you get it in the middle of the fall… and it all looks radically different:

This photo is actually close to the location and setting of one of my most “popular” stories:

And this photo of a wooden bridge crossing above two small water jumps is also around the same location of my story about the witches of the forest. It shouldn’t surprise you if you spot a witch here too!

Here’s a very simple wooden bridge, with just one sidebar to hold yourself as you cross, where my mountain bike awaits.

And here is one of my favorites, because on the side you can walk into the river (in summer!) through its sandy bottom.

Here is one more wooden bridge where I pass with my bike in one of my favorite circuits. This one is particularly slippery after rains or in the winter, as it is covered by moss.

Last, one of my preferred wooden bridges in the paths I usually do when biking around the region:

Check out these two other stories on wood and nature:

I am a nature, science, technology, programming, and DIY enthusiast. Biotechnologist and chemist, in the wet lab and in computers. I write about everything that lies within my broad sphere of interests. Check out my lists for more stories. Become a Medium member to access all stories by me and other writers, and subscribe to get my new stories by email (original affiliate links of the platform).