Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

What everyone remembers about the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is the bend. Partway across the river the long, straight span suddenly angles, taking a sharp turn before continuing to the far bank, a kink almost never seen on a major bridge. The bend was built in for practical reasons tied to the riverbed and the alignment of the crossing, but the effect is delightfully odd, and walking toward it, watching the bridge turn beneath your feet, is part of the fun of the crossing.

The bridge itself is a handsome work of early twentieth-century engineering, a long ribbon of steel trusses marching across the wide river on tall piers. Its scale is impressive on foot, and the bend only adds to the sense of a structure with real character, a bridge that has kept its individuality across a century and become far more beloved for it than a plainer, straighter span ever could be.

For decades the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge carried Route 66 across the Mississippi, part of the famous highway that ran from Chicago to the California coast and carried generations of travelers, dreamers, and migrants west. Crossing the great river here was a milestone on that journey, and the bridge became woven into the lore of the Mother Road, a landmark remembered by countless people who drove it in the highway's heyday.

When the interstate era brought a new bridge nearby, the old span was closed to traffic and left to decay, and it came close to being torn down. Its rescue and reopening as a walking and biking bridge saved a genuine piece of American road history, and today it stands as one of the most cherished surviving landmarks of Route 66, a place where the romance of the old road meets the timeless power of the Mississippi.

From the bridge the Mississippi rolls past wide and strong, its muddy waters sliding around wooded islands, with the trees of the Missouri and Illinois shores stretching away on either side. It is a grand vantage on one of the great rivers of the world, and the crossing offers ever-changing views of the water, the sky, and the barge traffic that still works the river below.

Just upstream stand two curious structures that add to the scene: a pair of stone water intake towers rising from the river like little castles, built long ago to draw drinking water from the Mississippi. Their unexpected, fairy-tale appearance, glimpsed from the bridge, is a favorite sight, and together with the bend and the river they give the crossing a character all its own.

Today the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is open only to walkers and cyclists, and crossing it is free. It is a long span, so a full crossing and return is a good stretch of a walk or a pleasant easy ride, and on hot days it is worth bringing water and sun protection, as the bridge is open to the sky. The bend, the river views, and the water towers make the time pass quickly.

The bridge is also part of a growing network of riverside trails and greenways around St. Louis, so it can be enjoyed as a destination in itself or as part of a longer walk or ride along the river. Because it keeps day-use hours and access can vary, it is worth checking current information before you go, so you can plan a crossing of this one-of-a-kind Route 66 landmark over the Mississippi.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.

The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is a historic steel bridge spanning the Mississippi River just north of St. Louis, between Missouri and Illinois, built in the 1920s and once carrying Route 66 across the great river. It is famous for the sharp bend in the middle of its span, a rare and surprising feature, and after it closed to cars and nearly faced demolition, it was saved and reopened as one of the longest pedestrian and bicycle bridges in the world. Today walkers and cyclists cross it high above the Mississippi, taking in the river, the wooded islands, and the castle-like water intake towers nearby. Its history and quirky bend make it a beloved landmark. A cherished and unusual Route 66 bridge, it delights visitors. With its bend and river views, it offers a compelling destination in Missouri.

The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge has a sharp bend in the middle of its span, an unusual feature built in for practical reasons tied to the alignment of the crossing and the conditions of the riverbed where the bridge meets the Mississippi. Whatever the engineering behind it, the effect is delightfully odd, as the long, straight bridge suddenly angles partway across the river, and watching the span turn beneath your feet is part of the fun of the crossing. The bend gives the bridge much of its character and fame. This quirky bend is a highlight of a visit to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in Missouri.

You can walk or bike across the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, but not drive: it is closed to cars and open only to pedestrians and cyclists, and crossing it is free. It is a long span, so a full crossing and return makes a good walk or an easy ride, and on hot days it is worth bringing water and sun protection since the bridge is open to the sky. It connects to a network of riverside trails, so it pairs well with a longer outing. Because it keeps day-use hours, checking current access before you go is wise. Crossing on foot or by bike is the way to enjoy the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in Missouri.

Just upstream from the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge stand two stone water intake towers that rise from the Mississippi like little castles, built long ago to draw drinking water from the river. Their unexpected, fairy-tale appearance, glimpsed from the bridge, is a favorite sight and adds to the character of the crossing, alongside the famous bend and the sweeping river views. Spotting them is one of the small pleasures of the walk. The curious water towers add to the charm of a visit to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in Missouri.

The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is on the Mississippi River just north of St. Louis, Missouri, within reach of Gateway Arch National Park and its soaring arch on the riverfront to the south, the city of St. Louis with its museums and neighborhoods, the riverside greenway trails that connect to the bridge, and the surviving Route 66 landmarks that thread through the region. That makes the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge a compelling stop to combine with the Gateway Arch and the Route 66 sights around St. Louis on a visit to Missouri.