Fort Morgan, Colorado.
In 1922, the Colorado Bridge and Construction Company began constructing a multi-span, reinforced concrete arch bridge across the South Platte River in eastern Colorado. The bridge was completed in 1923 and named The Rainbow Arch Bridge. Located adjacent to State Highway 52 and a much newer set of highway bridges, the Rainbow Arch Bridge was closed for a time in 2015 to complete repair work and a freshening due to damage and flooding in 2013 and 2015. It is now open again, and like before, it is only used for pedestrian access to nearby Riverside Park. To visit the bridge, take State Highway 52 North from I-76 (Exit 80).
On a mid-summer evening, we headed toward the bridge to capture the sunset along the South Platte. The view through one of the bridge arches also features a view of the Highway 52 bridge it parallels. From an article on the Fort Morgan Chamber of Commerce website that is no longer available, these details were found on a web history search. “Built in 1922 β 1923, this landmark was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Additionally, in 1992 it was designated a Colorado Civil Engineering Landmark. This bridge has survived major floods and in 1935 braced a 10-foot wall of water virtually undamaged. Today it is used for foot traffic and offers a beautiful view of the South Platte River.”
Though it was too late on this July evening to go hiking, there is a packed gravel trail that follows along and provides views of the river. It then loops back to the park through trees. Later in the day, you might find insect repellent a valuable hiking accessory. A couple of reviews of the Riverside Park Outer Loop Trail indicate that it’s a relatively short 2.5 miles and is an extension of the community park that is adjacent to the bridge. The trail is an easy walk with no elevation changes to tire one out. If you’re into Frisbee Golf, you will find a nice course in the park along with other typical community park facilities.
There are many great reviews of the park for those visiting Fort Morgan. The park is located at 1600 Main Street, Fort Morgan. I have a gallery of these images for pixel-peeping on my Flickr site here.
John Steiner
Flare Legend Adventures
Your photographs are absolutely stunning, John. Thanks for sharing and have a good day π Aiva
I appreciate your kind comment! Thanks for taking the time to write!
Fantastic shots, John π Love the one down the length of the bridge π
Thank you. The golden hour helped enhance the images.
Great views and a pretty bridge. It’s amazing how quick stuff got built back in the day.
Indeed. It was also a pre-depression era construction so the WPA didn’t even exist then either.
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Dear John, I have been looking for an image that would be a suitable landmark depiction of Morgan County where I grew up and graduated. I happened across one of your pictures of the Rainbow Bridge across the South Platte River at Fort Morgan. It is a wonderful picture and I would like to gain your permission to use it in a website I am creating. In that website, we will be distributing 1964 -1984 music recoveries to the students of their music in concert performances. My Dad, Donald Price taught band in Brush and Fort Morgan and our family is wishing to present to the communities, and especially to the performing students, the digitized recovery of many of their concerts.
I do hope you will be able to give me a reply as to how I may compensate you for the use of your photo in our website.
Ron Price
Feel free to use the image as long as either the copyright notice stays intact, or there is a photo credit listed in a caption. Thank you for appreciating my image.