Description
The Guffey Railroad Bridge, located in Celebration Park near Melba, Idaho, is a historic 500-foot-long, 450-ton steel Parker-Through-Truss structure built in 1897 to support mining, later becoming essential for agricultural development. As Idaho’s only bridge of its kind, it was rehabilitated as a pedestrian/fishing bridge and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Key Details of the Guffey Railroad Bridge:
Purpose: Originally designed to transport gold and silver ore from Silver City to Nampa via the Boise, Nampa and Owyhee Railroad.
Construction: Completed in 1897, it was designed by one of only five firms in the US capable of such complex work, using Parker trusses and a concrete center pier.
History & Use: While it missed the peak of the silver boom, it was crucial for transporting agricultural products and livestock until 1947.
Restoration: Abandoned for decades, the bridge was restored and repurposed by Canyon County in 1989-1991, adding a wooden deck for pedestrians, fishermen, and equestrian use.
Situated within Celebration Park, it connects Canyon and Owyhee counties over the Snake River.
The bridge is often referred to as Idaho’s largest historic artifact, with up to 12,000 students visiting annually.
More Information
Coordinates: 43.299680, -116.529528
Elevation: 2290 ft
Difficulty: 1
What to Expect:
Check In
Use the form below to check in. Check-ins must include a photo of you or your bike at the challenge site with the 2026 bandanna. All participants must be registered IAMC Challenge Members. Leave a description of your ride and share road conditions — snow, water, obstacles, and tips for future riders are all appreciated.
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10 Check-Ins
A very easy and scenic checkpoint to hit. Apparently there are some good hiking trails down here but I have too much fun riding my motorcycle to worry about hiking.
cool early spring ride. Was a bit windy. We took the blacktop in as the day prior had soaked the ground. There is a dirt route that can be taken.
Final site for today, and man was it windy out there - even had a few drops of rain from a storm cell that was brewing.
Really a neat area. Spent more time here than I expected. Would like to come back and hike more of these trails without the riding boots
Cool bridge. Worth a visit. Some hiking opportunities on the far side.
