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Otter Crest Loop and Rocky Creek Bridge / Ben Jones Bridge
Virtual Tour of Depoe Bay, Gleneden Beach, Lincoln Beach, Otter Rock, Oregon Coast

Otter Crest Loop and Rocky Creek Bridge / Ben Jones Bridge

(Depoe Bay, Oregon) - The northern edge of Otter Crest Loop provides a nice assemblage of secretive wonders hiding in plain sight - along a tiny route which in itself is quite clandestine. 

Yet there's a strange duality of names going on here: what's technically called Ben Jones Bridge is sometimes referred to as Rocky Creek Bridge. However, Ben Jones is its official name.

It all begins just south of Rocky Creek Wayside, as 101 twists around tight corners between Depoe Bay and Newport. The highway rises suddenly as you head south, but off to the right there’s a mysterious little road junction. This is Otter Crest Loop, which meanders beneath 101 for a while, until it ends up high on Cape Foulweather, winds past Otter Rock and the Devil’s Punchbowl and then meets up again with 101 a ways north of Newport.

But here, at the beginning of the loop, the fun starts. There's a gravel pull-off here that allows more dramatic views of the kind you’ll find at the wayside 100 feet back. You’re a little closer to the surf here, and able to get down there - but that doesn’t mean you should. The waters are tempestuous and mighty, and the waves do some scary but impressive stunts on these rocks. You could easily get swept off, so stay on the gravel area and watch the show from there.

Keep going another 100 feet and you’ll bump into the Rocky Creek Bridge - officially known as the Ben Jones Bridge. It was built in 1927 and stands at MP 130.03. There’s a mini-turnout here to watch the surf go bonkers - and it does.

Oregon Department of Transportation has designated it Ben Jones Bridge, but some call it Rocky Creek Bridge because actual Rocky Creek (complete with a waterfall) runs below it.

The state park just north of this called Rocky Creek ironically has no Rocky Creek running through it.

It’s all above a mini-cove of sorts, where oceanic drama is the norm.

Continue south along this stunning scenic route and you’ll soon run into a one-way section, the result of a landslide that tore up Otter Crest Loop in the '90s. That one nearly had deadly results as two people were driving that stretch in a van when the highway gave way, causing the vehicle to go down the muddy sludge. The passengers were able to crawl back up a bit and were rescued.

After that, for many years this stretch was a foot-path only, blocked off by a concrete barrier. It was reopened in the early 2000s as a one-way lane with a bike lane.

Otter Crest Loop turnout

The turnout at Otter Crest Loop, looking south towards the bridge and its cove.

Cliffs of Otter Crest Loop Road

Some of the stunning views seen along this secretive route.