Historic Umtanum Suspension Bridge in Washington Wins Prestigious Global Award After Remarkable Restoration
The century-old-plus Umtanum Suspension Bridge over Washington’s Yakima River Canyon, which was rehabilitated by the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Bridge Rehabilitation Project with design and engineering support from HDR, was recently named the winner in the New Life category of the 2025 Footbridge Awards in Chur, Switzerland.
Umtanum Suspension Bridge Wins International Award
The landmark 220-foot (67-meter) clear-span Umtanum bridge, which links visitors to Washington’s Yakima River Canyon, spans Washington’s only Blue-Ribbon trout stream. Built around 1925, it once carried vehicles across the Yakima River and the Northern Pacific railroad tracks to reach homesteads in Umtanum Creek Canyon and, once, even carried Model Ts.
Umtanum is the only remaining bridge of several that once crossed the canyon and was converted to foot traffic in the mid-1980s, connecting BLM’s Umtanum Recreation Area to canyon trails, public lands, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wenas Wildlife Area.
Along the entire 27-mile canyon, it is the only access point to the west side of the Yakima River, and links visitors to routes like the 8-mile Umtanum Creek Trail and the Skyline Trail from Ellensburg to Selah.
In 2024, BLM expanded the site by acquiring 650 acres of private land, adding riparian and upland habitat and more space for public enjoyment. Umtanum, with more than 100,000 annual visitors, is one of the BLM’s busiest recreation sites in Washington.
The 2025 Footbridge Awards, organized and sponsored by Bridge Design & Engineering Magazine, were among the most competitive in the program’s history, with a record number of entries worldwide.
The award’s jury consisted of an internationally esteemed panel of bridge engineers, architects, and passionate bridge enthusiasts.
For the BLM, the honor underscores the importance of preserving historic features while demonstrating how innovative, creative partnerships can deliver safe, sustainable recreation opportunities.
Stephen Small, Spokane BLM District Manager, said, “Receiving this award is a proud moment for the BLM and a reflection of what’s possible through collaboration with skilled partners like HDR.”
Small confirmed that public lands belong to everyone, that access is key to connecting people with these landscapes, and that the Umtanum Bridge, which years of wear and storm damage had left in poor condition by the 2010s, safeguards a piece of history.
The BLM partnered with HDR on a rehabilitation plan that honored the bridge’s character, protected the river below, and strengthened the crossing for long-term use.
As no original design plans were available, HDR engineers relied on rope-and-ladder inspections, detailed surveys, and advanced modeling to assess performance. Construction was completed in July 2021, within the $800,000 budget.
The BLM said that, all in all, the Umtatum Bridge is a successful example/case study offering inspiration for other projects and assets to strive for.