Sherar's Falls

Sherar's Bridge and Sherar's Falls are named for Joseph Sherar. A resident of Wasco County since 1863, he purchased the bridge in 1871 for $7,040 and then spent $75,000 improving roads leading to and from the site. He kept the stage station, and later the railroad station at this location until around 1905.

There had been a bridge at the site in 1826 when Peter Skene Ogden's fur trapping party attempted to cross and lost 5 horses through the flimsy structure. About 20 Indian families were then living at the site. John Y. Todd built the first wagon toll bridge at the site in 1860. It passed through several owners before and after Sherar. The current concrete bridge carries Oregon Highway 216 across the Deschutes. Petroglyphs found on nearby rocks are duplicated in the concrete on the sides of the bridge.