Ideas for a small bridge

[Hays Creek]

I need to put in a small bridge, roughly 15 - 18' long, to cross a deep ditch. Needs to be something my 9 year old can get across - the banks are too steep for her to cross without a bridge. Foot traffic only, does not need to support an atv.

I know I could buy some 4x4s and frame it out, then cover the top with 2x4 sections like a boardwalk, but am wondering if anyone has anything easier or cheaper. I saw the long sections of steel in the classifieds but that's a bit more than I need (or want to spend). Any ideas welcome - thanks.

[1010]

1. dig a ford.
or
2. cut two trees down, lay them beside each other across the ditch, find some wood pallets and screw/nail them to the trees.

[mfalkner]

Two trees decked out, or cut an old light pole in half and use that.

[Dux Be Us]

Ive used an old extension ladder

[ducman77]

I would use some light poles.

[novacaine]

Buy two sticks of 20 ft long 4" steel channel (1 1/2" wide) and build a wooden walkway on it.
Put a rail on at least one side to hold onto. Many a center pivot bridge has been built out of 4" C.........it will hold up pedestrian traffic it just may be a little bouncy so go slow.
You can build this on site and drag it across with a chain or come a long...........one man show!

[Hays Creek]

Thanks for the responses. I have an old cattle gate that is probably long enough...now thinking about just putting some planking on it and running a rope across on one side, once it's in place, to have something to hold onto. If this is a bad idea someone let me know.

[jmh600]

When I worked in Wyoming we dropped a tree over a creek and filet it right down the center with a chain saw to make a bridge on a bike trail. It was pretty cool. We actually did about 3 of these in different locations.