Step-stone bridge

A Step-stone bridge is a simple bridging allowing a pedestrian to cross a natural watercourse or pond, or a garden's water feature where water is allowed to course between stone steps. Unlike other bridges it has no spans. Step-stone bridges, along with log bridges are likely to be the oldest bridge types. They are often built by hikers and disarranged during periods of high, fast water.

Garden crossings

In Landscape design and Garden design, Step-Stone bridges cross natural landscape style and Asian themed water features and "dry landscape" symbolic "water gardens."

Asian gardens

Step-Stone bridges are seen in traditional and contemporary Chinese gardens and Japanese gardens, and Zen rock gardens. It is a principal bridge types in these gardens, along with Moon bridges.

A Zig-zag bridge was traditionally used to allow the pedestrian to fool and evade "evil spirits" following them, and used in Zen gardens for mindfulness practice.

Euro-American gardens

In classic and formal western culture traditional water garden and reflecting pool landscapes the stepping stones may be crisp rectilinear forms of stone with honed or flame treated surfaces.

Stones wider than thick may be securely mounted in a "mushroom with stalk" method, with the support stem hidden below the water's surface for a floating aesthetic.

Modernist urban park landscapes, such as the Seattle Freeway Park and Keller Fountain Park, Downtown Portland with elevation changes...
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