By Carly Eisley
A New England road trip is full of picturesque scenes. Rolling hills, mountain ranges, farmlands with scene-stealing barns. One of the most iconic views has to be New England’s covered bridges. They are a photographer’s dream and amazing feats of architecture and engineering from a bygone era; picture the construction of one of these, beam by beam, hundreds of years ago. There are hundreds of New England covered bridges you can visit. Here are a few favorites to add to your itinerary for some great photo ops!
The Taftsville Bridge over the Ottauquechee River is in Woodstock, VT. Built in 1836, it is one of the oldest in the state. Check out the quaint town of Woodstock and visit the nearby Long Trail Brewery, Killington Mountain for some hiking (or skiing!), and watch the glass blowers at Simon Pearce after hiking Quechee Gorge.
The Cornish-Windsor bridge is the longest covered bridge in the United States at 450 feet long! This bridge spans the Connecticut River from Windsor, VT, to Cornish, NH, so you can cross state lines and keep on going! Another Woodstock area bridge, the Middle Bridge, makes for some beautiful photos.
New Hampshire
One of the most famous bridges in New Hampshire is the bridge into the village of Jackson. Also known as the Honeymoon Bridge due to its popularity for wedding photos, take this bridge into the village of Jackson for some cross-country skiing and explore the small shops and restaurants nearby.
The Swiftwater Bridge crosses the Wild Ammonoosuc River in Bath, NH. Originally built in 1818, it has been rebuilt several times, most recently in the 1970s. The Bath covered bridge in Bath, NH, was originally built in 1794 and most recently rebuilt in 1832.
The Albany Bridge crosses the Swift River in the White Mountain National Forest. If you’re taking a scenic drive through the White Mountains, you won’t want to miss the Kancamagus Highway; stop off on your drive for a picnic or to take a hike or backcountry cross-country ski on the trails over this bridge into the National Forest.
Maine
The Sunday River Bridge, also known as the Artist’s Bridge, is a bridge in Northern Maine that earned its nickname for its popularity with photographers and painters who have used the bridge in their works. Visit the nearby Sunday River ski area, as well as the many hiking opportunities in the nearby northern White Mountains.
Connecticut
The West Cornwall Covered Bridge in Cornwall, CT, is a beautiful red wooden bridge spanning the Housatonic River. Take a hike on the nearby Appalachian Trail after grabbing some photo ops at the bridge.
The Comstock Covered Bridge over the Salmon River leads to some great hiking and biking trails in Salmon River State Park. Like to fish? Try out some fly fishing on the Salmon River!
Covered bridges in New England are a crowd-pleasing stop on any road trip, no matter the season. With a little something for your history buff, artist, photographer, and nature lovers, they are a great way to explore off the beaten path. So go ahead and reserve your Escape campervan and hop off the highway to explore some of New England’s best scenic back roads. Be sure to make a pit stop at some of these unique bridges for some memorable photos along the way. Happy travels!
