Visit Vermont

Covered Bridges

Southern Vermont covered bridges brim with historic charm

Few structures in America combine architectural ingenuity, economic necessity, and romantic idealism better than the covered bridge. Covered bridges flourished in the United States in the 19th century. Vermont, with about 104 of them, has the highest density of bridges. Vermont and New Hampshire share the Cornish-Windsor Bridge, the longest wooden covered bridge in the United States.

Individual inventiveness played an important role in the proliferation of covered bridges. As the industry grew, builders experimented and adapted each other’s designs in hopes of building stronger bridges with the fewest materials. Covered bridges grew in popularity in the early 20th century and became subjects for artists and advertisers.

[Thanks to Hank and Marlee Bickel and their Web site, http://coveredbridgesite.com, and to the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Service and the Montshire Museum of Science]

14 places to visit

Scott Bridge

Location: Take Route 30 east 1.6 miles from the junction with Route 35 in Townshend to the bridge on the south side of the road. The bridge is located between Townshend and West Dummerston.

Route 30 East Townshend, VT 05359
The Scott Bridge, built by Harrison Chamberlin in 1870, is a three-span structure. One span is town lattice truss with an arch, the next two spans are kingpost trusses with steel rods added for strength. The total length is 276 feet. This bridge carries Back Side Road over the West River. Parking in pulloffs near the bridge. This is a state-owned historic site.

Kidder Hill Bridge

Location: 0.1 miles east of Grafton on Route 121 then right on Bear Hill Road; then 0.2 miles to the bridge. The bridge is located on the south edge of Grafton.

Bear Hill Road Grafton, VT 05146
The Kidder Hill Bridge, built in 1870, carries Kidder Hill Road over the South Branch of the Saxton River. Modified kingpost truss with a span of 67 feet. Parking in pulloffs near the bridge.

Green River Bridge

Location: 1.4 miles south of junction I-91 exit 1 on US5 to Guilford then right 4.1 miles to Guilford Center and 0.6 miles ahead; then right 2.4 miles on Stage Road; left 0.1 mile to the bridge.

Jacksonville Stage Road Guilford, VT 05301
The Green River Bridge, built in 1870, carries Jacksonville Stage Road over the Green River. Town lattice truss; 104 feet long. Parking can be difficult near the bridge.

Bridge at the Green/Arlington Bridge

Location: Northwest of Arlington, Route 313 West 4.2 miles from junction with Route 7A in Arlington (just past West Arlington); south on Covered Bridge Road; then 200 feet to the bridge.

Covered Bridge Road Arlington, VT 05250
The often-photographed Bridge at the Green, just two miles from the New York State border, was built in 1852 and it carries an unnamed road over the Battenkill River. Town lattice truss; 80 feet long. Parking in lot near fishing hole.

Henry / Burt Bridge

Location: South-southwest of North Bennington. Travel Route 67A south 1.2 miles from junction with VT67 in North Bennington; west on River Road; 0.5 miles south on River Road; 150 feet to the bridge.

River Road Bennington, VT 05201
The Henry or Burt Bridge crosses the Waloomsac River in Bennington. This bridge is a short distance from the rebuilt Paper Mill Bridge and the Silk Bridge. It was built in 1840 and rebuilt in 1989. Between those times, the bridge had two sets of town lattice trusses to handle the weight of heavy loads of pig iron drawn by oxen. This made the Henry bridge the strongest covered bridge in Vermont. Town lattice truss; 127 feet long. Parking along Murphy Road.

Paper Mill Village Bridge

Location: US7 north 1.2 miles from junction with Route 9 in Bennington; then northwest on Route 7A 0.8 miles; continue northwest on Route 67A west 1.4 miles; south on Murphy Road; 250 feet to the bridge.

Murphy Road Bennington, VT 05201
The Paper Mill Bridge, built in 1889, carries Murphy Road across the Waloomsac River. This bridge is a short distance from rebuilt Silk Bridge and the Henry Bridge. Town lattice truss; 125 feet long. Parking in pulloffs on north side of bridge.

Silk Road / Locust Grove Bridge

Location: US7 north 1.2 miles from junction with Route 9 in Bennington; northwest on Route 7A 0.8 miles; continue northwest on Route 67A and west 1.0 miles; south on Silk Road (opposite Bennington College); 0.2 miles to the bridge.

Silk Road Bennington, VT 05201
The Silk Bridge, built in 1840, carries Silk Road across the Waloomsac River. This bridge is a short distance from Paper Mill Bridge and the Henry Bridge. Parking in pulloffs on the north side of the bridge.

Chiselville Bridge

Location: E. off Route 7. Travel east of Arlington, East Arlington Road east (curves north) 1.6 miles; continue north on Sunderland Hill Road; 0.4 miles to the bridge at Chiselville.

Sunderland Hill Road Sunderland, VT 05250
The Chiselville Bridge, built in 1870, carries Sunderland Hill Road over Roaring Branch Brook. The covered portion of the bridge is a town lattice truss and there is a center pier at mid span. It is worth the walk to go to the bottom of the ravine and view the bridge from below. Parking in pulloffs on the north side of the bridge.

Dummerston Bridge

Location: Route 30 north 0.7 mile from West Dummerston; turn east on West Dummerston Covered Bridge Road. Travel 150 feet to the bridge.

West River Road Dummerston, VT 05357
The West Dummerston Bridge, built by Celeb B. Lamson in 1872, carries East-West Road over the West River. Completely restored in 1998. Two-span Town lattice truss. Parking in lot near the bridge.

Williamsville Bridge

Location: Off Route 30. Dover Road east 1.7 miles from junction with North Street in East Dover to the bridge. The bridge is east of East Dover in the town of Newfane.

Dover Road Newfane, VT 05345
The Williamsville Bridge, built by Eugene F. Wheller in 1870, is a 120-foot-long Town lattice truss. Parking on far side of bridge.

Hall / Osgood Bridge

Location: Route 121 east 1.2 miles from junction with Westminster Street in Saxtons River, north on Sunderland Hill Road 200 feet to the bridge. The bridge is east of Saxtons River.

Sunderland Hill Road Rockingham, VT 05101
Hall Bridge, built about 1867, was destroyed by a truck in 1980, and an authentic replacement was built in 1982. Town lattice; 120 feet long.

Worralls Bridge

Location: From Lower Bartonsville Road go south 0.5 miles from Bartonsville; continue south on Route 103 0.4 miles; east on Williams Road; then 0.2 mile to the bridge.

Williams Road Bartonsville, VT 05143
The Worrall Bridge, built in 1868 by the Sanford Granger, carries Williams Road over the Williams River. Town lattice; 86 feet long. Parking on west side of bridge.

Bartonsville Bridge

Location: Off Route 103 on Lower Bartonsville Road at the south edge of Bartonsville.

Lower Bartonsville Road Bartonsville, VT 05143
The Bartonsville Bridge, built in 1870 by the Sanford Granger, is an impressive 158-foot-long town lattice. This bridge is one of the longest in Vermont. It carries Pleasant Valley Road over the Williams River. Parking on west side of the road.

Victorian Village Bridge

Location: North of exit 6 on I-91, at the intersection of US 5 and Route 103, travel north on Route 103 for 2.5 miles. Bridge is an entrance to Vermont Country Store.

Rockingham, VT 05101
The Victorian Village Bridge is modified kingpost truss. The bridge span is 46 feet. Originally built in 1872, this bridge was dismantled and rebuilt in 1967. Privately owned. Parking at lot at Vermont Country Store.