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.
The Hectorville Bridge, built in 1883, was so deteriorated and in danger of collapsing into the south Branch of the Trout River that the town dismantled it in mid-2005 and placed it into storage, pending a renovation play. Town lattice construction. Montgomery holds bragging rights as the Vermont town with the most covered bridges, with five inside the town limits and one on the town border. As recently as the 1940s, 13 covered bridges were in use in Montgomery.
Chamberlin / Chamberlin Mill BridgeBuilt in 1881, this bridge crosses the South Wheelock Branch of the Passumpsic River. Queenpost truss; 69 feet long.
Morgan / Upper BridgeBuilt in 1887, this bridge takes its name from the the family that owned the adjacent property. Queenpost truss; about 70 feet long. From the intersection of Route 118 and Route 109, travel south on Route 109 about 6 miles; turn right onto Morgan Bridge Road and proceed to bridge.
Poland / Junction / Station / Kissing BridgeBuilt in 1863, Longley Bridge takes Town Road 4 (Longley Bridge Road) across the Trout River. Town lattice construction. Montgomery holds bragging rights as the Vermont town with the most covered bridges, with six inside the town limits and one on the town border. As recently as the 1940s, 13 covered bridges were in use in Montgomery. Located west near to Route 118.
Montgomery / Middle / Potter BridgeBuilt in 1887, this bridge was named after the Dallas Montgomery Farm, which was nearby. It is also called the Middle Bridge because it is between the Jaynes or Upper Bridge upstream, and the Church or Lower Bridge, downstream. Queenpost truss; about 70 feet long. From the intersection of Route 108 and Route 109, travel north on Route 109 about 5 miles; turn right onto Montgomery Road; turn right to the bridge.
Sanborn-Centre BridgeVarious dates in the late 1860s to early 1870s are given for the construction of this bridge. In 1960, plans were being made to tear the bridge down. The owner of the nearby Lyneburke Motel acquired the threatened bridge and had it moved to their property, where it spans the East Branch of the Passumpsic River. The public is allowed to respectfully enter the property to view the bridge. Paddleford truss, 117 feet long.
Quinlan / Lower BridgeLocated off Route 7 to North Ferrisburg. Travel Church Hill Road east 0.7 miles from junction with US7; continue east on Hinesburg Road 2.3 miles south on Spear Street 3.2 miles; south on Monkton Road; 50 feet to the bridge. The Quinlan or Lower Bridge, built in 1849, carries Lewis Creek Road over Lewis Creek. Multi-kingpost truss and burr arch; 86 feet long. Parking in pulloffs near bridge.
Gold Brook / Stowe Hollow / Emily’s BridgeLocated east off Route 100. Travel 1.8 miles south of junction Route 108 on Route 100; then 1.3 miles left on Gold Brook Road and just left on Covered Bridge Road. Gold Brook Bridge, built in 1844, carries Gold Brook Road across the Gold Brook. Howe truss; 48 feet long. According to local lore, the covered bridge on this route is haunted by a young woman named Emily who hanged herself from the rafters after being spurned by her lover.
Stowe Walkway BridgeLocated on Route 108 in Stowe village. The Stowe Walkway Bridge, built in 1973, carries Route 108 and a walkway over the Waterbury River. It is part of a steel stringer highway bridge; 150 feet long with two spans. Parking on Stowe village streets.
Randall / Old Burrington BridgeBuilt in 1865, this bridge was bypassed when a traffic from the bridge road was rerouted to a new concrete-and-steel bridge. Crosses the East Branch of the Passumpsic River. Queenpost truss; 70 feet long.
Sequin / Seguin / Brown’s / Upper BridgeLocated on Church Hill Road east 0.7 miles from junction with US7; east on Hinesburg Road 3.3 miles; south on Bean Road; 1.4 miles east, curve south and back east on Prindle Road; 1.4 miles south on Roscoe Road; 0.2 miles to the bridge. The Sequin or Upper Bridge, built in 1849, carries Roscoe Road over Lewis Creek. This bridge was built in 1849. Multiple kingpost truss and Burr arch; 71 feet long. Parking in pulloffs near bridge.
Red / Sterling BridgeLocated west off Route 100. Travel 1.8 miles north of junction Route 108 on Route 100; then 0.7 miles left on Stagecoach Road; then 1.6 miles left and right on Cole Road. Red Bridge, built in 1896, carries Cole Hill Road across Sterling Brook. Combination kingpost and queenpost truss system; 66 feet long. Parking available at the intersection before crossing the bridge.
Fisher Railroad / Chubb BridgeLocated south off Route 15. Travel southeast of Wolcott about 11 miles from junction of Route 100 north of Morrisville on Route 15. The Fisher Railroad Bridge, built in 1908, at one time carried the St. Johnsbury & Lamoille County Railroad over the Lamoille River. The truss is a Town-Pratt with double lattice; 103 feet long. This bridge has a full-length cupola, which allowed the smoke from the steam locomotives to escape. Parking available at roadside park. This is a state-owned historic site.
Columbia BridgeCrosses the Connecticut River between Columbia, NH, and Lemington, VT. Located off Route 2. The Columbia Bridge, built in 1912, is the third bridge at this site, replacing a previous bridge that burned in 1911. A single span supported by Howe trusses, it is 146 feet long. The Columbia Bridge and Mount Orne Bridge (built 1912 at Lancaster, New Hampshire) are also the last covered bridges built on public highways during the historic period of covered bridge construction in New Hampshire and Vermont that began about 1820.
Green Banks Hollow BridgeLocated south off Route 2. Greenbanks Hollow Bridge, build in 1886, carried Greenbanks Hollow Road across Joe’s Brook. Queenpost truss.
Fairfax Village / Lower / Maple Street BridgeLocated south off Route 104. Fairfax Village Bridge, built in 1865, carries Spring Street across the Mill Brook. Lattice work truss.
School House BridgeBuilt in 1879, this bridge withstood and survived a tough onslaught of water and debris during the 1927 flood. Crosses the South Wheelock Branch of the Passumpsic River. Queenpost truss; 45 feet long.
Shelburne Museum BridgeLocation: US7 south about 0.3 miles from junction with Harbor Road in Shelburne to the bridge on the west side of the road. The bridge is located southeast of Sherburne. The Shelburne Museum Bridge is one of only two two-lane covered bridges in Vermont. This bridge carries an entrance to the Shelburne Museum (now closed) over Burr Pond just south of Shelburne. This bridge was built in 1845 in Cambridge, Vermont, and moved to its current location in 1951. Multi-kingpost truss and Burr arch; 168 feet long. Parking in pulloffs off Route 7.
White Caps BridgeLocated off Route 108, 4.3 miles north from Route 100 in Stowe. The White Caps Bridge, built in about 1970, carries the Stowe Recreational Trail over the west branch of Waterbury River. Stringer bridge [meaning that it has no truss structure; support is simply horizontal beams across the stream]; 56 feet long. It parking available at locations along the Stowe Recreational Trail.
Church Street BridgeFrom intersection of Route 108 and Route 109, travel north on Route 109 about 4 miles; turn left on Church Street; travel 0.1 mile to bridge. Built in 1877, this covered bridge carries Church Street across the North Branch of the Lamoille River. Queenpost truss; 60 feet long. Still contains old ads and decorative stenciling on the inside.
Orne BridgeLocated in Coventry Village, Orne Bridge was originally built in 1881 and rebuilt 2000, carries Old Dump Road over the Black River. Paddleford truss.
Creamery / West Hill / Crystal Springs BridgeLocated south off Route 118. Creamery Bridge, built in 1883, crosses West Hill Brook. Town lattice construction; 58 feet long. Montgomery holds bragging rights as the Vermont town with the most covered bridges, with six inside the town limits and one on the town border. As recently as the 1940s, 13 covered bridges were in use in Montgomery.
Codding Hollow / Jaynes / Upper BridgeBuilt in 1877, the bridge carries Codding Hollow Road across the North Branch of the Lamoille River. Queenpost truss; 60 feet long. Also known as the Kissing Bridge, according to a sign posted by a visitor in the 1950s. From the intersection of Routes 108 and 109, travel north on Route 109 about 6 miles; turn right onto Codding Hollow Road; travel 0.1 mile to bridge.
Lumber Mill BridgeLumber Mill Bridge carries Mill Bridge Road across the north branch of the Lamoille River. Queenpost truss.
Hutchins BridgeLocated west off Route 118. Hutchins Bridge, built in 1883, takes Hutchins Bridge Road across the Trout River. Town lattice construction. Montgomery holds bragging rights as the Vermont town with the most covered bridges, with six inside the town limits and one on the town border. As recently as the 1940s, 13 covered bridges were in use in Montgomery.
River Road / School / Upper BridgeLocated at East Route 110 on Big Falls Road. The River Road Bridge, built in 1910, carries Vielleux Road across the Missisquoi River. Lattice work truss.
Fuller / Black Falls BridgeLocation: north near Route 118. The Fuller Bridge, built in 1890, crosses Black Falls Brook on the edge of town. Town lattice construction. Montgomery holds bragging rights as the Vermont town with the most covered bridges, with six inside the town limits and one on the town border. As recently as the 1940s, 13 covered bridges were in use in Montgomery.
East Fairfield BridgeLocated adjacent to Route 36. East Fairfield Bridge, built in 1865, carried Bridge Street across the Black Creek. Queenpost truss.
Comstock (VT) BridgeComstock Bridge, built in 1883, crosses the Trout River. Town lattice construction. Montgomery holds bragging rights as the Vermont town with the most covered bridges, with six inside the town limits and one on the town border. As recently as the 1940s, 13 covered bridges were in use in Montgomery. Located south near Route 118.
Miller’s Run BridgeThis bridge was built in 1878 and, because of safety problems, it was completely dismantled and restored in 1995, when a pedestrian walkway also was added. Crosses the Passumpsic River. Queenpost truss; 56 feet long.
Lake Shore / Holmes / Holmes Creek BridgeLocated west off Route 7. Travel west 1.4 miles from junction with US7 and SR5 (Ferry Road) on the east side of Charlotte; then north on Lake Road 1.8 miles to the bridge. The Lake Shore or Holmes Creek Bridge is located on the shore of Lake Champlain and it carries Lake Road over Holmes Creek. The superstructure is a kingpost truss and a tied arch. It has a 39 foot span. Parking in pulloffs on north side of the bridge.
Power House / School Street BridgeLocated west near Route 100C. Power House Bridge, built in 1870 and rebuilt in 2002, carries School Street across the Gihon River. Queenpost truss.
Hopkins BridgeHopkins Bridge, built in 1875, takes Hopkins Road across the Trout River. Town lattice construction; 90 feet long. Located west near Route 118.
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