There's something so wonderfully charming about covered bridges. Hand-built and often featuring intricate designs, covered bridges are exquisite works of architectural art; a beautiful reminder of a bygone era. At one time, the U.S. was home to 12,000 covered bridges; today, they are becoming increasingly harder to find.

There are only a handful of remaining covered bridges in Kentucky that are each more beautiful than the last. This includes the impressive Colville Covered Bridge. While they're impressive to visit all year round, fall is an especially enchanting time to check out these winsome wooden structures. This is because they're often found in bucolic countryside and forested areas. Hence, as we welcome fall here in the Bluegrass State, plan on visiting the following seven beautiful covered bridges in Kentucky.

1. Bennett's Mill Covered Bridge

In northern Greenup County, the 155-foot Bennett's Mill Bridge spans Tygarts Creek at the intersection of KY 7 and KY 1215. This bridge is the sole surviving example in all of America of the rare "Wheeler truss" style. While the exact dates aren't known, Bennett's Mill Covered Bridge is one of the KY covered bridges that was probably built in the mid-1850s to accommodate customers at the nearby mill. It's open to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

2. Goddard White Covered Bridge

This historic bridge, known as the Goddard White Bridge and the Goddard Covered Bridge, is located in Fleming County in northeast Kentucky. It spans Sand Lick Creek and is still passable by both vehicles and by foot. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, the Goddard White Covered Bridge is the last surviving example of Ithiel Town Lattice design in Kentucky. Hence, it's worth the visit when you're in the area and looking to explore a covered bridge near me.

3. Lee's Creek Covered Bridge/Dover Covered Bridge

Estimated to have been built in 1835, the Dover Bridge is the oldest covered bridge in Kentucky. It's located in the town of Dover, not far from the Ohio River and about 20 minutes from Maysville. The Dover Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and sits over a scenic little creek. During the fall, the vibrant foliage juxtaposed with the worn wood bridge makes the entire area extra enchanting.

4. Cabin Creek Covered Bridge

Built in 1867, the 114-foot Cabin Creek Covered Bridge recently underwent a major renovation. A shining example of the Burr Truss design, you'll find this beautiful bridge nestled in the northwestern part of Lewis County. Therefore, plan to check it out when you're in the area and question where to find a covered bridge near me.

5. Oldtown Covered Bridge

The 192-foot Oldtown Covered Bridge spans the Little Sandy River, a tributary of the Ohio River in northeastern Kentucky. This KY covered bridge is located in a quiet, rural region of the Bluegrass that's incredibly scenic in the fall. The Oldtown Bridge was built circa 1880 and is an example of a double post and brace bridge.

6. Walcott Covered Bridge

Nestled in the hills of Bracken County along the AA Highway is the historic Walcott Covered Bridge. The bridge was originally built in 1824 and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. After much use and heavy flood damage, the bridge was rebuilt in 2002 and is only open to foot traffic today. During the autumn, the fall foliage in this area in northern Kentucky is resplendent, making a day trip to Walcott Covered Bridge an incredibly scenic adventure.

7. Red and White Bridge at Silver Creek

Madison County, Iowa, is known for its amazing covered bridges. But Kentucky has Madison County, too, and it has its very own covered bridge as well! Inspired by "The Bridges of Madison County," Bob Minerich built a beautiful bridge over Silver Creek and painted it red to match the rest of the buildings on his 1,500-acre farm near Richmond, Kentucky. This infamous covered bridge in Kentucky can be viewed from Bogie Mill Road, and in the fall, it's spectacular.

Did you know about these beautiful covered bridges in Kentucky? Which one is your favorite? Feel free to share your thoughts in the following comments section! If you'd like to spend more time exploring the areas surrounding these KY covered bridges, I suggest also checking out Vrbo for vacation rentals throughout the state.

To take your covered bridge experience to the next level, be sure to time your visit when Kentucky's peak fall foliage as well.