Hop In The Car And Visit 10 Of New Hampshire’s Covered Bridges In One Day
There are a lot of ways to soak up the beauty of New Hampshire. In the summer, head to the lake. In the winter, consider some skiing. But, in the fall the best way to enjoy the scenery is by getting in the car and heading off on a road trip. We’ve built out a few of these in the past. From waterfalls to donuts to haunted places and just about everything in between. But one of our favorites is our newest! This trip to New Hampshire lovely covered bridges can be done in a day and it’s a beautiful way to soak up the scenery. Click here for full driving directions.
Start things off with one of the most simple, but lovely bridges on the route. The Ashuelot spans the river of the same name and dates back to 1864. We love the look of the white lattice sides during the fall. Something about the contrast of colors will keep you here for longer than you intended!
You'll be sticking to the Ashuelot River for your next stop. Built in 1837, the 107-foot long Coombs Bridge feels simple. The red rood looks stunning against green trees in the summer. But, of course, we absolutely love it in the fall. If you appreciate state history, you'll like knowing that it's on the National Register of Historic Places.
Sticking to the same bridge, we continue to our third stop, the Carleton bridge. It crosses the South Branch of the Ashuelot River and is another one that's made it's way onto on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1869.
If you're looking for more, head to stop number four! It might look cold, but it's quaint charm will warm your soul. Built in 1937, this beauty spans the Contoocook River. It was the first bridge in the country to use the engineering technique known as the Teco truss, Unsurprisingly, it's also on the National Register of Historic Places.
One of the newest on this list, the Hennicker was built in 1972. But covered bridge traditionalist don't need to worry. The builders used traditional methods. You won't be able to drove through it, but this is exactly when you'll want to stretch your legs anyway. Get out and take a lovely stroll over it to see the Contoocook up-close.
This portion of the drive will lead you on the Kanc and this bridge is just off the road. It was built in 1858 and looks especially wonderful in the fall when it's surrounded by bright foliage.
This is another one that's just for walking. Take some time to walk across and enjoy a snack at the picnic table or benches. It spans the Ammonoosuc River and was built in 1852.
Perhaps the most geographically unique bridge on this list, the 1911 Mount Orne actually touches two states! It crosses the Connecticut River between Lancaster, New Hampshire, and Lunenberg, Vermont.
Crossing the Ammonoosuc River, this beauty was built in 1833. In 2012 it underwent renovation and today you'll find it in great shape! If you want to keep your driving to around 5 hours, this will be your last stop on the trip. But, if you're loving the drive hop back into the car and head to our bonus bridge!
Last up is the Cornish-Windsor bridge near the western border of the state. It spans the Connecticut River between Cornish and Windsor and at 449-feet it's the longest wooden covered bridge in America! It was built in 1866 it's owned and maintained by New Hampshire. Congrats! You've now seems some of the best covered bridges in the state in just one (gloriously beautiful!) day.
For more wonderful New Hampshire road trips, check out this list of 10 favorites. They’re quick, unique and varied, offering you tons of options for exploring the Granite State.
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Address: Ashuelot Covered Bridge, 20 Hampshire Ct, Ashuelot, NH 03441, USA
Address: Coombs Bridge, 976 Old Westport Rd, Winchester, NH 03470, USA
Address: 86 Carlton Rd, Swanzey, NH 03446, USA
Address: Hancock-Greenfield Covered Bridge, 290 Forest Rd, Hancock, NH 03449, USA
Address: Henniker Rd, Henniker, NH, USA
Address: Albany Covered Bridge, Passaconaway Rd, Albany, NH 03818, USA
Address: Upper Ammonoosuc River, New Hampshire, USA
Address: Mount Orne Covered Bridge, Lancaster, NH 03584, USA
Address: Bath Covered Bridge, W Bath Rd, Bath, NH 03740, USA
Address: Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge, Cornish, NH 03745, USA
