This Beautiful Covered Bridge in Maine Is a Perfect Road Trip Detour

As far as New England States go, Maine tops the charts in many categories. It is the largest of the six states, has the longest coastline (3,500 miles), boasts the most lighthouses (65), and houses the oldest National Park in the northeast. But surprisingly, there is one quintessential New England attraction that Maine does not have many of: covered bridges.

In a state with approximately 33,215 square miles, chock full of rivers, streams, and ponds, you would think there would be dozens of authentic covered bridges, but alas, there are only nine. Yes, that is correct, I said nine. Compare that to 58 in New Hampshire, 100 in Massachusetts, and 104 in Vermont, and you have a head-scratching statistic. I’d like to tell you about one of these nine local beauties, the Sunday River Bridge in the town of Newry.

The historic Sunday River Bridge was built in 1872. It is the second covered bridge at this location, sitting over the Sunday River approximately four miles northwest of North Bethel near the Sunday River Ski Resort. The original bridge, built in 1811, was flooded and destroyed in 1869.

This gorgeous Paddleford Truss bridge is also widely referred to as the Artist’s Bridge. There are two “stories” behind this nickname. The first states that it was named so because a visiting impressionist artist named John Enneking was often seen painting pictures of the bridge. The second theory came about because the structure is said to be the most painted and photographed covered bridge in Maine.

Needless to say, the name is quite fitting. The bridge is a lovely spot to photograph, paint, swim, or fish. It is also a popular spot for wedding photos and small ceremonies. The bridge is so well-loved that a smaller replica was created for the nearby Big Adventure Cove Mini Golf attraction. 

Artist’s Bridge has been closed to road traffic since the 1950s, so feel free to wander inside and check out the stunning architecture. There are beautiful photo opportunities from both the inside and the outside.   

Whether you are on a fall foliage road trip, a ski vacation at Sunday River Ski Resort, or a summer day trip to historic Bethel, a stop at the Sunday River Bridge is a perfect detour no matter the season. 

Have you ever visited the Sunday River Bridge? Do you think that it is the prettiest in the state? If you would like to learn even more about the covered bridges in New England, I suggest reading the book New England Covered Bridges by Harold Stiver. For more adventures, take a look at this small, historic town that travelers can't get enough of.