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. Kentucky is currently home to 11 covered bridges, each more beautiful than the last. Beautiful all year-round, fall is an especially enchanting time to visit these winsome wooden structures, as they’re often found in bucolic countryside and forested areas. As we welcome fall here in the Bluegrass State, plan on visiting the following seven beautiful covered bridges in Kentucky.
Bennett’s Mill Covered Bridge
Sybrenia Burton/Google Local 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 exact dates aren’t known, Bennet’s Mill Covered Bridge was probably built in the mid-1850s to accommodate customers at the nearby mill. It’s open to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Bennett’s Mill Covered Bridge, KY-7, South Shore, KY 41175, USA
Goddard White Covered Bridge
Sheila Smith-Lee/Google Local 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 vehicle and by foot. Added to the National Registrar of Historic Places in 1975, the Goddard White Covered Bridge is the last surviving example of Ithiel Town Lattice design in Kentucky. Goddard White Covered Bridge, Goddard Covered Bridge, Hillsboro, KY 41049, USA
Lee’s Creek Covered Bridge/Dover Covered Bridge
(Greg5030)/Wikimedia Commons 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. Dover Covered Bridge, Old Lee’s Creek Rd, Dover, KY 41034, USA
Cabin Creek Covered Bridge
Andy Kralick/Google Local 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. Cabin Creek Covered Bridge, Cabin Creek Rd, Vanceburg, KY 41179, USA
Oldtown Covered Bridge
John Hultgren/Google Local The 192-foot Oldtown Covered Bridge spans the Little Sandy River, a tributary of the Ohio River in northeastern Kentucky. It’s located in a quiet, rural region of the Bluegrass that’s incredibly scenic in the fall. The Oldtown Bridge was built about 1880 and is an example of a double post and brace bridge. Oldtown Covered Bridge, Tunnel Branch Rd, Argillite, KY 41121, USA
Walcott Covered Bridge
Andy Kralick/Google Local 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. Walcott Covered Bridge, AA Highway, Brooksville, KY 41004, USA
Red and White Bridge at Silver Creek
PEO ACWA/Flickr Madison County, Iowa, is known for its amazing covered bridges. But Kentucky has a 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. It can be viewed from Bogie Mill Road, and in the fall, it’s spectacular. Silver Creek, Kentucky, USA
Did you know about these beautiful Kentucky covered bridges? Which is your favorite? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Sybrenia Burton/Google Local
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 exact dates aren’t known, Bennet’s Mill Covered Bridge was probably built in the mid-1850s to accommodate customers at the nearby mill. It’s open to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Bennett’s Mill Covered Bridge, KY-7, South Shore, KY 41175, USA
Sheila Smith-Lee/Google Local
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 vehicle and by foot. Added to the National Registrar of Historic Places in 1975, the Goddard White Covered Bridge is the last surviving example of Ithiel Town Lattice design in Kentucky.
Goddard White Covered Bridge, Goddard Covered Bridge, Hillsboro, KY 41049, USA
(Greg5030)/Wikimedia Commons
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.
Dover Covered Bridge, Old Lee’s Creek Rd, Dover, KY 41034, USA
Andy Kralick/Google Local
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.
Cabin Creek Covered Bridge, Cabin Creek Rd, Vanceburg, KY 41179, USA
John Hultgren/Google Local
The 192-foot Oldtown Covered Bridge spans the Little Sandy River, a tributary of the Ohio River in northeastern Kentucky. It’s located in a quiet, rural region of the Bluegrass that’s incredibly scenic in the fall. The Oldtown Bridge was built about 1880 and is an example of a double post and brace bridge.
Oldtown Covered Bridge, Tunnel Branch Rd, Argillite, KY 41121, USA
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.
Walcott Covered Bridge, AA Highway, Brooksville, KY 41004, USA
PEO ACWA/Flickr
Madison County, Iowa, is known for its amazing covered bridges. But Kentucky has a 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. It can be viewed from Bogie Mill Road, and in the fall, it’s spectacular.
Silver Creek, Kentucky, USA
To take your covered bridge experience to the next level this fall, be sure to time your visit when Kentucky’s peak fall foliage!
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