History sometimes hides in plain sight. This is especially so in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where covered bridges — dating to the mid-19th century — stand along roads that have been used for centuries. They are reminders of some simpler times before transportation technology replaced horses and wagons. At one time, America had about 10,000 bridges. Today, there are less than a thousand nationwide. Locally, Bucks County has 12 remaining covered bridges, which are fun to explore.
If you’re touring the covered bridges, you’ll end up close to some other great spots that are worth a visit, like Washington Crossing Historic Park in Pennsylvania and Washington Crossing State Park in New Jersey. They’re two places with good hiking trails and historic buildings — each on either side of the Delaware River. If you want to explore more covered bridges, consider visiting 7 more covered bridges in the Lehigh Valley (Allentown area). Those bridges were built using a different structural truss design.
Did You Know?
- A covered bridge is a wooden bridge that has been covered to protect the wood from weather that could hasten rot and decay. A covered bridge can last much longer than an uncovered one due to that protection. Also, the sides and roof help to strengthen the bridge.
- The covered bridges you’ll see today in Bucks County were built using the Town Truss, creating a lattice, or crisscrossed, design on the interior. This type of truss design was patented by Ithiel Town, thus the name of the truss.
- Typically, covered bridges were named after their builders, local citizens or nearby businesses.
- Covered bridges usually resemble barns; it is said this helped to calm horses and other animals that needed to pull wagons over streams and creeks.
- Unlike the covered bridges in the Lehigh Valley, the bridges in Bucks County are not all painted barn red.
- Some bridges have window-like openings on the sides to let light illuminate the interior.
- They are sometimes called “kissing bridges” because they offered some privacy to steal a kiss while on a walk with your sweetie.
- Two of the covered bridges on this tour are pedestrian-only. They are the South Perkasie Covered Bridge in Lenape Park, Perkasie, and Schofield Covered Bridge which sits in Tyler State Park in Newtown.
- Some, like Pine Valley Covered Bridge, are close to recreational areas that might be a great “two-for” offer of sightseeing and some outdoor fun with hiking, biking, or boating. Van Sandt Covered Bridge is very close to Washington Crossing Historical Park in PA and Washington Crossing State Park in NJ (on opposite banks of the Delaware River) — each has hiking trails, a visitor center, and historic buildings.
- The bridges on this tour are owned and maintained by Bucks County or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Knecht’s Covered Bridge
Spanning Durham Creek, this bridge was built from hemlock in 1873. It’s 110 feet long. German settlers lived in the area in the early 18th century. There’s no parking. [Address: Knecht’s Road, Springfield]
Sheard’s Mill Covered Bridge
Crossing the Tohickon Creek near Lake Nockamixon (a great recreational site), Sheards Mill Covered Bridge was built in 1873 near a mill (hence the name) and was in operation until the 1980s. This 130-foot-long bridge needs a little love (maintenance) as some of the boards are well-worn, and because of that, there are a number of ruts. There’s no parking nearby. [Address: Covered Bridge Road, Perkasie]
Moods Covered Bridge
A busy one-way bridge, Moods is a well-preserved bridge that spans the East Branch of the Perkiomen Creek. It was built in 1874 and is 120 feet long. Heavily damaged by arson in 2004, it was rebuilt and opened to traffic in 2008. [Blooming Glen Road, Perkasie]
South Perkasie Covered Bridge
Constructed in 1832, this 93-foot-long bridge was relocated to its present site in 1958 after plans called for demolition at its previous site. It’s one of the oldest bridges in the area and is the third oldest Town lattice bridge in the country. Today, it sits in a grassy area in Lenape Park, close to a Little League field, and does not cross any body of water.
The sign above the bridge entrance reads, “$5 fine for any person riding or driving over this bridge faster than a walk or smoking segars on.” [Address: Lenape Park, Walnut Street, Perkasie]
Pine Valley Covered Bridge
The second-oldest bridge in the county, Pine Valley Covered Bridge was built in 1842. At 81 feet long, it spans Pine Creek Run and is just a few steps away from a walking trail that’s part of the Covered Bridge Park (with a parking lot). This bridge is also close to Peace Valley Park, with trails, picnic areas, and boat rentals. [Address: Old Iron Hill Road, Chalfont]
Schofield Ford Covered Bridge
Schofield Ford Covered Bridge is in Tyler State Park and no longer carries motorized vehicles. After the original structure was destroyed by arsonists in 1991, a group of dedicated volunteers rebuilt it in 1997. This almost 170-foot-long pedestrian bridge is enjoyed by visitors walking or biking in the park. It is the only unpainted bridge in Bucks County. [Address: Tyler State Park, Newtown]
If you plan to visit, I suggest entering the park from Swamp Road, just south of Twining Bridge Road — not at the main entrance. This is the most direct access to the bridge and you’ll still have nice trails to enjoy in this section of the park. Park your car in the lot and walk down an embankment, turn left, and pick up a trail toward the bridge. Download a map of the park to help orient you.
Van Sandt Covered Bridge
Built in 1875, the 86-foot Van Sandt (also known as Van Sant) Covered Bridge spans Pidcock Creek. It is a one-lane bridge along a quiet country road. The only sound I heard was birds chirping. There is no parking, but I pulled over to the side of the road anyway to get a closer look. [Address: Covered Bridge Road, New Hope]
It’s a few minutes away from Washington Crossing Historic Park, which offers tours of historic buildings used by George Washington’s Continental Army in 1776, Bowman’s Tower with amazing views from the top, trails, and picnic spots.
Loux Covered Bridge
Loux Covered Bridge was built from hemlock in 1874 and is relatively short at 60 feet long. It was named after John Loux, a local justice of the peace. (Don’t get thrown off by the sign to the side marking it as Cabin Run; the bridge spans the Cabin Run Creek, but this is the Loux Covered Bridge!)
This bridge is on a very scenic bend in the road, surrounded by private property. A very picturesque setting. Although there is no parking area, there is a small turnoff to park for a few minutes. [Address: Wismer Road, Plumstead Township]
The short ride to Cabin Run Covered Bridge takes you on bumpy, narrow Covered Bridge Road along scenic Cabin Run Creek.
Cabin Run Covered Bridge
Also spanning the Cabin Run Creek, Cabin Run Bridge is just downstream from Loux Covered Bridge. It was built in 1871 and is 82 feet long. [Address: Covered Bridge Road, Plumstead Township]
Frankenfield Covered Bridge
A long bridge at 130 feet, Frankenfield Covered Bridge spans Tinicum Creek. It was built of oak in 1872 and was named after Henry Frankenfield, a local contractor. It’s in a scenic spot and sees a bit of vehicle traffic. There’s no parking, but I did find a small turnoff on the side of the bridge where you can park a car and walk down to the creek. [Address: Hollow Horn and Caffrey Roads, Tinicum]
Erwinna Covered Bridge
Named after Colonel Arthur Erwin, who helped General George Washington with crossing the Delaware River in 1776, this bridge is just 56 feet long. It fords the Lodi Creek. It’s a one-lane bridge with no parking area. [Address: Geigel Hill Road, Tinicum]
After leaving Erwinna Covered Bridge, you’ll have a short drive through woods on the curvy, bumpy Upper Tinicum Church Road and Jugtown Hill Road on your way to Uhlerstown Covered Bridge.
Uhlerstown Covered Bridge
An oak bridge dating from 1855, the 93-foot-long Uhlerstown Covered Bridge was built of oak and spans the Delaware Canal and towpath. (There is access to the towpath near the bridge if you’re on a bike, but there’s no place to park a car, and the surrounding property is private. To walk along the towpath, drive to Tinicum Park between Erwinna and Uhlerstown and park your car. It’s less than 2 miles away.)
The bridge has decorative openings that let the sunlight illuminate the interior. Uhlerstown was founded by Michael Uhler, who, among other things, built canal boats and owned several businesses. [Address: Uhlerstown Road, Tinicum]
Driving Tour Add-Ons
A driving tour of the 12 bridges took my husband, Pop, and me about four and a half hours. That included parking the car and getting out to take pictures. You’ll need more time if you explore nearby trails (at Pine Valley Covered Bridge, Schofield Ford Covered Bridge, or South Perkasie Covered Bridge). Amazingly, it didn’t seem like over four hours had elapsed because we stopped to look at the bridges as well as plenty of scenic views.
Instead of visiting all 12 bridges, some folks might want to choose just a few for an outing. For example, you could visit the bridges close to the Delaware River and then explore Washington Crossing Historical Park, stop along the Delaware River towpath for a stroll, or decide on a tasting at a winery along the way.
Lovely Sights
The drive is lovely as it passes Lake Nockamixon, through cultivated farmland, stately homes, and rolling hills. We drove on the large boot-shaped route starting on the northwest section in Rieglesville (Knecht’s Covered Bridge), south towards Sellersville, southeast towards Doylestown and Newtown, northeast towards New Hope, and northwest for the remaining 5 covered bridges.
Delicious Diversions
This driving tour is a bit of a time commitment if you’re visiting all 12 covered bridges. The tour is very doable, and it’s made even more pleasant if you add a meal or winery visit at the end — a delicious treat to conclude the tour. 🙂
We highly recommend the Black Bass Hotel (along Route 32 in Lumberville, north of New Hope) for lunch or dinner as it offers amazing food and scenery — it sits on the Pennsylvania shore of the Delaware River. Call ahead for a reservation. Alternatively, you may want to have a tasting at Sand Castle Winery (along Route 32 in Erwinna, not far from the Uhlerstown Covered Bridge) or have an early dinner at Golden Pheasant Inn (along Route 32 in Erwinna) — another great option for delicious food and a nice view along the canal.
Spotty GPS
GPS is hit or miss in some areas along the route, so check the directions before you begin the drive for the covered bridges that most interest you. Your navigation app should recognize the bridges by their names alone, although the addresses for each bridge are included at the end of each bridge description.
Map of Covered Bridges
Nearby Attractions
Consider other attractions in Pennsylvania:
- Big Pocono State Park, Poconos
- Bushkill Falls, Poconos
- Colonial PA Plantation, outside Philadelphia
- Covered Bridges of the Lehigh Valley
- Gettysburg Visitor Guide
- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Lehigh Valley
- Hickory Run State Park, Poconos
- Housenick Park, Lehigh Valley
- Jacobsburg State Park, Pocono area
- John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, outside Philadelphia
- Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia
- National Museum of Industrial History, Lehigh Valley
- Self-Guided Walking Tour of Philadelphia
- Best Things to do in Philadelphia
- Philadelphia: Fairmount Park’s Unique Colonial Mansions & Their Stories
- Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania Guide
- Promised Land State Park, Poconos
- Ricketts Glen State Park, Poconos
- Ridley Creek State Park, outside Philadelphia
- Tyler State Park, Bucks County
- Valley Forge National Historical Park, outside Philadelphia
- Washington Crossing Historic Park, Bucks County
Final Thoughts
Covered bridges are a reminder of the past — when life was quieter and simpler. Visiting covered bridges is a welcome diversion from the stresses of everyday life. Pick ones that interest you and couple your drive with nearby stops for hikes or a bike ride — or even a leisurely meal or a detour to a winery. Enjoy your journey!
Comments?
I welcome comments and suggestions about other fun places to visit in Bucks County. Thanks! 🙂
