Nothing quite captures the romance of rural America like a weathered covered bridge spanning a babbling creek, especially when you discover it at the perfect moment during a leisurely bike ride. These architectural treasures from the 1800s weren’t just practical river crossings—they were community gathering places, romantic meeting spots, and symbols of small-town craftsmanship that still make hearts skip a beat today.
The wooden tunnels create natural photo frames for the landscapes beyond, while their dim interiors offer welcome shade on hot summer rides. Cycling to covered bridges combines two of life’s simple pleasures: the freedom of pedaling through the countryside and the thrill of discovering hidden pieces of history.
The gentle pace of bicycle travel lets you truly appreciate these structures, from the hand-hewn beams to the stories carved into their weathered walls. Here’s a list of 17 covered bridge cycling loops that offer the perfect blend of scenic beauty, manageable distances, and multiple historic bridges to explore along the way.
Vermont’s Mad River Valley Loop
Vermont’s Mad River Valley features five covered bridges connected by 23 miles of rolling countryside that feels like pedaling through a postcard. The loop takes you past working farms, sugar maples, and some of New England’s most photogenic bridges, including the iconic Warren Bridge built in 1880.
The terrain offers gentle climbs that reward cyclists with stunning valley views, while local farm stands provide perfect rest stops for fresh cider and maple treats.
Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County Circuit
Lancaster County’s Amish country contains 29 covered bridges, and this 35-mile loop connects eight of the most spectacular examples. You’ll share quiet back roads with horse-drawn buggies while discovering bridges like the 1875 Hunsecker’s Mill Bridge, which spans a peaceful creek surrounded by working farmland.
The flat terrain makes this route perfect for families, while roadside produce stands and traditional Pennsylvania Dutch bakeries fuel hungry cyclists.
New Hampshire’s Monadnock Region Route
The Monadnock Region offers a challenging 28-mile loop that connects six covered bridges through some of New Hampshire’s most beautiful hill country. The route includes the 1842 Ashuelot Bridge, one of the state’s oldest surviving railroad bridges, now converted for pedestrian and bicycle use.
Steep climbs test your legs, but the descents toward each bridge crossing create moments of pure cycling joy.
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Oregon’s Cottage Grove Loop
Cottage Grove calls itself the ‘Covered Bridge Capital of the West,’ and this 22-mile cycling loop proves why with six historic bridges dating from the early 1900s. The flat Willamette Valley terrain makes for easy pedaling between bridges, while the surrounding hop fields and Christmas tree farms create distinctly Northwestern scenery.
The Centennial Bridge, built in 1987 to commemorate the town’s history, shows how communities continue honoring these architectural traditions.
Indiana’s Parke County Challenge
Parke County boasts more covered bridges than any other county in America, and this 42-mile loop connects twelve of the finest examples. The route follows the meandering Wabash River valley, passing through tiny towns where time seems to have stopped around 1950.
Billie Creek Bridge and Neet Bridge offer perfect picnic spots, while the gentle rolling terrain keeps the riding enjoyable despite the longer distance.
Wisconsin’s Sauk County Circle
Wisconsin’s Sauk County features three covered bridges connected by 19 miles of quintessential Midwest farmland cycling. The loop includes the last authentic covered bridge in Wisconsin, built in 1876 and recently restored to its original glory.
Prairie landscapes and dairy farms create classic American heartland scenery, while the Wisconsin River adds water views to break up the agricultural vistas.
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Kentucky’s Fleming County Trail
Fleming County’s covered bridge loop covers 31 miles through Kentucky’s rolling bluegrass region, connecting five historic bridges, including the 1838 Goddard Bridge. The route follows quiet country roads past horse farms and tobacco fields, with gentle hills that never become overwhelming.
Each bridge crossing feels like discovering a secret, especially the remote Ringos Mill Bridge hidden in a wooded valley.
Ohio’s Ashtabula County Adventure
Ashtabula County contains the longest and shortest covered bridges in the United States, connected by this 38-mile cycling route through northeastern Ohio farmland. The State Road Bridge stretches an impressive 152 feet, while tiny Olin’s Bridge spans just 38 feet of creek.
Rolling terrain keeps things interesting, and Lake Erie’s proximity moderates temperatures even during summer heat waves.
Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills Loop
Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills offer a demanding 26-mile route connecting three of New England’s most picturesque covered bridges. The Bulls Bridge area provides the most dramatic scenery, with the Housatonic River carving through rocky gorges beneath the historic span.
Steep climbs through hardwood forests reward cyclists with spectacular autumn colors and valley overlooks.
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Massachusetts’ Mohawk Trail Circuit
The historic Mohawk Trail includes a 24-mile covered bridge loop through the Berkshire Mountains, featuring four bridges and some of New England’s most challenging cycling terrain. Bissell Bridge offers the perfect halfway rest stop, with swimming opportunities in the Cold River below.
The climbs are steep, but the mountain scenery and historic significance make every pedal stroke worthwhile.
West Virginia’s Tygart Valley Route
West Virginia’s mountainous terrain might seem intimidating, but this 21-mile loop follows river valleys connecting four covered bridges through relatively gentle countryside. The Philippi Bridge, built in 1852, claims to be the only covered bridge that served as a Civil War battlefield. Mountain streams and dense forests create an intimate cycling experience far from busy roads.
Iowa’s Madison County Classic
Made famous by a certain romantic novel, Madison County’s covered bridges create perfect cycling destinations connected by 29 miles of rolling Iowa farmland. Six bridges remain from the original nineteen, including the photogenic Roseman Bridge featured in countless movies and postcards.
Corn and soybean fields stretch to the horizon, while farm-to-market roads provide smooth, traffic-free cycling.
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Michigan’s Ada Area Loop
Michigan’s Grand River valley features three covered bridges connected by 18 miles of surprisingly hilly terrain for the Midwest. The Fallasburg Bridge, built in 1871, anchors a loop that includes working gristmills and century-old farmsteads.
Dense forests and the meandering Grand River create an intimate cycling experience that feels much more remote than its proximity to Grand Rapids suggests.
Alabama’s Cullman County Circle
Alabama’s Cullman County offers Southern charm with a 25-mile loop connecting four covered bridges through rolling Piedmont countryside. The Clarkson Bridge, built in 1904, represents the traditional Southern approach to covered bridge construction.
Cotton fields and pine forests create distinctly Southern scenery, while gentle hills make the riding accessible to most fitness levels.
Georgia’s Watson Mill Bridge State Park Route
Georgia’s Watson Mill area provides a compact 16-mile loop perfect for families, connecting two historic bridges with easy terrain along the South Fork River. The 1885 Watson Mill Bridge spans 229 feet of river and houses a working gristmill that still produces cornmeal on weekends.
Swimming spots and picnic areas make this route ideal for combining cycling with other outdoor activities.
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Tennessee’s Elizabethton Loop
Tennessee’s Elizabethton area features two covered bridges connected by 14 miles of gentle cycling through the Appalachian foothills. The Doe River Bridge, built in 1882, sits right in downtown Elizabethton, while the newer Covered Bridge Road span offers more remote scenery.
Mountain views and clear streams create classic East Tennessee cycling conditions.
California’s Nevada City Circuit
California’s Gold Country includes three covered bridges connected by 32 miles of Sierra Nevada foothill cycling that ranges from gentle to challenging. The 1862 Bridgeport Bridge represents the westernmost authentic covered bridge, built during the height of the Gold Rush.
Historic mining towns and oak-studded hills create uniquely Californian covered bridge experiences.
Bridges to Yesterday and Tomorrow
These covered bridge cycling loops offer more than just scenic rides—they provide direct connections to American craftsmanship and community spirit that modern life often obscures. Each bridge represents countless hours of skilled carpentry, community fundraising, and local pride that sustained small towns through generations of change.
The fact that cyclists continue discovering and celebrating these structures ensures their preservation for future generations, who deserve to experience the simple joy of pedaling through a covered bridge on a perfect afternoon. In our increasingly digital world, these wooden tunnels remind us that some of life’s best moments happen when we slow down enough to appreciate the journey itself, not just the destination.
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