Tucked away in villages throughout the state, New York’s quaint covered bridges stand as reminders of times past. Built from 1825 through 1912, many date back to the days of the horse-and-buggy. Recapture the simple pleasures of a bygone era by visiting these and other historic treasures. Nearby, you’ll find farmers markets, festivals, museums and country inns.
A great place to begin is the Capital-Saratoga region, where five covered bridges are located within a 20-mile stretch between the towns of Buskirk and Salem. The scenic landscapes here, lush with the brilliant colors of red and sugar maples, once inspired legendary folk artist Grandma Moses.
Three of the area’s bridges span the Battenkill River, famous for its natural beauty and excellent trout fishing, canoeing and kayaking. The Rexleigh and Eagleville bridges, built in the mid-1800s, are still in use. The third, constructed in 1858, now houses the Shushan Covered Bridge Museum, with a huge collection of local memorabilia and antique farm equipment. Next door, you can tour a one-room-schoolhouse that was open to students from 1852 to 1943 and still has its 19th-century desks and books.
The 1857 Buskirk Covered Bridge crosses the Hoosic River. Painted bright red, it’s easy to spot from a distance. Head to nearby Cambridge to walk through one of the oldest covered footbridges in the Northeast. Located in what is now Varak Park, this bridge spanning the Owlkill creek was built in 1890 to provide convenient access for workers of the Rice Seed Company.
Across the street, the stately Rice Mansion Inn and the 1885 Cambridge Hotel (where pie a la mode was invented) offer fine dining and charming accommodations. West Main Street is also lined with shops, galleries and the Victorian-era Hubbard Hall, now presenting critically-acclaimed music and theater. And just outside the village, the New Skete Monasteries sell divine cheesecakes.
At Glimmerglass State Park in the Central New York region, you can cross Shadow Brook via the nation’s oldest covered bridge. Hyde Hall Bridge sits on the grounds of historic Hyde Hall, a grand country mansion called one of the most remarkable buildings in America. Nearby in Cooperstown, enjoy classic Americana at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and The Farmers’ Museum.
This is just a glimpse of New York’s dozens of historic covered bridges. For more information, check out the New York State Covered Bridge Society website.