Sometimes, all it takes to visit the past is to cross a river. Wisconsin has a small but precious collection of covered bridges and they transport visitors to a time of horses and buggies. These old bridges are timeless and beautiful and a worthy target for an adventure. All you need to a tank of gas and the desire to experience something extraordinary. Here are three bridges you can visit on a driving tour of Wisconsin’s Northwoods.
This tour is a great excuse to drive into the beauty of Northwestern Wisconsin, especially if you’re launching an adventure from the Green Bay or Fox Valley area
Google To visit all three of these covered bridges will take a little under five hours and cover 277 miles.
- Waupaca Covered Bridge
Google / Red Mill Gift Shop, Coffee Shop, Ice Cream Parlor & Widding Chapel The first stop on this road trip is located in Waupaca, pop. 6,000, the county seat of Waupaca County.
The river here drew European settlers in the 1840s and today a bridge will remind you of pioneer times.
Google / Greg Mcdonald The bridge is located just west of the city. While the bridge looks very old, it was built in 1976, a good replica of early covered bridges.
- Smith Rapids Covered Bridge
Google / Kebn Nagel The second stop on this tour can be found between Minocqua and Park Falls, in the heart of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
Like the Waupaca bridge, this structure is newer than it looks. It was built in 1991.
Google / Braden Hartzheim The bridge is stunning – it’s worth pulling over to get some photos.
- Horton Covered Bridge (Amnicon Falls State Park)
Google / Luke Towne The final stop on our covered bridge tour is in one of Wisconsin’s most picturesque state parks. Amnicon Falls State Park is located south of Superior and it’s filled with waterfalls and rapids.
One of the park’s top attractions is the 55-foot bridge that spans the river at the Lower Falls.
Google / Was Nearly It was built in 1897 or 1898 and it originally was an open highway bridge. It was moved to the park in 1930 and the roof was added in 1939.
Once you’ve explored Wisconsin’s scenic covered bridges, here are some beautiful backroads drives you might want to explore.
To visit all three of these covered bridges will take a little under five hours and cover 277 miles.
Google / Red Mill Gift Shop, Coffee Shop, Ice Cream Parlor & Widding Chapel
The first stop on this road trip is located in Waupaca, pop. 6,000, the county seat of Waupaca County.
Google / Greg Mcdonald
The bridge is located just west of the city. While the bridge looks very old, it was built in 1976, a good replica of early covered bridges.
Google / Kebn Nagel
The second stop on this tour can be found between Minocqua and Park Falls, in the heart of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
Google / Braden Hartzheim
The bridge is stunning – it’s worth pulling over to get some photos.
Google / Luke Towne
The final stop on our covered bridge tour is in one of Wisconsin’s most picturesque state parks. Amnicon Falls State Park is located south of Superior and it’s filled with waterfalls and rapids.
Google / Was Nearly
It was built in 1897 or 1898 and it originally was an open highway bridge. It was moved to the park in 1930 and the roof was added in 1939.
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Address: Chequamegon or Smith Rapids Covered Bridge, Smith Rapids Rd, Park Falls, WI 54552, USAAddress: Amnicon Falls State Park, 4279 County Rd U, South Range, WI 54874, USAAddress: N2190 County Rd K, Waupaca, WI 54981, USA
