The Tour - Courtesy - Bucks County Historical - Tourist Commission

This tour of Bucks County's 12 remaining covered bridges starts at the Memorial Building in Washington Crossing State Park on the Delaware River. The Tour makes a large circle through Bucks County and is planned so the traveler can start at any one of the bridges.

Start: Memorial Building - Washington Crossing State Park.

Go north on Rt. 32 4.4 miles to Lurgan Rd - Turn Left 1.5 miles to Van Sant Rd - Turn right - .6 miles to - the Van Sant Covered Bridge

Tour Bucks County's Covered Bridges

Courtesy - Bucks County Historical - Tourist Commission

The Tour

This tour of Bucks County's 12 remaining covered bridges starts at the Memorial Building in Washington Crossing State Park on the Delaware River. The Tour makes a large circle through Bucks County and is planned so the traveler can start at any one of the bridges.

Bowman's Tower - A bonus if open - You will pass the entrance to Bowman's Tower (@ 2 miles on right) after you turn left onto Lurgan Rd from Rt. 32. Bowman's Tower is part of Washington Crossing State Park.

Start: Memorial Building - Washington Crossing State Park.

Go north on Rt. 32 4.4 miles to Lurgan Rd - Turn Left 1.5 miles to Van Sant Rd - Turn right - .6 miles to -

Van Sant Bridge

Built in 1875, this bridge is 86 feet long and belongs to the county. It is near Bowman's Hill and was often called Beaver Dam Bridge. It was one of two built across Pidcock Creek. The second, removed in 1937, was the Neely Mill Bridge. It was 108 feet long and stood on River Road near the Thompson-Neely home.

Continue 1 mile to Aquetong Road - turn left - go 5 miles to Upper York Road - turn right - then left immediately - go 2.8 miles to Carversville - turn left in center of village - go 1 block - turn right on Carversville / Wismer Rd / Pipersville Rd - go 4.6 miles to -

Loux Bridge (The)

Owned by the state, this bridge was built in 1874 and is 60 feet long, the second shortest in the county. It was built of hemlock which was once plentiful in the area. An old concrete marker on bridge indicates that it is the Cabin Run Bridge. Records, however, indicate that it is the Loux Bridge.

Continue 5 miles to dead end - turn right on Dark Hollow Road - go 1 mile to Covered Bridge Road -turn right - go .6 miles, to -

Cabin Run Bridge

Crossing Cabin Run Creek in Plumstead Township. It was built in 1871 by David Sutton and is now owned by the county. It is 82 feet long.

Return to Dark Hollow Road - go straight ahead 3.2 miles - turn left on Cafferty Road - go .8 miles to

Frankenfield Bridge

Built in 1872, it is 130 feet long and is owned by the county. It crosses Tinicum Creek, two miles upstream from the point at which the creek empties into the Delaware River.

Go 2 miles to Hollow Horn Road - turn right - onto go 1.3 miles to Headquarters Road - turn right - go .9 miles to Geigel Hill Road - turn left - go .2 miles to

Erwinna Bridge

This is the shortest covered bridge in the county being only 56 feet long. It was built in 1832 and is a good example of lattice-type construction. It crosses Lodi Creek and is owned by the state.

Scenic Route - Continue through bridge and @ 1/4 mile to first right (Upper Tinicum Church Rd) for @ 1 3/4 miles to Uhlerstown Rd @ 1/2 down hill to bridge

or

Return to Geigel Hill Road .4 miles - turn left on River Rd (Rt 32) - go 1.7 miles - turn left on Uhlerstown Road - go .3 miles to

Uhlerstown Bridge

Built in oak in 1832, it is the only Bucks County covered bridge which crosses the Delaware Division of the historic Pennsylvania Canal which runs parallel to the Delaware River. It is owned by the county.

Ulherstown was once known as Mexico. It was later named for Michael Uhler who owned a canal boat building yard and operated a string of canal boats.

Return to River Rd - turn left - go 8.0 miles to Rt 611 - go North 1.8 miles - turn left onto Rt 212 7.5 miles - turn left onto Slifer Valley Rd - go 1.3 miles to

Knecht's Bridge

Located in Slifers Valley and sometimes called Slifer's Bridge. It was built of hemlock and is on the route of the Walking Purchase.

Return to Rt. 212 - turn left - go through Pleasant Valley 1.1 miles bear left on old Bethlehem Road - go 5.6 miles to Mountain View Rd - turn right - go 1.4 miles to Sterner Mill Road, turn right and right again immediately - go 1 mile to Covered Bridge Road - turn right - go 1/2 mile to

Sheard's Mill Bridge

Sheard's Mill Bridge crosses Tohickon Creek at the mill near Thatcher and is frequently called Thatcher's Bridge. It is 130 feet long and was built in 1873. It is state owned.

Return to Mountain View Road - turn right - go .9 miles to 313 - turn left - go 1.7 miles - turn right at Texaco Station - go 1.8 miles on 5th street to Blooming Glen Road - turn left to

Mood's Bridge NO LONGER EXISTS - HAS BEEN REPLACED

Mood's Bridge crosses the northeast branch of the Perkiomen Creek in East Rockhill Township. It is 120 feet long. It was built in 1874, then rebuilt in 1962 and is owned by the state.

Return to 5th Street - turn left - go 1.4 miles to Walnut St. - turn left - go 2 blocks to Lenape Park to

South Perkasie Bridge

This is the only bridge in the county which does not cross water. It once spanned Pleasant Spring Creek, but some years ago it was condemned by the County. The Perkasie Historical Society led a community project which eventually saw the bridge moved to the safety of Lenape Park in Perkasie. It was dedicated as feature of the park on August 15, 1959 and Congressman Willard S. Curtin was the principle speaker.

The bridge is 93 feet long and was built in 1832 of oak and pine. A famous sign on the end of the bridge reads "$5.00 fine for any person riding or driving over this bridge faster than a walk or smoking a segar on"

Return to 5th street - turn right - go 3.2 miles to Rt 313 - turn right and go 6.9 miles - turn right on Ferry Road at Fountainville traffic light - go 3.2 miles on Ferry Road - turn left on Old Iron Hill Road - .6 miles to

Pine Valley Bridge

Built in 1842 of white pine and hemlock found in the vicinity. It crosses the Pine Run Creek and is owned by Bucks County. It cost $5,533.50 to build and was repaired in 1917. It is 61 feet long and is sometimes called the Iron Hill Bridge.

Continue through the bridge 5 miles to Rt 202 at stop sign - turn left - continue on Rt 202 6.8 miles to Rt 413 - turn right - go 5.2 miles - bear right on Rt 232 South - go 1.9 miles - turn left on Swamp Road - go 1.9 miles to Covered Bridge Park (Part of Tyler State Park) take walking path to

Schofield Ford Bridge

Schofield Ford Bridge crosses the Neshaminy Creek within the boundaries of Tyler State Park. Being 150 feet long, it is built of hemlock and is our longest covered bridge.

The bridge you will fine today is a replica of the one that burned in the mid 90's. The embers were barely cool when the town's people started to raise funds to rebuild the bridge. The work crew worked seven days a week until it was completed. Using power drills, they bored 5,400 holes for wooden pegs to secure the huge timbers.

Nearly $350,000 was raised for the project. It was a bonding of people even more than rebuilding a bridge. This was the 12th covered bridge in the county. Some of the huge timbers that were used are oak and hemlock.

Thank You

The Bucks County Historical - Tourist Commission appreciates your interest in these important reminders of our historic past. They welcome any comments you may about the tour, and remind you that other tours of historic sites are available through this county agency. Thank you for your visit.

Bucks County Covered Bridges

Twelve covered bridges are all that remain of the 36 built in historic Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Many reasons are advanced for building covered bridges. Some say they; provided shelter for the traveler. Others say that they protected animals from their natural fear of crossing water, while others say that the roof kept winter snows off the flooring. The more romantically inclined called them "kissing bridges" or even "wishing bridges". Actually, the roof was designed to protect the supporting beams on either side form the ravages of the weather. When thus covered, the bridge had a much longer life expectancy.

All of the bridges which still stand in Bucks County are built with a lattice-type construction. First developed in 1820 by Ithiel Town, a New Englander. This consists of a series of overlapping triangles with no arches or upright beams. Such lattice work could support a bridge 200 feet long.

The worst enemies of the covered bridge are weather, fire, fast moving vehicles and neglect. Fortunately, the historical value of these bridges was realized as they have been protected, preserved and in some cases reconstructed.