In Your Backyard August 2018 ~ Ashtabula County Covered Bridges

Creek Bridge

 Bridges of Ashtabula County 

While one may not encounter Clint Eastwood or Meryl Streep on their journey to these covered bridges, it is definitely worth the road trip. Known as Ohio’s covered bridge capital, our neighboring county in Ohio has 19 bridges total in two separate loops which you can drive in your car with a downloadable map from their Visitor Bureau (www.visitashtabulacounty.com) 

Boosting both the shortest covered bridge in the United States - the 18 foot long West Liberty Street covered bridge which was built by students from the Ashtabula County Joint Vocational School in Geneva Ohio, and the longest covered bridge in the United States and the fourth longest covered bridge in the world- the 613 foot long Smolen - Gulf covered bridge sits 93 feet above the Ashtabula River and holds Ohio State Rt 25. 

There are two loops for the Covered Bridge Tour the Northern and Eastern Tours. The Eastern Tour is the closest to us and is also the one which contains 13 of the 19 total bridges. I suggest starting on Bridge #6 which is aptly named Middle Bridge since it is the closest to the Meadville area. Once you have found this bridge, just follow the tour map and meander your way through some of the more remote areas in Eastern Ashtabula County. 

Several of these bridges have gorgeous views and are photo worthy, some are historic, some are more modern, and some are located in areas which have other added benefits such as the wonderful swimming hole at #8 Creek Bridge with a generous parking area located at 371 Creek Rd. Bring a picnic lunch and stop at #4 on the tour Graham Bridge. This bridge no longer holds traffic and has a picnic table inside at the one end. Riverview Bridge (#12) is located under #11 the Smolen - Gulf Bridge, it is a pedestrian only bridge that is part of the Indian Trails Park. It offers a nice hike as well as great views of the Ashtabula River and the longest covered bridge above it. Look up while you are there and you will see Smolen - Gulf indeed has a wooden base. As you go up Route 11 in Ohio towards Lake Erie this bridge is visible off to the left past the Jefferson exit. 

Why not pair your trip with a fall leaf ride and a festival? Each October on the second weekend, there is a Covered Bridge Festival which includes everything from classic cars to pancake breakfasts, there is bound to be something for everyone in the family to enjoy. 

So Bridges and Festivals are not your thing? How about a Barn Quilt Tour. What you ask is a barn quilt? Well, I must admit this is something I had to google. A barn quilt is a piece of MDF plywood which has been painted with a quilt design and hung on the outside of a barn. Each quilt design is unique and special to the place or the family who hung it. They are like snowflakes, no two are the same. You can download a tour map at the Visitor Bureau web page for this trip as well and there are currently 100 different Barn Quilts to visit. 

There is also a driving tour through the Ohio Wine Country that hosts 23 different wineries, of course there is a map, once again downloadable at the Visitor Bureau webpage. I am just guessing that a tour through 23 wineries may take more than one trip, remember the DWI laws in Ohio are strict so be sure to designate a driver. 

Don’t have access to the internet? No worries, just call the Visitor Bureau (440) 275-3202 and request their guide book. Which ever tour you chose, remember that part of the joy is in the journey and in the words of JRR Tolkien “Not all those who wander are lost” As Seen in Meadville Tribune

State Road Bridge