We don’t see a lot of covered bridges in Kentucky anymore, but they do still exist. A bridge can be a lot more than just a way to get to the other side. These bridges come with stories that reflect unique, yet simpler times in our state’s history.
Unfortunately, many of these traditional structures have been destroyed over the years, but we have a few Kentucky covered bridges that have been preserved.
Here are 12 covered bridges in Kentucky to remind us of simpler times when bridges had charm and style:
Covered bridges of Kentucky per county:
KY Atlas
- Cabin Creek Cove Covered Bridge, circa 1867.
KY Atlas Jeff Rogers Starting off this list of covered bridges in Kentucky is Cabin Creek Cove Covered Bridge. On the northwestern part of Lewis County, the Cabin Creek Bridge/Rectorville Bridge stands near KY 984. It is a 114-foot single-span Burr truss built in 1867. It was closed from 1983 to May 2014 but has since been reopened.
Visit the Kentucky Tourism website for more information. Fearisville, KY 41179, USA
- Bennett’s Mill Covered Bridge, circa 1855.
chm2315fl/Flickr The Bennetts Mill Bridge was built over Tygarts Creek in 1855 in the northern part of Greenup County. It is a Wheeler Truss bridge off KY 7, around eight miles south of South Shore. It is the only preserved example of its kind in the state making it one of the most important historic places in Kentucky.
Visit the Bennett’s Mill Covered Bridge Facebook page for more information. Kentucky 7, KY-7, South Shore, KY, USA
- Hillsboro Covered Bridge, circa the late-1860s.
cmh2315fl/Flickr Also known as the Grange City Bridge, it connects Hillsboro and Grange City across Fox Creek in Fleming Counties’ southeastern side. The bridge is an 86-foot-long double post and brace design from 1865.
Visit the Kentucky Atlas website for more information. Grange City Covered Bridge, Hillsboro, KY 41049, USA
- Colville Covered Bridge, circa 1877.
Management/Trip Advisor This bridge allows Colville Road to cross Hinkston Creek in Bourbon County. The location is close to Ruddell’s Mills and it is a double post and brace design. The bridge was damaged in 1997 but has since been repaired and restored to its original 124-foot span.
Read our previous coverage to learn more. 543 Colville Rd, Paris, KY 40361, USA
- Dover Covered Bridge, circa 1835.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr KY 3113 crosses Lees Creek via the Dover Bridge in Mason Counties’ northwest side. It was built in 1835, is around 61 feet long, and is one of the oldest preserved covered bridges in Kentucky. The double set of queen-post trusses on each side is the original design, but iron beams were installed later for support due to weight limitations.
Read our previous coverage to learn more. Dover Covered Bridge, Old Lee’s Creek Rd, Dover, KY 41034, USA
- Johnson Creek Covered Bridge, circa 1874.
cmh2315fl/Flickr This bridge across Johnson Creek lies north of Blue Licks State Park on what was once a crossing for KY 1029. The 1874 Smith truss-designed bridge sits in southern Robertson County and is 131 feet long. Preservation has deemed the bridge to no longer be used for passenger vehicles.
Visit the Kentucky Tourism website for more information. Covered Bridge Road, Covered Bridge Rd, Kentucky 41064, USA
- Oldtown Covered Bridge, circa 1880.
cmh2315fl/Flickr At southern Greenup County in Oldtown, this 1880s double post and brace bridge crosses over the Little Sandy River. It is 187 feet long and remains preserved as one of the historic places in Kentucky of that time.
Visit the Kentucky Tourism website for more information. Tunnel Branch Road, Tunnel Branch Rd, Argillite, KY 41121, USA
- Goddard Covered Bridge, circa 1880.
KY Tourism Fleming County is home to the Goddard/White Bridge which crosses Sand Lick Creek. This 90-foot lattice truss bridge is the last of its kind of covered bridge in Kentucky. The original build date is guestimated around 1880 but is not known for sure.
Read our previous coverage to learn more. Goddard Covered Bridge, Hillsboro, KY 41049, USA
- Walcott Bridge circa 1880.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr This 74-foot king and queen post-truss-designed bridge is now a preserved historic site that cannot be used. Initially, it carried what is now known as KY 1159 over Locust Creek.
Read our previous coverage to learn more. Walcott Covered Bridge, AA Highway, Brooksville, KY 41004, USA
- Switzer Covered Bridge, circa 1855.
KY Tourism This bridge crosses over North Elkhorn Creek in Switzer. It was initially built as a 120-foot Howe truss design in 1855 but was knocked off its foundation in 1997 and rebuilt close to the original design with a few modern engineering improvements.
Head to the Visit Frankfort website for more information. 3392 Jones Ln, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA
- Ringos Mill Covered Bridge, circa 1867.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr This double-posted 81-foot-long bridge was built in 1867 to cross Fox Creek near Ringos Mills in Fleming County. It originally carried the section of what is now KY 158 across the creek.
Visit the Kentucky Tourism website for more information. Ringos Mill Covered Bridge, KY-158, Hillsboro, KY 41049, USA
- Beech Fork Covered Bridge, circa 1865.
Tom Gill/Flickr The last on our list of covered bridges in Kentucky is Beech Fork Covered Bridge. This two-span Burr truss bridge is 102 feet long, and was the longest-standing covered bridge in Kentucky. It crosses over the Beech Fork River on Washington Counties’ northwest side just off KY 458 n or Mooresville. It is no longer used, but the structure has been preserved for history. Some refer to it as the Mt. Zion Bridge. Unfortunately, this historic bridge burned down in 2021.
Read our previous coverage to learn more. Mooresville, KY 40069, USA
If only we could hear the stories these rustic, covered bridges in Kentucky have to tell, we’d probably be entertained for weeks. These are the oldest still-standing bridges that we are aware of, but we’re hoping there are still more historic covered bridges to be found.
KY Atlas
KY Atlas Jeff Rogers
Starting off this list of covered bridges in Kentucky is Cabin Creek Cove Covered Bridge. On the northwestern part of Lewis County, the Cabin Creek Bridge/Rectorville Bridge stands near KY 984. It is a 114-foot single-span Burr truss built in 1867. It was closed from 1983 to May 2014 but has since been reopened.
Visit the Kentucky Tourism website for more information.
Fearisville, KY 41179, USA
chm2315fl/Flickr
The Bennetts Mill Bridge was built over Tygarts Creek in 1855 in the northern part of Greenup County. It is a Wheeler Truss bridge off KY 7, around eight miles south of South Shore. It is the only preserved example of its kind in the state making it one of the most important historic places in Kentucky.
Visit the Bennett’s Mill Covered Bridge Facebook page for more information.
Kentucky 7, KY-7, South Shore, KY, USA
cmh2315fl/Flickr
Also known as the Grange City Bridge, it connects Hillsboro and Grange City across Fox Creek in Fleming Counties’ southeastern side. The bridge is an 86-foot-long double post and brace design from 1865.
Visit the Kentucky Atlas website for more information.
Grange City Covered Bridge, Hillsboro, KY 41049, USA
Management/Trip Advisor
This bridge allows Colville Road to cross Hinkston Creek in Bourbon County. The location is close to Ruddell’s Mills and it is a double post and brace design. The bridge was damaged in 1997 but has since been repaired and restored to its original 124-foot span.
Read our previous coverage to learn more.
543 Colville Rd, Paris, KY 40361, USA
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
KY 3113 crosses Lees Creek via the Dover Bridge in Mason Counties’ northwest side. It was built in 1835, is around 61 feet long, and is one of the oldest preserved covered bridges in Kentucky. The double set of queen-post trusses on each side is the original design, but iron beams were installed later for support due to weight limitations.
Read our previous coverage to learn more.
Dover Covered Bridge, Old Lee’s Creek Rd, Dover, KY 41034, USA
This bridge across Johnson Creek lies north of Blue Licks State Park on what was once a crossing for KY 1029. The 1874 Smith truss-designed bridge sits in southern Robertson County and is 131 feet long. Preservation has deemed the bridge to no longer be used for passenger vehicles.
Visit the Kentucky Tourism website for more information.
Covered Bridge Road, Covered Bridge Rd, Kentucky 41064, USA
At southern Greenup County in Oldtown, this 1880s double post and brace bridge crosses over the Little Sandy River. It is 187 feet long and remains preserved as one of the historic places in Kentucky of that time.
Visit the Kentucky Tourism website for more information.
Tunnel Branch Road, Tunnel Branch Rd, Argillite, KY 41121, USA
KY Tourism
Fleming County is home to the Goddard/White Bridge which crosses Sand Lick Creek. This 90-foot lattice truss bridge is the last of its kind of covered bridge in Kentucky. The original build date is guestimated around 1880 but is not known for sure.
Read our previous coverage to learn more.
Goddard Covered Bridge, Hillsboro, KY 41049, USA
This 74-foot king and queen post-truss-designed bridge is now a preserved historic site that cannot be used. Initially, it carried what is now known as KY 1159 over Locust Creek.
Read our previous coverage to learn more.
Walcott Covered Bridge, AA Highway, Brooksville, KY 41004, USA
This bridge crosses over North Elkhorn Creek in Switzer. It was initially built as a 120-foot Howe truss design in 1855 but was knocked off its foundation in 1997 and rebuilt close to the original design with a few modern engineering improvements.
Head to the Visit Frankfort website for more information.
3392 Jones Ln, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA
This double-posted 81-foot-long bridge was built in 1867 to cross Fox Creek near Ringos Mills in Fleming County. It originally carried the section of what is now KY 158 across the creek.
Visit the Kentucky Tourism website for more information.
Ringos Mill Covered Bridge, KY-158, Hillsboro, KY 41049, USA
Tom Gill/Flickr
The last on our list of covered bridges in Kentucky is Beech Fork Covered Bridge. This two-span Burr truss bridge is 102 feet long, and was the longest-standing covered bridge in Kentucky. It crosses over the Beech Fork River on Washington Counties’ northwest side just off KY 458 n or Mooresville. It is no longer used, but the structure has been preserved for history. Some refer to it as the Mt. Zion Bridge. Unfortunately, this historic bridge burned down in 2021.
Read our previous coverage to learn more.
Mooresville, KY 40069, USA
What is your favorite covered bridge in the Bluegrass State? Are there any covered bridges near you? Let us know in the comments.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Covered Bridges In Kentucky November 01, 2021 Melissa M. What are some of the most fascinating historical places in Kentucky? Historical sites are a way for us to look into the past and see and learn about what life was like for our predecessors. Among some of the most interesting historic places in Kentucky are the Boone Hotel in Berea, Columbus-Belmont State Park in Columbus, and the Cane Ridge Meeting House which is a historic log cabin church in Paris. What are some of the best things to do in Kentucky? Taking a road trip is always a great idea and a great way to get to know different places around your state. Whether you enjoy exploring abandoned places, taking in the sights of the state’s natural wonders, or visiting ghost towns, you can find these and more in our post, 9 Unforgettable Road Trips To Take In Kentucky Before You Die. What are some of the most enchanting places in Kentucky? Sometimes we just need to visit a place that’s so beautiful it looks like it belongs in a fairy tale. In our article, 11 Enchanting Spots In Kentucky You Never Knew Existed, you’ll read about The Chain Rock at Pine Mountain, Carter Caves, Buckhorn Lake, and more.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Covered Bridges In Kentucky
November 01, 2021
Melissa M.
What are some of the most fascinating historical places in Kentucky? Historical sites are a way for us to look into the past and see and learn about what life was like for our predecessors. Among some of the most interesting historic places in Kentucky are the Boone Hotel in Berea, Columbus-Belmont State Park in Columbus, and the Cane Ridge Meeting House which is a historic log cabin church in Paris. What are some of the best things to do in Kentucky? Taking a road trip is always a great idea and a great way to get to know different places around your state. Whether you enjoy exploring abandoned places, taking in the sights of the state’s natural wonders, or visiting ghost towns, you can find these and more in our post, 9 Unforgettable Road Trips To Take In Kentucky Before You Die. What are some of the most enchanting places in Kentucky? Sometimes we just need to visit a place that’s so beautiful it looks like it belongs in a fairy tale. In our article, 11 Enchanting Spots In Kentucky You Never Knew Existed, you’ll read about The Chain Rock at Pine Mountain, Carter Caves, Buckhorn Lake, and more.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Historical sites are a way for us to look into the past and see and learn about what life was like for our predecessors. Among some of the most interesting historic places in Kentucky are the Boone Hotel in Berea, Columbus-Belmont State Park in Columbus, and the Cane Ridge Meeting House which is a historic log cabin church in Paris.
What are some of the best things to do in Kentucky?
Taking a road trip is always a great idea and a great way to get to know different places around your state. Whether you enjoy exploring abandoned places, taking in the sights of the state’s natural wonders, or visiting ghost towns, you can find these and more in our post, 9 Unforgettable Road Trips To Take In Kentucky Before You Die.
What are some of the most enchanting places in Kentucky?
Sometimes we just need to visit a place that’s so beautiful it looks like it belongs in a fairy tale. In our article, 11 Enchanting Spots In Kentucky You Never Knew Existed, you’ll read about The Chain Rock at Pine Mountain, Carter Caves, Buckhorn Lake, and more.
