Want a picturesque drive to some of the most charming and photo-friendly spots of CapNY?
Roll down your windows and head out to Washington County, where five covered bridges await you.
Please note that there can be spotty cell phone reception in some of these areas, so download or print maps and directions before you go. Click here for directions on how to do so on Google Maps.
- Pack a lunch, or bring along water and snacks, as there won’t be open stores or restaurants.
- Fill up your gas tank before you go.
- Take proper Covid precautions: Stay six feet away from anyone you meet along the way, if you get out of your car. NYS Parks has put out very useful guidelines for visiting parks and other recreation areas.
Buskirk Covered Bridge
Directions: Go 2 miles south of Salem on NY 22, then left onto Rexleigh Rd. for 1.5 miles to the bridge. GPS: N43° 08.045? W073° 21.369
The southernmost of the covered bridges of Washington County, historic Buskirk Covered Bridge is uniquely located over the Hoosick River between both Washington County and Rensselaer County. Featuring a Howe Truss design, the covered bridge is 152 feet in length and open for vehicular traffic. Built in 1857, this bridge is one of the earliest Howe Truss bridges still standing in New York State.
Shushan Covered Bridge
Directions: The bridge is in Shushan at the intersection of CR 61 and CR 64A. GPS: N43° 05.476? W073° 20.681
Shushan is a hamlet located on the Battenkill River between Salem to the north and the Eldridge Swamp State Forest to the south. Although the community is small, it actually contains two historic covered bridges, located just 2.3 miles away from each other.
The Shushan Covered Bridge is right in the heart of Shushan, and while it isn’t open to vehicular traffic, the Shushan Covered Bridge Association, Inc has converted it into a museum. This 161-foot long bridge features a Town Lattice Truss structure, and it was built by the Stevens Bros. in 1858.
Eagleville Covered Bridge
Directions: Located 5.6 miles north-east of Jct. of Rt. 22 on Rt. 313. Then turn left onto Eagleville Rd. to the bridge. GPS: N43° 04.986? W073° 18.775?
The Eagleville Covered Bridge is located 2.3 miles east of the Shushan Covered Bridge. To reach the bridge, follow County Road 61 from Shushan to Eagleville Road. The 101-foot long Eagleville Covered Bridge was built in 1858 by Ephraim W. Clapp, and it is open to vehicular traffic.
Rexleigh Covered Bridge, South Salem
Directions: Go 2 miles south of Salem on NY 22, then left onto Rexleigh Rd. for 1.5 miles to the bridge. GPS: N43° 08.045? W073° 21.369?
The Rexleigh Covered Bridge spans the Battenkill River in Salem. Visitors can drive over this covered bridge by following Rexleigh Road, and if you’d like a photo, you can park by the side near the picnic tables.
Built by Reubin Comins and George Wadsworth in 1857, this historic covered bridge features a Howe Truss design and is 107 feet in length. It was prefabricated in Troy, transported to Salem, and then pieced together at the current site. The bridge has been repainted and repaired multiple times over the years, and it is now owned and managed by Washington County. An easy way to reach the bridge is by driving through Salem along NY-22 from the north.
Slate Covered Bridge, Granville
Directions: This bridge is on the grounds of the Slate Valley Museum, which reopens in May 2021, click here for directions.
Nestled in the foothills of the eastern Adirondacks, Granville is a small town that has been nicknamed the Colored Slate Capital of the World thanks to its unique red slate quarries. The major role that the slate industry played in the community’s development is celebrated at the Slate Valley Museum. This is where you’ll find the Slate Covered Bridge.
The Slate Covered Bridge is a long pedestrian bridge that crosses over the Mettawee River and connects the museum to Rathbun Avenue. The bridge’s roof is made of slate while the rest of it is a prefabricated steel superstructure. This 120-foot long covered bridge built in 2000 is a local landmark that allows visitors to look up and down the waterway.
Thank you to New York State Covered Bridge Society for your wonderful information. Visit their site to find covered bridges all across New York.