The Harpersfield Covered Bridge, built in 1868, is the second-longest in the state, measuring 228 feet long. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

Ashtabula County, located in the northeast corner of Ohio, is the covered bridge capital of the state with 19 structures standing. All of them can be discovered by driving around the county.

According to the Ashtabula County Visitors Bureau, the earliest documented covered bridges in the area date back to 1867 – Mechanicsville and Windsor Mills. Three others were built in 1868 — Root, Middle and Harpersfield covered bridges.

The Harpersfield bridge is a two-span Howe truss bridge measuring 228 feet long, formerly the longest covered bridge in Ohio. It is now the second longest in the state, spanning the Grand River and located at 1112 Harpersfield Road near Geneva.

The county also boasts the longest covered bridge in the United States, the Smolen-Gulf bridge, at a length of 613 feet. It’s a youngster, built in 2008. Also found in the county is the shortest drive-through covered bridge, Liberty Street.

Of the county’s 19 bridges, 17 of them are still operational, allowing vehicle traffic year-round. View a list of Ashtabula County’s covered bridges.

The county holds its annual Covered Bridge Festival during the second week of each October. The festival, held at the Ashtabula County Fairgrounds, features crafts, official covered bridge souvenirs, a quilt show, contests, a parade, food, and lots more.

Learn more about covered bridges in Dusty Tires.

Ken Drenten is creator and editor of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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