Covered Bridges

There are 10 covered bridges in Somerset County, some still open to vehicles. They are a picturesque reminder of bygone days when horse-drawn vehicles were the primary mode of transportation. Be sure to take your camera! (Note: These directions all start in Rockwood.)

Barronvale Covered Bridge – Built in 1830. Spans Laurel Hill Creek. Kingpost-type construction with arches added in 1906. Directions: Take Route 653 to New Centerville and through New Lexington. Turn right on Barron Church Road, then left on Covered Bridge Road.

Burkholder (or Beechdale) Covered Bridge – Built in 1870. Spans Buffalo Creek. Burr Arch type construction. Directions: Take Route 653 to Garret, then left on Route 219. Watch for signs; bridge will be on the left, about 250 feet off of Route 219. (Blue signs identify this as the Burkholder Bridge."


Glessner Covered Bridge – Original bridge built in 1881. Spans Stonycreek. Multiple Kingpost-type construction. Damaged in flooding; current bridge is a replica built in 1998. Directions: Take Route 653 to New Centerville, then right on Route 281 to Somerset. From there, follow Route 31 past the Somerset County Libary. Turn left on Stutzmantown Road and follow it to Shanksville. Turn left across bridge and then left again on Lambersville Road. Proceed about 1 mile, then left on Covered Bridge Road for one-half mile.

King’s Covered Bridge – Built in 1806. Spans Laurel Hill Creek. Burr Arch-type construction. Directions: Take Route 653 to New Centerville and through New Lexington. Bridge is located on left side of Route 653.

Lower Humbert Covered Bridge – Built in 1981. Spans Laurel Hill Creek. Burr Arch-type construction. Directions: Take Route 653 to New Centerville, then Route 281 south towards Confluence. Turn right on Humbert Road (about a mile before village of Ursina); 3/4 mile to bridge on left.


New Baltimore Covered Bridge – Original bridge built in 1879. Spans Raystown Branch of the Juniata River. Queenpost-type of construction. Damaged in flooding; major renovation completed in 1998. Directions: Take Route 653 to New Centerville, then right on Route 281 north to Somerset and on to Stoystown. Then go east on Route 30 for approximately 11 miles. Turn right on New Baltimore Road, then left on Wambaugh Road to the bridge.

Packsaddle (or Doc Miller) Covered Bridge – Original bridge built in 1870. Spans Brush Creek. Multiple Kingpost-type construction. Damaged in flooding; major renovation completed in fall of 1998. Directions: Take Route 653 to New Centerville, then right on Route 281 to Somerset. In Somerset, follow  Route 31 towards Bedford; near Mt. Zion Church turn right on Glen Savage Road and proceed about 6 miles, then to Fairhope Road. (Blue signs identify this as Packsaddle Bridge.)

Shaffer Covered Bridge – Built in 1877. Spans Bens Creek. Burr Arch-type construction. Directions: Take Route 653 to New Centerville, then right on Route 281 into Somerset. In Somerset take Route 601 north (North Center Ave.), then Route 685 to Jennerstown and on towards Johnstown. Approximately 5 miles north of Thomas Mills, turn right onto Covered Bridge Road. (Bridge is visible from Route 685.)

Trostletown Covered Bridge – Built in 1845. Spans Stonycreek. Kingpost and Queenspost-type construction. Directions: Take Route 653 to New Centerville, then right on Route 281 into Somerset. Follow Route 281 through Somerset to Stoystown, then east on Route 30 approximately 1/2 mile. Turn right on first dirt road. (Bridge is visible from Route 30.)

Walters Mill Covered Bridge – Built in 1859. Originally spanned Coxes Creek 4 miles south of Somerset. Kingspost-type construction; arches added in 1908. Current location: On grounds of the Somerset Historical Center. Directions: Take Route 653 to New Centerville, then right on Route 281 into Somerset. Take Route 601 north from Somerset to Route 985. Follow Route 985 north for 1/4 mile to Historical Center on the left.