Not our name, but our passion
The Stowell Road covered bridge spanning the Baboosic Brook in Merrimack, New Hampshire was built in 1990 and is one of the few covered bridges in southern New Hampshire. The bridge is easy to get to but parking and photo opportunities are not the best as it is surrounded by private property and a public road open to traffic.
The Wason Pond Conservation and Recreation Area in Chester is a multi-use park ideal for family outing. The park contains a covered bridge, several swimming holes, a community center, a short trail, a playground and a large field where you may find charity yard sales occasionally during the summer.
The best access to the covered bridge and trail is from the Community Center parking area.
The trail suitable for mountain bikes and hikers leads to a swimming hole with a Tarzan swing. Take note of the flora along the trail.
Next to the center in the opposite direction is a large playground for the little ones.
Further on is the second entrance to the park and another parking area with the main swimming area.
If in the Raymond/Chester area be sure to spend a nice afternoon at the park.
The Chester Covered Bridge in Chester, New Hampshire is the newest covered bridge in New Hampshire. The pedestrian bridge was built in 2011 and is located off NH Route 102 adjacent to the Wason Pond Community Center.
You can park in the lot next to the community center and take the short trail down to Wason Pond and the bridge itself. The trail continues through the bridge and around the pond. A nice short walk with views of the bridge and pond.
The trail past the bridge continues to a rope swing and nice swimming hole.
The Lincoln Covered Bridge in West Woodstock, Vermont is easily assessable en route to the Quechee Gorge area of Vermont. The bridge was built in 1877, is 136 feet long and spans the Ottauquechee River. There is parking on a rural country road next to the bridge.
A short path leads down to the water where you can get some good shots looking up at the bridge.
The Ottauquechee River can also be easily accessed.
The quiet setting also allows easy shots of the bridge from several angles.
Unfortunately the road safety signs do detract from the appearance.
The White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire has a 32 mile section of NH Route 112 called the Kancamagus Highway. It is a premier three season travel destination and the ultimate short New England road trip. You can enter the highway either from the Conway / North Conway side or the Loon Mountain / Lincoln side.
The highway is perfect for cool weather hiking in the spring and fall, swimming in the summer and fall foliage in the autumn. If you are planning on stopping at any of the attractions along the highway you should stop at a ranger station for information and to pay a fee.
There are also fee stations at the various stops along the route.
When coming from the Conway side of the highway the first thing you will come across is the Albany Covered Bridge. This is wonderfull any time of year but is spectacular in the autumn when the colors are in full bloom.
Boulder Loop trail is a moderate level hike nearby. As you proceed up the highway you will be running parallel to the Swift River with numerous opportunities to stop and wade or just admire the scenery.
Lower Falls is the prime swimming hole on the river. Many a summer day was spent growing up sitting under the waterfalls and floating down the rapids in this area. There is a picnic facililty and restrooms available.
Sabbaday Falls lays at the end of a short hike,
and Rocky Gorge is where you used to be able to jump off the short cliffs into the gorge below (no longer allowed).
There is also a short walk over the small bridge which leads to a picturesque small New England monutain pond.
At the top of the mountain there is an observation deck and some nice views of the surrounding mountainside.
All along the entire route there are numerous trailheads of varying difficulties and lenghts and several campgrounds some of which are open all year. A great road trip any time of the year.
