Southwest Covered Bridge Tour of Washington County, PA-Part 1 of 2

Overview

Washington and Greene Counties in Pennsylvania has a total of 30 Covered Bridges. Every year they have the Washington and Greene Counties Covered Bridge Festival. The 2019 Festival had over 400 vendors with arts and crafts at 10 different locations and had around 30,000 visitors.

The Festival is usually in September when the leafs are turning. Due to the Covid19, the 2020 Festival has been cancel to ensure public safety. It would have been the 50th annual anniversary of the Festival. Check out the website for Washington Country, PA for more information on when the festival might take place in the future.

One of the most important items that I had was the map that they have in the brochure that is available on line on page 12 & 13. I will be using this list and their numbering for my blog.

The Southwest Tour will be broken into 2 posts and then the others by Eastern, Northwest, and Greene. The total of 5 different posts over 5 weeks. This will be the first post with the first 6 Covered Bridges.

The GPS says that it takes 48 minutes but it took me a lot longer as I was blocked with a tree in the road and I had to go around but also stopping to take pictures and look around and enjoy my day so it was about three hours for me. (Plus getting lost!!!! Lol)

Hughes Covered Bridge

The Hughes Covered Bridge was built in 1889. It was a replacement for a bridge that had been washed away the year prior.

It is 55 feet and 6 inches wide and 12 feet 4 inches Wide. It is off the road and can be easily missed.

The Hughes Bridge was built in the Queenpost Truss style.

It was just a bit of stream that flows down into a larger creek.

Bailey Covered Bridge

The Bailey Covered Bridge was built in 1889 by the Bailey brothers. The bridge is 66 feet long and 15 feet wide.

It is the last Burr Truss Standing in Washington County. The Burr Arch Truss Style bridge was one of the most popular style of covered bridges.

The Bailey Covered Bridge is over the Ten Mile Creek. I was lucky enough to see a beaver swimming down stream.

Day Covered Bridge

The Day Covered Bridge was built in 1875. The bridge is 36 feet 6 inches long and 12 feet wide. It design is the Queenpost.

The creek below is called the Short Creek.

Wyit Sprowls Bridge

The Wyit Sprowls Bridge is located in the East Finley Park. The Wyit Sprowls Bridge was built in 1915. The bridge was 43 feet long and 11 feet 6 inches wide.

The Wyit Sprowls Bridge was built in the Queenpost Truss design style. It was also damaged and parts have been replaced.

Looking out the window on the bridge, you can see the part of the park and the picnic area. The Wyit Sprowls Covered Bridges is over a Templeton Fork of Wheeling Creek.

The park includes a canon, a few walking trails, and an old school.

The Jordan School house is over 100 years old. It has been restored and used for educational proposes even today.

Plants Covered Bridge

So, this is one of those bridges that you might want to skip. It is to the left of the Wyit Sprowls Bridge about a 1.5 mile but it is over a one way gravel road.

Towards the bridge it is not bad because there are some spots that will allow you to pass other cars but going back to the park before heading out on Templeton Run Road to Sprowls Bridge because is very very difficult to drive on as you have to back up if you meet another car for up to a quarter of a mile.

The Plants Covered Bridge was built in 1876. It is 24 feet 6 inches long and 13 feet 7 inches long.

The Plants Covered Bridge was built in the Kingpost Truss style.

The bridge goes over a Templeton Fork of Wheeling Creek.

Sprowls Covered Bridge

This Covered Bridge is actually on a narrow road but right off of a two lane road. I would not take the Templeton Run Road from the Plants Covered Bridge but go back to the park and find a way to Rocky Run Road which is a much nicer road to find this on.

I actually skipped this one but found it by accident when I was leaving Longdon Covered Bridge and it is right off Rocky Run Road.

The Sprowls Covered Bridge was build in 1875. It is 27 feet 6 inches long and 12 feet 7 inches wide.

The Sprowls Covered Bridge was built in the Kingpost Truss style.

The Sprowls Covered Bridge is over the Rocky Run Stream.

Final notes

Near the Brownlee Covered Bridge, there is a gas station and food available about 1/2 a mile away from the park. If you get anything then this is the place to stop in Claysville.

Bathrooms are only available at Wyit Sprowls Covered Bridge during during the first 6 bridges. The next would be at the Brownlee Covered Bridge.