Covered Bridge Tour Northern Route

1 hour 45 minutes long

50 miles

Please note: Pulp Mill Bridge has divided lanes; Hammond Bridge and Shoreham Covered Railroad Bridge are open to foot traffic only.

Start at the Brandon Visitor Center at 4 Grove St. (Route 7).

Turn right (south) out of the driveway

Mile point          

0.2          Turn right on Champlain St. (Route 73 West) by the Baptist Church next to the Visitor Center

5.4          Turn right on Sawyer Needham Road

7.4          At the stop, turn left on Leicester-Whiting Road

9.2          Continue straight across Route 30 onto Shoreham-Whiting Road

12.2        Turn left on Shoreham Depot Road

12.9        Turn right at the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Richville Covered Bridge Access Area for the

Shoreham Covered Railroad Bridge – Shoreham

This bridge is open to foot traffic only.  It was built in 1897 and is a Howe type of construction. The bridge crosses Richville Pond (an impoundment of the Lemon Fair River) and belonged to the former Addison Branch of the Rutland Railroad. This covered bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s interesting to see how much taller this bridge is, considering the trains it had to accommodate.

Returning to Shoreham Depot Road, turn left.

13.6        Turn right back onto Shoreham-Whiting Road.

16.3        At Whiting Center turn left on Route 30 North

20.0        Turn right onto Swamp Road

21.8        Site of Cornwall-Salisbury Covered Bridge – Cornwall

(Also known as Creek Road Bridge, Cedar Swamp Bridge, Salisbury Station Bridge, and Station Bridge)

Built in 1865 of the Town lattice truss style, this bridge belonged notably among of Vermont's rare covered bridges crossing town lines. The bridge was destroyed by fire on September 10, 2016, and is currently replaced by a metal, single lane, temporary bridge. From here continue east.

22.5        Turn left on West Salisbury Road

23.1        At the stop, turn left on Shard Villa Road, passing the impressive architecture of Shard Villa, currently a residential care facility, but having an interesting history worth researching.

26.3        Turn right on 3 Mile Bridge Road

27.4        At the stop, turn left on Route 7 North and continue through Middlebury

32.0        At the light, by the Mobil Station, turn left on Elm Street, and at the stop continue straight under the railroad trestle then bear right, still on Elm Street

32.7        Pulp Mill Bridge – Middlebury and Weybridge

This bridge, built between 1808 and 1820, is in the Burr arch style and crosses Otter Creek.  Unique among the covered bridges on this tour, Pulp Mill is a two lane divided bridge. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Pulp Mill Bridge is also notable for the pedestrian bridge on the south side. While many of the other bridges on the tour have openings to see out, you’ll have to appreciate your view of the river from the walking bridge.

32.8        Beyond the bridge, at the fork, turn left on Pulp Mill Bridge Road

33.2        At the stop, turn left on Route 23 East (Weybridge Street)

33.9        At the stop, go straight toward Route 30

34.0        Turn left on Route 30 North

34.1        At the roundabout, take the first right toward Route 7 and over the Court Street Bridge

34.4        At the light, turn right onto Route 7 South and continue approximately 16 miles to Brandon.