Northern California is known for its scenic beauty, but there’s not much that can top a covered bridge when it comes to the juxtaposition of man-made creations and nature. Luckily for us, we have several idyllic covered bridges in our own region to go explore and take photos of. Take this awesome road trip to check out some of the best covered bridges in Northern California.

To access this customizable road trip to these incredible covered bridges, click here.

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Buckle up and enjoy this road trip like no other!
1. Felton Covered Bridge
Jonathan Assink/Flickr
Covered Bridge Road North, Covered Bridge Rd N, Felton, CA 95018, USA
Michelle Ress/Flickr
Built in 1892, the bridge employs a brown truss structural system and is approximately 80 feet long. The bridge became a California Historical Landmark in 1957, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and had a major restoration in 1987 after being damaged in storms in the winter of 1982. Park with covered bridge in the background It is considered to be the tallest covered bridge in the United States, and was the main entry point for Felton for 45 years. It's now the site of a fun park (note the play structure in this image.)
2. Knights Ferry Covered Bridge
Sokhoeun Lim/Flickr
Knights Ferry, CA 95361, USA
David Berry/Flickr
This is the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi and was built in 1862 after a flood destroyed the original bridge that was built here in 1952. The new covered bridge was built at a higher level than the previous one, and it still stands today. The bridge was used for car traffic until it was closed to prevent damage in 1985.

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3. Freeman's Crossing/ Oregon Creek Covered Bridge
Freemans Hill Drive, Freemans Hill Dr, California 95667, USA
JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD/Wikimedia
JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD/Wikimedia
This historic bridge spans the middle fork of the Yuba River. The exact date it was constructed is actually disputed, but the general consensus was that is was sometime between 1860 and 1862 by Tom Freeman. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and sadly features lots of graffiti inside.
4. Bridgeport Covered Bridge
Bridgeport, CA 93517, USA
Bob Betzen/Flickr
cmh2315fl/Flickr
This pedestrian crossing over the Yuba River was built in 1862. It was closed to vehicles in 1972 and to foot traffic in 2011 due to deferred maintenance. The bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, and it is also a California Registered Historical Landmark No. 390.
5. Berta's Ranch Covered Bridge, Humboldt County
Bertas Ranch Bridge, Bertas Rd, Eureka, CA 95503, USA
Thomas Hawk/Flickr
Thomas Hawk/Flickr
This 52' long historic covered bridge was built in 1936 and is located across the Elk River south of Eureka. There are two other covered bridges in Humboldt county that you should also check out while you are in the area, Brookwood Covered Bridge and the Elk River Covered Bridge at Zane's Ranch.

What are your thoughts on this scenic covered bridge trail? Does it remind you of a simpler way of life? What are your favorite covered bridges in Northern California? We’re eager to hear your thoughts, please share them with us!

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Covered Bridges in California

Tori Jane | October 04, 2021

Where are some truly enchanting places in Northern California?  

Northern California is truly a verifiable paradise. There are so many incredible and enchanting places to check out that it’s impossible to do them all in just one weekend, or maybe even a week. Of course, California is an enormous state, so with its size comes an enormous list of magical must-see places. Some of our favorites include Lassen Volcanic National Park, where you’ll find steaming sulfur vents and boiling hot springs (DO NOT enter them for ANY REASON). Napa Valley is amazing, but the real magic is in Sonoma Valley, the original epicenter of Northern California’s world-famous wine country. Point Reyes is another slice of heaven on earth, with over 71,000 acres of incredible natural splendor. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a fairy tale in all of these places, but especially that one. You also can’t miss the incredible redwood forests of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. For more information about all of these and then some, visit this article.  

Where can I find amazing and unique trails in Northern California? 

Oh, goodness, where to begin! Northern California is an incredible place with thousands of miles of unique and breathtaking trails just waiting to be explored. Some of the most amazing ones include Rubicon Trail near Lake Tahoe in D.L. Bliss State Park, which connects that park with another – Emerald Bay. While there, you can’t miss checking out Vikingsholm, an incredible Nordic mansion visible on the trail. We also really love Sempervirens Falls Trail in Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Other than the amazing redwood trees you’ll see here, there’s also the breathtaking, blue-tinted waterfall you’ll come upon. It’s 20 feet tall and 100% made of perfection. Devil’s Slide Trail is another one – one of the more unique ones at that! It’s made from a reclaimed part of old Highway 1, which is one of the most scenic routes in the United States. It wraps all that magic into one lovely hike that you can’t miss.  

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