The Covered Bridges of Lancaster County
The Portal of Leaman Place Bridge, on Pequea Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, has more covered bridges than any other county except Parke County, Indiana. It has, as well, the heartland of Pennsylvania Dutch country, plain and fancy, rolling hills and old-fashioned farms, antiques, crafts, and a thriving tourist industry. In the Pennsylvania Dutch heartland in the northern half of the county, covered bridges are probably about as thick on the ground as they are in Vermont and New Hampshire. All in all, Lancaster has a claim to be the covered bridge county. Many people visit Lancaster County for that reason among others. In fact, many of the Lancaster County covered bridges share a distinctive look. This is true of most of the covered bridge counties. Local traditions, coupled with local government responsibility for upkeep, give the Bucks County bridges, the Lyndonville, Vermont bridges, and the Lancaster County bridges each their common look. The mark of a particular builder may also be a common influence -- in Lancaster County, Elias McMellen had a hand in the construction of 13 of 30 existing covered bridges. Almost all of the Lancaster County covered bridges have the Burr truss, and most are painted red with white trim on the portal. The portals are upright and roof overhang is generally modest. The variety of the Lancaster County countryside, and the unexpected details, set them off as individuals.
The Unique Multiple Kingpost Truss of Landis' Mill Bridge, Near Lancaster City
Five of the driving tours on this server are in, or mostly in, Lancaster County. If you are visiting the city of Lancaster and have a half or three quarters of a day to see covered bridges and the countryside, the
Lancaster City Circle Tour is, we believe, a good representative of the County's variety, with Amish country, parks, farms, and woods as well as the city. The parking is generally reasonably easy and the roads are paved. You can't always assume that covered bridge roads are paved! If you have only an hour or two to see a single bridge, the choice would be either Kurtz's Mill Bridge, for a typical Lancaster County covered bridge in a lovely County Park setting, or Landis' Mill Bridge
for its unusual structure. For Kurtz's Mill bridge, follow the directions in the driving tour; but for Landis', the simplest thing to do is probably to go to Park City Shopping Mall and Center and ask somebody which way to the covered bridge.
Kurtz's Mill Bridge, a Typical Lancaster County Covered Bridge
For those passing through on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the Antiques Row Tour is a one-turnpike-exit tour that combines seven covered bridges with antique shops, arts and crafts and the tradition of Ephrata. The bridges on this tour are also included on the Lancaster City Circle Tour and the Northeastern Lancaster County Tour.
Three tours each follow the tributaries of a Lancaster County creek. they are
The Chickie's Creek tour is the westernmost, in a remote farming district that is probably less tourusticated than the rest. The Octoraro Frontier tour follows the eastern boundary of Lancaster County. In fact, one of its bridges is in Chester County and two are shared -- but Lancaster County has the majority. 
Risser's Mill Bridge, on Little Chickie's Creek in Western Lancaster County
The Pequea Creek Tour and the Northeastern Lancaster County Tour
cover some remote country and make few concessions for parking and comforts, but the countryside will repay the effort, especially the forested southern Lancaster County area in which the Pequea Creek Tour ends.
One Lancaster County bridge is not included on any tour nor is it pictured here. It is Buck Hill Bridge -- on private property, off-road, and somewhat out of the way. It is discussed and pictured in Evans and Evans, Pennsylvania's Covered Bridges. There is also an official Lancaster County Covered Bridge page. Enjoy!
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