Covered Bridge Rambles

in Southwestern New Hampshire

Base	Our base for these rambles was Keene, New Hampshire. We stayed in the Carriage Barn B&B. Some food recommendations: Luca's -- Mediterranean cuisine with flair. 176 Main Street -- Pub style grub, close to the B&B. Keene in (about) 1920 Keene today A Keene street scene -- about 1930? Another -- probably about 1900
Ramble 1	This ramble should take about 3 hours from Keene. Our route to the first bridge on this half-day ramble is indirect, but scenic. Go west on rt. 9 to a left, south, on rt.63 in Chesterfield, to a left, west, on rt. 113. Follow rt 113 until you see on your right Ashuelot Bridge Ashuelot Bridge in the 1920's Ashuelot Bridge in 2003 Continue east on rt. 119 to Winchester, turning left, north, at the light. Continue north on rt. 10 past the Monadnock speedway to a left on Coombs Bridge road. Follow Coombs Bridge Road to Coombs Bridge Eighty years ago     Return to Rt. 10 and turn east on Westport Village Road, left at the fork to Slate Bridge Rebuilt 1990s Return to Rt. 10 and continue north and turn east on California Street, which turns into Main Street. Pass though West Swanzey (Thompson) Bridge   Eighty years ago     Return to Rt. 10 and turn east on Ash Hill Road to a left on Sawyer's Crossing road to Sawyer's Crossing (Cresson) Bridge   Continue through the bridge to a right followed by a left on Eaton Road to Rt. 32 south, and turn east on Carlton Road to Carlton Bridge   Continue through the bridge on Flat Roof Mill Road to north on Rt.12 back to Keene.
Ramble 2	This ramble also begins from Keene and should take about 4 hours. You should have time for lunch in Keene if you are doing both rambles in one day. Leave Keen on Rt. 9 northeast to Henniker. Turn right on Rt. 114 south to the campus of New England College. Turn right onto the campus and go toward the river. Please respect No Parking signs. You will find, on the college campus, Henniker Bridge   Henniker bridge was built in 1972, but with traditional methods such as the "treenails" (trunnels) shown at the right. Return to Rt. 114 northwest and continue on Rt. 103 when Rt. 114 turns north. Just after is a left on Center Road and Bement Bridge When? This image is probably 70 years old but is undated. Return and take Rt. 103 eastbound to south on Newmarket Road to Waterloo Bridge Return to Rt. 103 east to a turn south on Joppa Road to Dalton Bridge Continue southeast on Rt. 103 to Contocook and Contoocook Railroad Bridge The railroad bridge is barely visible in this turn-of-the-century view of the covered bridge that preceded the concrete highway bridge we see above.     Take the right Y on Rt. 127 to West Hopkinton to a north on Clement Hill Road and Rowell's Bridge   Continue on Rt. 127 and turn west on Rt. 9 and return to Keene.
Ramble 3	The third ramble will take all day. Leaving Keene, go north on Rt. 12a, turning north on Rt. 123a to McDermott Bridge   Return to Rt. 12a west to south on Cheshire Turnpike to Prentice Bridge Return to Rt. 12a west to Rt. 12 north, taking rt 12a north past the Windsor-Cornish covered bridge to south on Mill Road, a rather bad gravel road, to Blow-Me-Down Bridge   Return to Rt. 12a south to Cornish-Windsor Bridge   About the turn of the 20th century     If you pass through the Cornish-Windsor Bridge to Windsor, VT, and take Rt. 5 south, you will find a classic diner on the left. Return to New Hampshire Rt. 12a. Continue south to East (left at Y) on Town House Road. Continue one mile to Root Hill Road and, on the right, Dingleton Hill Bridge Continue one mile further on Town House Road to Blacksmith Shop Bridge   Continue to Rt. 120 north to Meriden. Turn NW on Main Street to Colby Hill Road. The sign was turned when we were there, so it may be confusing. You will pass by Kimble Union Academy. Left on Colby HillRoad passes through Mill (Meriden) Bridge Return to Rt. 120 north to Lebanon, which offers an opportunity for lunch and a fine Carnegie Library. Go east on Rt. 4 to north (left) on Riverside (opposite a tire shop) to find, on the left, Packard Hill Bridge Continue on Rt. 4 east to I89 south. Exit on Rt. 10 S at Grantham. From Rt. 10, turn west on Corbin Road, and go 6/10 mile to Corbin Bridge From this point you may continue to Keene on Rt. 10 or go on to find two covered railroad bridges. To find them go east on Rt. 11 in Newport, south onto Chandler Mills Road, 1.1 mile to the railroad bridge on the right. It is in the woods and easy to miss from this drive. It is Pier Bridge   Continue east 0.7 mile. Look for an orange metal fence on the right. Park and walk the trail to Wright's Bridge   Return to Rt. 10 south and take that route back to Keene.
Bonus Ramble: Upstate New York Saratoga Springs to Arlington Vermont	Our next ramble doesn't have much to do with southwestern New Hampshire, unless your route to Keene takes you through Saratoga Springs, New York.It is a one-way trip from Saratoga Springs to Arlington, Vermont. Three bridges are in New York and one is in Vermont. Enjoy, and don't ask us for consistency. From Saratoga Springs, take Rt. 29 east to Rt. 22 south at Greenwich Junction. Turn Rt, south, on Route 22. Take a left on Rexleigh Road and double back to Rexleigh Bridge Retrace your route to Rt. 22 south. Turn left, east, east, on Rt. 61. As you pass over a modern bridge into Shushan, note to your left Shushan Bridge. It is a museum and is open only limited hours. The right turn at the bridge continues Rt. 61 east.Turn left on Eagleville Road, curve to the left to Eagleville Bridge Continue through the bridge to Rt. 313 left, northeast. Follow Rt. 313 into Vermont, and, about one mile beyond the Vermont border, see Arlington Bridge Continue on Rt. 313 into Arlington.