Touring Covered Bridges of Lancaster County
Lancaster County Pennsylvania has a long and rich history dating back to 1792 when the county was founded. One of the cherished symbols of those early days are the covered bridges. Lancaster is well known as a farming region, and these bridges originally served the critical role of connecting farmers and communities over waters that were otherwise impassable.
In the late nineteenth century, Lancaster County had more than 100 covered bridges. The passage of time took a toll on the bridges, with some washing away during severe storms and others falling into disrepair. Fortunately, 28 of these cultural icons still remain today.
Taking a driving tour of these covered bridges is a leisurely way to spend a day stepping back in time while also exploring Lancaster’s rural countryside. Rocky Springs Bed & Breakfast is conveniently located near four covered bridges in the southern region of the county, and we’ve created a self-guided driving tour of these covered bridges for our guests to enjoy.
The first bridge on the tour – the Kurtz Mill Bridge – is located in Lancaster County Central Park which is just around the corner from Rocky Springs Park. At this bridge, there are parking areas for your vehicle and short, easy hiking/walking trails on either side of the bridge that follow along the tranquil Mill Creek.
The driving route to the remaining bridges will pass several Amish schools and Amish farms and a few other historic sites that we highlight for you. Along the way, guests will also see old lime kilns which served a vital role in Lancaster County’s farming history. A lime kiln was an arched stone structure that was often built into a hill along a roadside. The purpose of a lime kiln was to burn limestone until all that remained were crumbles of calcium oxide known as “quick lime.” Farmers would use this quick lime as fertilizers for their fields.
Our self-guided covered bridge driving tour will loop guests back to Rocky Springs Bed & Breakfast and lasts about an hour, but we suggest you take your time and discover all the interesting places that Lancaster has to offer.
