Gribblenation

Located in the heart of New Brunswick's potato growing country is the world's longest covered bridge. Crossing the St. John River in the small town of Hartland is the Hartland Covered Bridge. Spanning 1,282 feet (391 meters) across the St. John River, the Hartland Covered Bridge features a Howe truss design that is common for many covered bridges across the province. Local agriculture played a role in the initial construction of the bridge, as it presented a means to allow people to get their goods to market. The movement for a bridge at Hartland began during the 1870s and got stronger until finally in 1890 a delegation of citizens representing both sides of the St. John River went to the provincial government with convincing arguments for the need of a bridge at Hartland. The government just built a bridge in Florenceville about 12 miles up the river and there was no money for a bridge in Hartland, so the argument was declined. The group did not give up and formed the Hartland...

  One of two covered bridges to cross Vaughan Creek (also known as the Irish River) in St. Martins, New Brunswick, the Hardscrabble Covered Bridge holds a few distinctions. It is one of a handful of covered bridges within the Province of New Brunswick that has an attached covered walkway. It is also one of two covered bridges in the province where you can see another covered bridge from the bridge. The other covered bridge happens to be the Vaughan Creek Covered Bridge (which was being reconstructed when I visited in early May 2022). This gives the Hardscrabble Covered Bridge and St. Martins another interesting landmark among the interesting things you can see in the area, such as the Fundy Trail Parkway, Bay of Fundy, the Sea Caves and Quaco Head Lighthouse. Alternatively known as Irish River #2 Covered Bridge, the Hardscrabble Covered Bridge was built in 1946 with a Howe Truss covered bridge design. Spanning 78 feet (or 24 meters) across Vaughan Creek on Main Street, the sidewal...

  One of the shortest covered bridges and more remote covered bridges in Kings County, New Brunswick is the Malone Covered Bridge. Also known as the Kennebecasis River No. 23 Covered Bridge as the bridge crosses the Kennebecasis River (which has plenty of covered bridges that cross it), the bridge is 64 feet (19 feet) in length. Built in 1911, the covered bridge is built with a Howe truss design and is named for the Malone family, which had a nearby homestead and they lent their name to the bridge. The Malone Covered Bridge is located along a quiet country road called Upper Goshen Road, not far from the communities of Goshen and Mechanic Settlement. It's not far from Fundy National Park either, which also has a few covered bridges within or bordering the park boundaries. When I visited the covered bridge, it was at the tail end of mud season, so getting there was a little tricky, but when I arrived, it was worth the drive to the bridge. Headache bars are installed at either e...

  Given its location alongside NB Route 114 between Moncton , Hopewell Rocks , and Fundy National Park , the Sawmill Creek Covered Bridge is one of the more recognizable covered bridges in Albert County, New Brunswick, and possibly the entire province. Located on the Sawmill Creek near Hopewell Hill, the Sawmill Creek Covered Bridge is built in a Howe truss design which is common for many covered bridges found throughout New Brunswick. The covered bridge is 105 feet (33 meters) long and sits in a roadside park, serving only pedestrian, bicycle, and horse traffic. In my research, I've found two competing dates of the Sawmill Creek Covered Bridge, 1905 and 1908. But the bridge's history precedes either of those years. On October 4, 1869, the Saxby Gale was a powerful storm where the combined forces of wind and high tides destroyed homes and killed people and livestock along the Bay of Fundy in both New Brunswick and neighboring Nova Scotia. As a result of the Saxby Gale , the o...

  Located just west of Salisbury, New Brunswick and officially known as Petitcodiac Covered Bridge # 3, the Hasty Covered Bridge is the last remaining covered bridge over the Petitcodiac River. Built in 1931, the Hasty Covered Bridge is built in a Howe truss covered bridge design and is 126 feet (38 meters) long. As is the base of many covered bridges in New Brunswick, a headache bar has been put in place to help ensure that over height vehicles do not strike the bridge. The bridge can be found just to the south of NB 106 on Powers Pit Road, a local road with houses and farms alongside it. However, there is a pull off to the north side of the bridge so you can take photos of the covered bridge. The Hasty Covered Bridge is also popular with paddlers. Since there is a boat launch on the north side of the bridge, you may find that people on canoes and kayaks are commonly seen around the covered bridge. When exploring around the covered bridge, you may find that the bridge does have so...

  Serving as a vital link between northern New Brunswick and the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec, the J.C. Van Horne Bridge is a cantilever through truss bridge. Crossing the Restigouche River between Campbellton, New Brunswick , and the communities of  Listuguj and Pointe-à-la-Croix in Quebec, the bridge is 804 meters (2,637 feet) long. The bridge consists of 4 deck truss approach spans on each side of the bridge and joined in the middle by a significant cantilever through truss structure. The cantilever through truss structure provides a clear span over the navigational channel of the Restigouche River below. The bridge carries an average of 12,500 vehicles daily, but there are not many roads or bridges that cross between this area of Quebec and New Brunswick. The next closest crossing of the Restigouche River is at the Matapedia Interprovincial Bridge, about 12 miles or 20 kilometers to the west near where NB 11 crosses into Quebec to meet QC 132. Built between 1958 and 196...

  Located roughly 5-6 miles (about 9-10 kilometers) south of the center of Sussex, New Brunswick is the MacFarlane Covered Bridge. Spanning 63 feet (about 19 meters) over Wards Creek, it is one of the shortest covered bridges in Kings County, New Brunswick. Also known as Wards Creek Covered Bridge # 2, the bridge was built in 1909 using a Howe truss design that is commonplace in covered bridge construction throughout New Brunswick. The MacFarlane Covered Bridge is easily accessible from NB 111 on Wards Creek Road, which you can also take into downtown Sussex. When I visited in early May 2022, it looked like the covered bridge had recently been given new siding, as the wood hadn't yet turned into the gray color you'll find at many covered bridges around the province. Headache bars to prevent over height vehicles from passing through the covered bridge can also be found near each end of the covered bridge. How to Get There: Sources and Links: GalenFrysinger.com - MacFarlane Cover...

  Built in 1927, the Tranton Covered Bridge is one of the many covered bridges that you'll find in the Sussex, New Brunswick area. Located near Roachville, this 127 foot (39 meter) long covered bridge over Smith Creek is located within some verdant farmland and is a stone's throw away from the Salmon Covered Bridge . Also known as the Smith Creek #1 Covered Bridge, the Tranton Covered Bridge is built with a Howe Truss design, which I found is typical for covered bridges around Sussex.  I found the Tranton Covered Bridge to be a delightful stop during my visit to some of the covered bridges around Sussex and is worth visiting during a covered bridge tour in the area. Inside the covered bridge, you can see the interior elements of the Howe Truss design. Ready to pass under the covered bridge. The Armadale Farm dairy and cheese shop is located just beyond the covered bridge if you are heading west on Roachville Road.  A headache bar is in place to help prevent damage to th...

One of a plethora of covered bridges found in the Sussex, New Brunswick area is the Salmon Covered Bridge. Of the 16 covered bridges found in the Covered Bridge Capital of Atlantic Canada, the Salmon Covered Bridge may be one of the more accessible bridges found around Sussex. Located just north of the exit with NB 1, the bridge is located on an old alignment of Smiths Creek Road (NB 890) in what is known as the Salmon River Bridge Park. So while the bridge is no longer accessible to vehicular traffic, it is yours to discover at a quieter pace. Officially known as the Kennebecasis River No. 7.5 Covered Bridge, the Salmon Covered Bridge was built in 1908. Featuring the soft gray colored wallboards that are commonly found amongst covered bridges in New Brunswick, the Salmon Covered Bridge features a Howe Truss design. The bridge is 119 feet long, or about 36 meters. While I visited in early spring, I can see vines that would give the covered bridge a more leafy accent in summer. In a...