Lehigh Valley Covered Bridge Tour: What You Need To Know

Discover the Lehigh Valley Covered Bridge Tour 

Go back in time and experience the Lehigh Valley Covered Bridge Tour. It features seven gorgeous covered bridges, five of which are still open to traffic. The tour is approximately 50 miles long and features various spots to stop and take photos and enjoy a lovely picnic. The drive starts in the city of Allentown, which is only about 30 minutes from The Lafayette Inn. 

Historic Covered Bridges You’ll Find on the Tour 

1. Bogert’s Bridge 

Bogert’s Bridge is one of the oldest covered bridges in the region and the nation. The original structure dated to the 1700s and was built entirely of wood and did not contain one nail to hold this impressive structure together. The bridge spanned over Little Lehigh Creek and was open to traffic, but after a truck damaged the bridge in 1956, local citizens saved the bridge from destruction, and the city closed it to vehicular traffic. Today, it is a popular spot for fishing and is a historical attraction in Allentown’s Lehigh Parkway. 

2. Manasses Guth Bridge 

The original Manasses Guth Bridge was built in 1858 and was tragically destroyed by a fire. Thankfully, it was rebuilt in 1882. The bridge rests on stone and mortar abutments and crosses over the Jordan Creek. Although it’s unknown who the original builder of the bridge was, when it was rebuilt, it was named for Manassas Guth, who lived in a nearby farmhouse and was a descendent of Lorentz Guth, the first settler in the area in 1745.  

3. Wehr’s Covered Bridge 

Wehr’s Covered Bridge was built in 1841 and was once the site of a stone gristmill and a concrete dam. Today, families enjoy picnicking at the nearby park and fishing for trout in the Jordan Creek under the bridge. The bridge is surrounded by breathtaking scenery and is a popular location for romantic dates and wedding photos.  

4. Rex’s Covered Bridge 

Rex’s Covered Bridge’s history is lesser known than some of the other bridges, but it’s believed that the structure was named after the Rex family, who were well-known local landowners at the time. Since then, the original stone walls have been covered with cement and painted white to give you the picturesque bridge you see today.   

5. Geiger’s Covered Bridge 

This large structure is located on the eastern side of the Trexler-Lehigh County Game Preserve, and its high fencing is visible from the road. The unusual stepped portal design was built in 1860 and distinguishes it from other bridges in the area. Long ago, a pipe ran across the bridge, which fed water to nearby orchards and farms from Jordan Creek. Remnants of the pumping apparatus remain on the side of Geiger’s Bridge.   

6. Schlicher’s Covered Bridge 

The Schlicher Covered Bridge was built in 1882 and is surrounded by Trexler-Lehigh County Game Preserve, giving it the nickname of the “deer pen bridge.” The preserve was constructed to protect and raise bison, elk, and deer. Today, deer can often be seen grazing along the road and near the bridge.   

7. Kreidersville Covered Bridge 

As you’re traveling through Lehigh Valley to explore the covered bridges, you’ll want to be sure to see the oldest covered bridge in Lehigh Valley and one of the oldest in the state—Kreidersville Covered Bridge. It was built in 1839 and is the only remaining covered bridge in Northampton County. This bridge crosses over the Hokendauqua Creek and is the Covered Bridge Festival site, which is held every two years in early June. 

End Your Day at The Lafayette Inn