Facing the Bath Covered Bridge from the village of Bath
According to a sign at the bridge, the Bath Village Covered Bridge was built in 1832 and is the longest covered bridge in New Hampshire and one of the oldest in America. It ties the West Swanzey Bridge, also built in 1832, as the 2nd oldest covered bridges in New Hampshire. It has a unique 4-span design. The sign at the bridge states it’s an outstanding example of a Burr-Arch structure, but the book, Covered Bridges of New Hampshire (see below), says it doesn’t fully follow this design and is difficult to classify.
The Bath Covered Bridge. “One dollar fine to drive any team faster than a walk on this bridge.”
Rapids on the Ammonoosuc River just below the Bath Covered Bridge
Much has changed throughout the years, though the bridge has remained. In 1832 a rail line was built under it. This required some modifications, including raising it by a couple feet many years later, though this didn’t stop it from being hit by an over-height train in the late 1970’s. In 1893 the hydroelectric dam was built to generate electricity from the flow of the Ammonoosuc River.
Driving through the Bath Covered Bridge. Check out the unusual different sized arches acting as supports.
The other side of the Bath Covered Bridge, facing the village.
As old as it is, the bridge is actually the fifth at this location, with the first having been built in 1793. But one bridge after another was destroyed, leaving us with the 5th incarnation from 1832, which thankfully has been maintained and is still in active use. It’s interesting to note the differences in cost over time. The bridge cost $3300 to build in 1832 but by 2009 it cost just under $3 million to repair it.
Looking through the trees at the Bath Covered Bridge
Bath Covered Bridge is the longest covered bridge in New Hampshire, as seen from this view on a trail leading to a road under the bridge.
The Bath Covered Bridge is number 28 in the New Hampshire list of covered bridges. We visited this bridge on June 19th, 2025. Click here to see the list of covered bridges we visited while traveling through New Hampshire in mid-2025.
Bath Covered Bridge, Bath, and rapids on the Ammonoosuc River
Resources
Most of the details within this post were learned either from signs at the bridge or from the fantastic book, Covered Bridges of New Hampshire by Kim Varney Chandler, which I purchased from a small local shop in Lincoln while on our trip. It’s well worth it if you plan to visit the area or are just interested in covered bridges and their history and construction. The link takes you to the author’s website for the book with lots of extra information and with links to let you purchase directly from her.
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