Traveling Through Time

STORY BY Patrick J. McCloskey

PHOTOS BY Jim Sota

Whether you’re visiting during the spring or the fall, touring Somerset County in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands region will be a treat filled with glorious scenery, rolling hills, and villages and towns that welcome visitors for a number of festivals marking the change of seasons.

Among the unique attractions in the county are the many covered bridges that date to the 1800s and give visitors a sense of traveling back in time. Crossing those bridges by either car or bicycle is an experience with the rough wooden decks of the bridges rumbling under you as you cross. Usually a sign with the bridge’s name and date of construction is clearly visible as you cross, and, if you are diligent, you visit all the bridges in the county in a two-day trip by car or several days by bicycle. The total route, if you plan a route to see all the bridges, is approximately 175 miles and can be easily done by dividing a map of Somerset County in half. Doug Riegner of the Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy (www.GAPtrail.org) regularly visits by bicycle as he connects the Great Allegheny Passage trail with all of the nearby covered bridges.

Along the northern border of the county, Shaffer Bridge can be found near the junction of PA-985 and PA-403 (where 985 ends). The bridge was built in 1877 and crosses Ben’s Creek. The bridge is still open to traffic.

Moving south along PA-985, you’ll find Walter’s Mill Bridge on the grounds of the Somerset Historical Center; the center is approximately 4 miles north of Somerset near the junction of PA- 985 and PA-601. This restored bridge was built in 1859, and arches were added in 1908. Currently the bridge crosses Haupt Run, but it was originally built to cross Coxes Creek. This is the third location for this wonderfully restored bridge. It is one of the highlights of the Historical Center, a site well worth a visit. From there, traveling south on PA-403 from Shaffer Bridge to U.S. 30 leads to perhaps the most famous bridge in the county—the Trostletown Bridge. Construction began in 1887 and the bridge was completed the next year. It crosses Stonycreek River and can be found on the grounds of the American Legion Park just south of Stoystown. The park is also home to the restored Stoystown railroad station and a one-room schoolhouse. The bridge is open only to foot traffic.

Returning to U.S. 30 and heading east, you will make your way toward the Flight 93 Memorial, another site that is definitely worth the visit. Just before the memorial, take State Route 1007 south almost to Shanksville where you will find the Glessner Bridge. The bridge was built in 1881 and restored in 1998. The bridge is open to vehicles.

Continue south on State Route 1007, until you reach PA-160, turn south to Roxbury, then take PA-31 east. The next covered bridge is in New Baltimore, northeast of Roxbury. You’ll take State Route 1013 to State Route 1015 to New Baltimore where you will find New Baltimore Bridge, which crosses the Juniata River. Originally built in 1879, it was destroyed in 1996 and rebuilt in 1998. New Baltimore is also the home to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, also known as the “Church on the Turnpike,” which can be seen from I-76, the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Returning to PA-31, head west to Glen Savage Road (State Route 2019). Turn south and drive by the International Conservation Center, a project of the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. While it is not open to the public, the research facility houses African elephants, which can often be seen in nearby fields. A quick detour off SR 2019 takes you to Pine Valley Road then to Pack Saddle Road and the Pack Saddle or Doc Miller Bridge will be in sight. Built in 1870, this bridge spans Brush Creek and was rebuilt in 1997.

Cross Pack Saddle Bridge and venture west on a series of state roads, until you come across US 219. Head north to Garrett, where you turn onto Burkholder Bridge Road. The Burkholder or Beechdale Bridge was built in 1870 and crosses Coxes Creek.

From Garrett, you’ll head south on several state roads toward St. Paul. Along the way, you’ll cross the Great Allegheny Passage Bicycle Route. This route also enters Somerset County Amish country where travelers will see horse-drawn buggies and discover a way of life that is slower and more relaxed than in most places in America. Many Amish-owned stands and businesses are open to tourists along this route, but most are closed on Sundays. Mount Davis is close by; its 3,213-foot summit makes it the highest point in Pennsylvania and another worthwhile visit on your tour. Leaving the Mount Davis area, you will come to High Point Lake, the highest public fishing lake in the state.

Venturing into Confluence, you can head north on PA-281 on your way back to the county seat of Somerset. This route features three bridges within easy peddling or driving distance. First up is the Lower Humbert Bridge, which was built in 1891 and spans Laurel Hill Creek. Right off PA-281, heading east along PA-653, you’ll find Kings Bridge. This bridge also crosses Laurel Hill Creek and was rebuilt in 2008, making it one of the most up-to-date restorations in the county.

Finally, before making your way back to Somerset, head north a bit to complete your tour of the Somerset County covered bridges by visiting Barronvale Bridge, which was built in 1830. Arches were added in 1906.

If you find a map of Somerset County, most of these bridges are marked. Although it’s easy to navigate the route by car, if you have the time and the inclination, riding back country roads by bicycle will yield a much different experience with the sights, smells, and sounds of farm life in the Laurel Highlands. No matter the time of year, a visit to the region’s covered bridges is rewarding and enjoyable. Take in Somerset County—you will not be disappointed.

PABucketList.com; www.PABucketList.com/exploring-thecovered-bridges-of-somerset-county

Somerset County Chamber of Commerce; www.SomersetCountyChamber.com

Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy; www.GAPtrail.org

Cycling the Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal Towpath; www.TheGreatAlleghenyPassage.com