Discover Maryland's Only Remaining Historic Covered Bridges

Iconic and nostalgic, covered bridges have long beckoned us with their romantic and charming reminder of simpler times. Once dominating the rivers and streams of our American landscape, few remain for us to walk in our ancestors’ footsteps and marvel at their ingenuity. Out of Maryland’s 120 authentic covered bridges that were once scattered about the state, only six remain. Of those six, two are located in Cecil County: Gilpin’s Falls and Foxcatcher Farms. During your stay with us, explore these two beautiful covered bridges nearby.

Located one mile north of Bay View, Gilpin's Falls Bridge is the longest wooden covered bridge still standing in the State of Maryland and is on the National Register of Historic Places. A single span of 119 feet, the bridge is a Burr arch design and just a few feet above the Northeast Creek. Several mills including Samuel Gilpin's flour mill were once located near the bridge and powered by the waters of Gilpin’s Falls, a National Natural Landmark. Built in 1860, it has survived many a mishap over the years, including a series of major floods in the decades after its completion. Although you can't drive through it, park nearby and walk the bridge, hike along the creek and enjoy the falls.

Foxcatcher Farms Bridge in Elkton was also built in 1860, but by Ferdinand Wood, and it gained its nickname from William DuPont, Jr. who engaged in numerous fox hunts on the property in the 1920s. This Bowstring and Howe Truss bridge crosses a stream that snakes through more than 5,500 acres of preserved land. Hike the Fair Hill Natural Resource Area known for its pristine fields, woodlands and natural beauty. To the right of the bridge, begin in the open field while looking for the orange blaze on a post. A pond will be to your left while the trail heads into the forest.

For more information, visit Maryland’s Covered Bridges. 

We shall not cease from exploring,

And the end of our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time.

― T. S. Eliot