I hadn't really planned a covered bridge tour on my way back from Ashtabula, but saw the signs, and I'm not one to miss a "Local Attraction" road sign, so off I went. I think that the wooden structure of the bridge has been replaced quite recently as it smells like a lumber yard and was nice and bright. The bridge is long-ish, and there is a covered walkway for foot traffic. There's a bit of parking, and you can drive or walk over to a park and small walking trail as well. Not a bad place to stop, but it wasn't as scenic as I had expected. The bathroom was a little scary, but there and free, so just make sure you have wet wipes and go fast. read more

We stopped here on a cold, rainy day not thinking there would be much to see. The bridge was pretty long and there was a covered walkway on the side if you prefer walking over driving through. Someone was fishing off the bridge in there so I guess that's an option if you'd prefer a longer stay. There's a small gift shop that wasn't open when we stopped by. The surrounding park was beautiful. Benches surround the water off the trail in you're interested in stopping to take in the views. The fall colors were stunning in mid November and I felt compelled to walk amongst them, even in the rain. read more

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Beautiful long bridge with a metal bridge added due to a storm. The river altered its course and eroded the bank. This is the second longest bridge on Ohio. read more

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Because I love covered bridges so much, Chris planned a day-long driving tour of Ashtabula county's 16 covered bridges. Harpersfield is a beaut!! A covered bridge is a bridge, often single-lane, with enclosed sides and a roof. They are typically wooden. Early bridges were made of wood, especially where it was a plentiful resource. Wooden bridges tended to deteriorate rapidly from exposure to the elements, having a useful lifespan of only nine years. Covering them protected their structural members, thus extending their life to 80 years or more. Covered bridges were also constructed to be used by travelers during storms and inclement weather. Most wooden covered bridges employ trusses as their key structural design element. A popular design was the Brown truss, known for its simplicity, but others were also used. Covered bridges are generally considered old-fashioned, and appeal to tourists, but the purpose is twofold: (1) covered bridges appear similar to barns and it is easier to transport cattle across them without startling them, and (2) to build a structure for weather protection over the working part of the bridge. A bridge built entirely out of wood, without any protective coating, may last 10 to 15 years. Builders discovered that if the bridge's underpinnings were protected with a roof, the bridge could stand for 70, or even 80 years. The existing covered bridges have been renovated using concrete footings and steel trusses to hold additional weight and to replace the original support timbers.Some covered bridges, such as the one in Newton Falls, Ohio and Elizabethton, Tennessee, also feature an integrated covered walkway. Ohio is so unique with its covered bridges. It was awesome to visit the bridges one by one -- to see Ohio's beauty from the back roads. read more

Harpersfield Covered Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Geneva, Ohio

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Such a beautiful structure! A must see when traveling in the area! There are also lots of parks surrounding the area and a decent outhouse facility. read more

Harpersfield Covered Bridge - Wow! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Geneva, Ohio

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Covered bridges aren't really my thing. Okay, it's a bridge...with a roof. Cool, I guess? As I was traveling through Ohio over labor day weekend, my friend was just enamored with the idea of checking out covered bridges. So we came here, took some selfies...and got the hell out, thank God. Luckily, there is a bathroom here so you can hide in there while your friends check out the bridge. If you appreciate covered bridges and their history, this is a good one. If you're stuck in a rainstorm and are on foot, you can probably take some shelter here. If you're interested in covered bridges, by all means...check it out, but honestly I don't understand the fascination. read more

Of all the covered bridges I've ever visited, this one is truly unique and has one of the most powerful rivers flowing below it I've seen of any. A big bonus of my visit was getting two bridges in one!!! A third of the bridge is actually steel while the other 2/3rd's is wooden and covered. I absolutely love the look of Harpersfield. It is the third longest covered bridge in Ohio and gets its look from a flood in 1913 that eroded the land on one end of the bridge. Thus the 140' steel span was built to keep the bridge functional. There is a park with a gift shop on the north end and during renovations in 1992 a covered walkway was added. A canoe/kayak race is launched here every year in April as well as rentals throughout the year. The race features a 'Maddest Hat' contest where the most unusual head attire wins a prize if worn during the race. Sounds like so much fun!!! Also hosted annually is a local dog walk to raise funds to keep the bridge properly maintained. There appears to have once been a dam here, possibly for a grist mill. Water levels on the day we visited were extreme since Ohio had been receiving record rains. The nearby park was partially flooded near the shore and the roar of the water flow was amazing (see video). BRIDGE FACTS Year Built: 1868 Length: 228 feet Restored: 1992 Truss type: Double-span Howe Location: Grand River in Ashtabula County FINAL THOUGHTS Easily one of my favorite covered bridges of all time!!! The setting is ideal and the look is unforgettable. If you were lucky enough to visit 100 covered bridges in a lifetime, you would still easily recognize Harpersfield. The unique appearance of this bridge just makes me love covered bridges all the more. Covered bridge lovers will be in heaven in Ashtabula County, Ohio. They have 18 covered bridges here to which 17 of them are still drivable. Also, both Ohio and neighboring Indiana together offer an amazing collection of these historic structures, many of which are in excellent shape and great subjects for photography. Enjoy! read more

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Pretty scenery as you drive through and the bridge has a wonderful wooden smell. It's like a really short but fun carnival ride! If you are a fan of wooden bridges--this one is awesome! read more

My wife wanted to see this bridge. I was not enthusiastic. Ended up being a lot more pleasurable than I had expected.

Neat covered bridge in a beautiful location. Nice picnic area and great views from both sides of the bridge.