You’re driving south, following the Saint John River. Turning off the highway onto a charming country road, you climb over a hill and spot it: the old covered bridge. The silver-grey planks shed tiny slivers of light, recalling a world of horse-drawn carriages and young lovers stealing kisses in the dark. You venture through the barn-like entrance; close your eyes and make a wish.
New Brunswick has a bounty of 63 historic covered bridges, with most dating from the early 1900s. Visit the 29 covered bridges of the River Valley Scenic Drive on a romantic journey through rolling farmland, forests and quaint communities.
Your first stop is Hartland, home to world's longest covered bridge (it’s 1,282-ft long) and now a National Historic Site. Turn on your headlights—and tell your passengers to hold their breath and cross their fingers—as you journey across the Saint John River. Covered bridges dot the landscape south all the way to the coast. Pick up guidebooks at most tourist bureaus and talk to the locals to map out a route.
Kings County has 16 covered wooden bridges—the province’s largest collection. Don’t miss Becaguimec River No. 3 in Mangrum, built in 1909. Drive through Fundy National Park to see the elegant, red-painted covered bridge that crosses the Point Wolfe River. Near Sussex, stop by the famous Oldfields Covered Bridge, then head south to St. Martins, famed for its twin covered bridges.
