Historic Humpback Covered Bridge

Awesome little river wayside park. Bridge, picnic tables and grills, storyboards and its a Virginia LOVE site. Portable toilets and leashed dogs are welcome. I had 3 bars of Verizon 4G LTE Roaming. Parking lot is large enough for any size rig or RV.

Great attraction. Small covered bridge in a beautiful setting. You are able to walk on the stream paddle stones for great views up and down the river!

I loved the bridge! It's not something you get to see anymore these days. You were also able to walk around in the water below the bridge as well.

The bridge itself and the history of it is so cool. It's sad that people have put so much graffiti all over it. I get the signing of the names on the inside, but you have some that mess things up. We loved that it was a "love" sign destination and was a beautiful view next to the river. There is another covered bridge near Stuart, Va. We visited too.

An old wooden bridge which rises in the middle hence the name humpback. The place has grills and picnic tables to allow you to have a picnic with your family. You can also going swimming in the water if you are so inclined.

Nice wee scenic stop off. The LOVE feature was pretty cool and appropriate with a description of the background to the materials that made up each letter.

Neat covered bridge. Pedestrian traffic only. Can sit by the water beside the bridge. Relatively clean port-a-potties.

Peaceful little park with an accessible river and cool old timey bridge. Nice place to swim or just put your feet in to cool off. Can get busy fast. Seen fish, crawfish, turtles, and a few snakes. Watch your step if you get in or near the water!

No excuses for missing this beautiful bridge that is not even one mile off the Interstate. Constructed of hand-hewn timber in 1835 for the James River Kanawha Turnpike Corporation. The bridge remained in active public use until 1929. In 1953, the bridge was reconditioned and the land purchased for this lovely park. Portable toilets, picnic benches and lighting. It's lovely and well worth a quick stop on your journey near the Virginia / West Virginia border. [Review 19595 overall - 1432 in Virginia - 566 of 2023.]

Three miles west of Covington, adjacent to US Route 60 and just a bit off I-64, is the Humpback Bridge Wayside Park. The bridge itself was designated a Virginia Historic Landmark and listed on the NAtional Register of Historic Places in 1969. The park is 5 acres -- along the stream -- with picnic tables, a drinking fountain, parking, and restrooms. A good place for a stop while traveling. Note that it was a bit buggy during our stop in late April around noon.

Tony and I stopped at Historical Humpback Covered Bridge about 3 miles West of Covington, VA. It's located at a wayside 5 acre Park with picnic tables and grills along side a creek Great for fishing. No public bathrooms or playground equipment. The Bridge is the Oldest Covered Bridge in the state of Virginia and The ONLY Humpback Covered Bridge in America. It was made by hand hewn timer in 1835 as part of the James River Kanawha Turnpike Corporation. Located on Route 60, 3 miles West of Covington VA at exit 10 off I-64 There is a sign and easy to find.

This is a cool historic bridge that's worth a stop to see. It's easy on/off of I-64. There were a bunch of people down by the creek hanging out in the water.

Pretty scenic place for pictures. A good place to stretch legs when traveling. No public restrooms

A great little spot for a picnic on a nice day. Calm and usually not overcrowded. Totally recommend for a quick pop-in if you're traveling through Alleghany County.

What a great little surprise we found when making a pit stop for my four-year-old to use the restroom on our way home to Ohio from Virginia! I saw the highway sign for Humpback Bridge when he first mentioned he needed to go, and thought, if we have to stop, might as well make it interesting. This little covered bridge is a gem. The river here is gorgeous and the L-O-V-E spelled out on the riverbank is very cool. Check it out if you're in the area!

Humpback Covered Bridge (HCB) is the oldest remaining covered bridge in Virginia. The plaque at the site says it was built in 1835 and constructed by hand hewn timbers, but according to other information I found online, HCB succeeded three other bridges mostly due to floods. It continued as a working bridge until 1929, and it became a registered Virginia Historic Landmark. I knew I wanted to check it out during my mini summer vacation with my sons even though it was a bit of a drive to get there. Once we arrived today, it was well worth it. HCB is a 100-foot-long, single-span structure, and it got its name because it is four feet higher in the center compared to the ends. The bridge is in beautiful shape thanks to restoration except for the graffiti inside. The grounds around the bridge are also lovely and it is a wonderful spot to have a picnic. My boys and I enjoyed walking around, saw a rabbit in a field nearby, took photos, and listened to the creek. Here are some highlights: * Picnic Tables and grills *Placard with brochures * Port-a-potties with sink * Lots of parking * Great photo ops including a LOVEwork * Dunlap Creek flows underneath HCB * Watch a video about the restoration of HCB before visiting (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbkIiHCeSw4) Additional Info: Here is a list of covered bridges in U.S.: http://www.coveredbridgemap.com/ National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges http://www.coveredbridgesociety.org/ Covered Bridges: Spanning the American Landscape (this is a .pdf and HCB is on the cover) http://www.sites.si.edu/exhibitions/Covered%20Bridges.pdf

This was a great stop with the kids. We liked walking the bridge and liked that you could get down into the water. The LOVE artwork is great for photos!

Humpback Bridge is thee covered bridge of all covered bridges. It not only is the oldest in the state of Virginia and one of the oldest in the country, but it has the most unique in design. It gets its name from the arched construction of its hand hewed timbers making it higher in the middle than at either of its entry points. It was first opened to traffic in 1857 at a length of 108 feet. Prior to opening, three other bridges were built at this location and each was destroyed due to flood/weathering in 1837, 1842 and 1856 respectively. To avoid this fourth edition having the same fate of the original three, the design was modified to help the bridge avoid any further damage from floods. The result is a one of a kind structure that stood uniquely for over 150 years until the humped design was duplicated by the opening of the Old Salem Heritage Bridge in Winston-Salem NC: http://www.yelp.com/biz/old-salem-heritage-bridge-winston-salem Typical of many old covered bridges that became private property, Humpback served as a hay barn once it was decommissioned/bypassed in the late 1920's. A group of activists along with the Chamber of Commerce raised funds to restore the bridge 1954. It most recently went under extensive renovations by the LOVE project in 2013 using funds from the National Historic Covered Bridge Program. FINAL THOUGHTS The LOVE project is part of Virginia's social media campaign promoting Virginia as a state for lovers and that "love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation." If you view the bridge just right, you will see the word love spelled out in front of you. Using a V-shaped tree growing near the bridge, the project used materials with significant heritage of the Alleghany Highlands. The info sign says the "L" is made from historic bricks while the "O" is a gear from a retired paper mill and the "E" is made of railroad ties, giving homage to the historic importance of railroads to the region. It really is quite fascinating and as unique as the bridge itself. I LOVE covered bridges and I LOVE what they have done to preserve this amazing and spectacular piece of American engineering history. There are plenty of picnic tables and even portapotties if you choose to say a while. If this weren't the last stop on a long two week road trip I would have giving several hours to just lounging here. But the family was ready to get home and urged me back into the car. Since they are my first LOVE, I obliged with their wishes, but someday I'll be back to see this beauty again.

It nice to get out and not only see history still intake but so great modern art as well. This is one of a few covered bridges left to explore not only in the U.S but in VA! The bridge is located in the Western part of VA. It is part of a small park. Picnic tables, a small stream and parking area are available. You can walk around and get some different views of the bridge as well as walk through the bridge. It is only for people to explore! The bridge itself looks well maintained despite the many, many signatures of who knows how long scribed inside throughout the whole inside. I obviously went here during the wintertime but I bet it would look beautiful through all the seasons. Good place to visit or stop for a picnic as your passing through the area.

This landmark is historic and beautiful. Our family had a blast going across the bridge, exploring the riverbed and river rocks. Perfect place for a picnic! Be sure to have the kids bring bathing suits for fun in the water during the summertime. The LOVE sign is a nice addition to this place.

This is a cute little stop to hit if you're in the Covington area. So cute, charming and historical. Would be a nice spot to eat lunch, take pictures, or play in the creek. Falling Spring Falls is nearby to visit as well.

This is a beautiful little spot. My kids enjoyed running around, skipping rocks, and having their picture taken on the letters. There are several picnic tables, grills, trashcans, port-a-potties, and a hand washing station available. Be sure to read the information about the bridge and its history on the signs. My kids were disappointed when I said we had to leave. These are two self-proclaimed "indoor type kids." We hiked at a local waterfall earlier in the day. They slept well that night. BONUS!

Clear water and a great historical bridge. Near the highway. Glad my fam and I stopped by to check it out.