Five Covered Bridges to Explore by E-Bike in Vermont & New Hampshire
There’s something about exploring the covered bridges of Vermont and New Hampshire by e-bike that never gets old.
Maybe it’s the sudden shade on a sunny day, the rumble of tires over wooden planks, or the feeling that you’ve pedaled straight into a Vermont postcard. Here in the Upper Valley, covered bridges are part of the landscape—and some of our favorites are even better when you arrive by bike.
Whether you join one of Vermont Bike & Brew’s self-guided e-bike tours or rent an e-bike and set out on your own, here are five covered bridges worth adding to your ride.
Thetford Center Covered Bridge (Sayres Bridge) — Thetford, VT
One of just two historic covered bridges still standing in Thetford, the Thetford Center Covered Bridge—also known locally as Sayres Bridge—crosses the Ompompanoosuc River on Tucker Hill Road.
The bridge is especially unusual because of its Haupt-style truss construction, the only known example of its kind in Vermont. But you don’t need to be a bridge-history buff to appreciate it. Ride through and you get the full Vermont experience: a one-lane wooden bridge, river below, and quiet country roads on either side.
See it by bike: Rent an e-bike from Vermont Bike & Brew and make Sayres Bridge part of your own Upper Valley adventure. Just a short ride from our shop in Thetford, it’s an easy way to add a little covered-bridge sightseeing to a half-day or full-day rental.
Union Village Covered Bridge — Thetford, VT
A little farther south, the Union Village Covered Bridge carries Academy Road across the Ompompanoosuc River. Built in 1867, it’s the other surviving 19th-century covered bridge in Thetford.
This is one of those places where it pays to slow down. The bridge sits among the wooded roads and river valleys that make this part of Vermont such a beautiful place to explore on two wheels.
See it by bike: The Union Village Covered Bridge is part of the scenery riders can experience on our Farm Stand Self-Guided E-Bike Tour, an easygoing ride through the Thetford countryside with stops for local food, coffee, maple creemees, and plenty of classic Vermont views.
Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge — Windsor, VT & Cornish, NH
For sheer wow factor, this one is hard to beat.
The Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge stretches across the Connecticut River, connecting Windsor, Vermont, with Cornish, New Hampshire. At nearly 450 feet long, it’s an impressive sight—and one of the oldest surviving bridges of its type in the world. Visiting this historic span from the Vermont side is one of the most memorable stops on our Harpoon Brewery route.
It’s a quintessential New England landmark and a great place to stop, take in the view, and snap a few photos before continuing your ride through the Windsor countryside.
See it by bike: The bridge is one of the highlights of our Harpoon Brewery Self-Guided E-Bike Tour, a 23–29 mile ride featuring country roads, mountain views, local food, and a well-earned finish at Harpoon Brewery.
Bowers Covered Bridge — West Windsor, VT
After the scale of the Cornish-Windsor Bridge, Bowers Covered Bridge offers a very different experience.
Bowers is delightfully tiny by comparison, which is part of what makes encountering both bridges on the same ride so much fun. Tucked into the West Windsor countryside, it’s another dose of classic Vermont scenery along a route already packed with it.
See it by bike: Bowers Covered Bridge is also a highlight of the Harpoon Brewery Tour. With an e-bike helping out on the climbs, you can spend less time worrying about Vermont’s hills and more time enjoying what’s around the next bend.
Clay Brook Bridge (Edgell Bridge) — Lyme, NH
Covered bridge hunting doesn’t stop at the Vermont state line.
Across the Connecticut River in Lyme, New Hampshire, the historic Clay Brook Bridge—also known as Edgell Bridge—spans Clay Brook along River Road. Built in 1885, the bridge is a beautiful destination for riders exploring the quiet roads north of Hanover and Dartmouth College.
See it by bike: Rent an e-bike from Vermont Bike & Brew and ask us about route ideas for exploring Lyme and Hanover. Half-day, full-day, and multi-day rentals give you plenty of freedom to build your own sightseeing adventure.
Why Explore Vermont and New Hampshire Covered Bridges on an E-Bike?
There’s just one catch to covered-bridge hunting around here: Vermont and New Hampshire have hills. Lots of them.
That’s where an e-bike shines. Pedal assist takes the sting out of the climbs while still giving you the freedom and open-air experience of exploring by bike. Instead of watching the scenery through a car window, you can ride the backroads, stop when something catches your eye, and actually hear that unmistakable rumble when your tires hit the wooden floor of a covered bridge.
And because you’re not spending all your energy grinding up the next hill, you can ride farther and see more.
Ready to Ride?
Whether you want the comfort of a pre-planned route or would rather create your own adventure, we can help you experience some of the best biking, and some of the best covered bridges, in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Explore our self-guided e-bike tours or rent an e-bike and see where the backroads take you.