Covered Bridge Scenic Byway
Department of Transportation.
Nothing could be more romantic than meandering through the countryside on Covered Bridge Scenic Byway. Forested hills alternating with open pastures create an aura of the 19th Century that will seem real when you pass underneath one of the four covered bridges along the byway. During the horse and buggy times of the 1800s when these covered bridges were novel and pristine, the defiant youth referred to them as "kissing bridges." But the proper term was "wishing bridges," and it was tradition to hold your breath and make a wish as you passed through.
Directions
Navigating the Byway:
Traveling the Byway
Starting one mile east of Marietta get on Route 26 to begin at the south entrance. Follow Route 26 for 40 miles until you pass Hilltop. 4 miles outside of Hilltop turn left onto OH 800 North. Follow OH 800 for 2.3 miles until you reach Woodsfield and end the byway.
Getting to the Byway
From Athens to the south entrance:
- Go east on W. Wastington St. toward S. Court St.
- Turn left onto N. Court St.
- Turn right onto E. Carpenter St.
- E. Carpenter St. quickly becomes W. Stimson Ave.
- Merge onto US 50 E/ OH 32 E toward Belpre
- Follow US 50 for 19 and turn slightly left onto the ramp going to US 50 E.
- Merge onto US 50 E/OH 32 E/OH 7 N.
- Follow the road for 14.5 miles and turn slightly left onto OH 7 N.
- After 11.7 miles turn right onto Lancaster St.
- Turn right onto Gilman Ave.
- Turn left onto Putman Ave./Putnam St.
- Go northeast on putman st toward 2nd St.
- Turn right onto 3rd St./OH 60/OH 7
- Turn left onto OH 26/Greene St/OH 7
- Turn left onto OH 26 and start the byway
From Cambridge to Woodsfield:
- Go south on N. 10th St. toward US 22/US 40/Wheeling Ave.
- Turn left onto US 22/US 40/Wheeling Ave.
- Take a slight left to continue on this road
- Turn right onto US 40/E. Wheeling Ave.
- Turn left to stay on this road
- Merge onto I 77 S.
- Merge onto I 70 E. through exit 44A on the left going toward Wheeling
- After 22.4 miles merge onto OH 800 through exit 202 toward Barnesville/Woodsfield
- After 24.3 miles turn right onto N. Main St./OH 26 S./OH 800 S.
- Turn left onto OH 78/Court St. and start the byway at Woodsfield
