Covered Bridges Scenic Byway, Iowa

Begin of the Covered Bridges Scenic Byway road sign, St. Charles Iowa

Imes Covered Bridge

Built in 1871 by J.P.Clark, Imes was originally known as Wilkins Ford Bridge. It's structure is a covered timber town lattice truss overlaid by a queenpost frame. The overall length is 105 feet - 82 feet truss with 11.5 feet approach on each side, and the width is 16.4 feet.

Covered Bridges Scenic Byway, Iowa

Madison County is the Covered Bridge Capital of Iowa, with the largest group of covered bridges that exists in one area in the western half of the Mississippi Valley.

Covered Bridges Scenic Byway, Iowa

Hogback Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge near Winterset, Iowa. Named after a nearby limestone ridge, it was built in 1884.

Covered Bridges Scenic Byway, Iowa

Hogback Covered Bridge Built in 1884 by Harvey P. Jones and George K. Foster, the Hogback Covered Bridge measures 97 feet and is in its original location in a valley north of Winterset. Hogback gets its name from the limestone ridge which forms the west end of the valley. It was renovated in 1992 at a cost of $118,810.

Covered Bridges Scenic Byway, Iowa

Built in 1883 by Harvey P. Jones and George K. Foster, Cedar Bridge was 76 feet long and was the last bridge open to vehicles. It was built over Cedar Creek north of Winterset on what is now US Highway 169. It was moved to its present location over the same creek in 1921. In Robert James Waller’s novel, The Bridges of Madison County, Cedar Bridge is where Francesca Johnson goes to meet Robert Kincaid to help him take photographs. Cedar is also the bridge on the novel’s cover. The bridge was renovated in 1998 at a cost of $128,073. After being nearly destroyed by arson, Cedar Bridge was rebuilt and was re-opened to the public on Covered Bridge Festival weekend in 2019.

Covered Bridges Scenic Byway, Iowa

A rainy day at Cedar Bridge over the Cedar Creek near Winterset, Madison County, Iowa

Covered Bridges Scenic Byway, Iowa

Jurgensen Bridge over the Cedar Lake spillway just north of Winterset, Iowa Originally, the bridge was located at Middle River, about 11 miles away from its current location. After flood damage, it was moved to the Winterset reservoir, also known as Cedar Lake, in 2019.

Covered Bridges Scenic Byway, Iowa

Imes Covered Bridge. The oldest of the remaining covered bridges, Imes was built in 1870 and is 81 feet in length. It was originally located over the Middle River west of Patterson. In 1887 it was moved to a spot over Clinton Creek southwest of Hanley. Imes Bridge was moved again to its present location over a natural ravine just east of St. Charles in 1977. It was renovated in 1997 at a cost of $31,807.

Covered Bridges Scenic Byway, Iowa

Holliwell Covered Bridge Winterset Iowa Built in 1880 by Harvey P. Jones and George K. Foster, Holliwell is the longest covered bridge, measuring 122 feet. It remains in its original site over the Middle River southeast of Winterset. Holliwell was renovated in 1995 at a cost of $225,000. It is featured in “The Bridges of Madison County” movie.

Covered Bridges Scenic Byway, Iowa

Clark Tower is a castle-like limestone tower located in Winterset City Park in Winterset, Iowa, United States. The 25 feet tall tower was erected in 1926, on the 80th anniversary of the founding of Madison County, in memory of Caleb Clark, a stonemason who was the first white settler of Madison County, and his wife Ruth Clanton Clark.

Covered Bridges Scenic Byway, Iowa

Clark Tower is a castle-like limestone tower located in Winterset City Park in Winterset, Iowa, United States. The 25 feet tall tower was erected in 1926, on the 80th anniversary of the founding of Madison County, in memory of Caleb Clark, a stonemason who was the first white settler of Madison County, and his wife Ruth Clanton Clark.

Covered Bridges Scenic Byway, Iowa

Cutler-Donahue Covered Bridge Built in 1870 by Eli Cox, the Cutler-Donahoe bridge is 79 feet in length and features a pitched roof. Originally located over the North River near Bevington, it was moved to its present site in Winterset’s City Park in 1970. Cutler-Donahoe was renovated in 1997 at a cost of $35,538.

Covered Bridges Scenic Byway, Iowa

Harmon tunnel in Pammel State Park, Winterset, Iowa The only highway tunnel in Iowa. The tunnel pierces the base of the limestone backbone and provides access to the remainder of the park facilities. In 1858 the tunnel was originally dug by William Harmon and his sons as a small chute to carry water diverted from Middle River to power a saw mill that was eventually converted to a grist mill. The mill was abandoned in 1904 and the tunnel expanded in size to allow vehicle traffic in 1925. The tunnel has since been expanded and reinforced to accommodate modern vehicles.

Covered Bridges Scenic Byway, Iowa

Harmon tunnel in Pammel State Park, Winterset, Iowa The only highway tunnel in Iowa. The tunnel pierces the base of the limestone backbone and provides access to the remainder of the park facilities. In 1858 the tunnel was originally dug by William Harmon and his sons as a small chute to carry water diverted from Middle River to power a saw mill that was eventually converted to a grist mill. The mill was abandoned in 1904 and the tunnel expanded in size to allow vehicle traffic in 1925. The tunnel has since been expanded and reinforced to accommodate modern vehicles.

Covered Bridges Scenic Byway, Iowa

Roseman Covered Bridge, Winterset, Madison County, Iowa. Built in 1883 by Harvey P. Jones and George K. Foster, Roseman is 107 feet in length and sits in its original location. It was renovated in 1992 at a cost of $152,515. In Robert James Waller’s novel, The Bridges of Madison County, and the movie of the same name, Roseman is the bridge Robert Kincaid seeks when he stops at Francesca Johnson’s home for directions. It is also where Francesca leaves her note inviting him to dinner. Also known as the “haunted” bridge, Roseman is where two sheriff’s posses trapped a county jail escapee in 1892. It is said the man rose up straight through the roof of the bridge, uttering a wild cry, and disappeared. He was never found, and it was decided that anyone capable of such a feat must be innocent.