Winterset, Iowa built a movie legend out of six covered bridges, and they’re still free: And what happens next

Wikimedia Commons/Teddi Yaeger
Wooden Landmarks That Inspired a Novel
You’ll find six covered bridges scattered across the farmland near Winterset in south-central Iowa, each one painted red with white trim and set against rolling hills and slow-moving streams. These bridges inspired a best-selling novel and the 1990s film that followed, and every one of them still stands open to visitors free of charge, all year long. Some are tucked behind gravel roads, others sit right in town. Once you start tracking them down, the real stories behind each bridge start to surprise you. Wikimedia Commons/Elliott, Joe
Built to Outlast the Rain and Rot
Madison County once had about 19 covered bridges scattered through the countryside, built by local crews including one led by Harvey P. Jones. The roofs weren’t decoration. Builders added them to shield the wooden trusses underneath from rain and rot, and a covered bridge could last far longer than one left open to the weather. Five of the six bridges standing today date back to the 1800s. The sixth, Cedar Bridge, is a faithful 2019 replica of the original, built after fire took the historic structure down. Shutterstock
Roseman Bridge Hides an 1892 Mystery
Roseman Bridge draws more attention than any of the other five, thanks to its starring role in both the book and the film. Red boards stretch across a flat roof over a quiet river, and the setting alone would be worth the stop. But locals tell another story here, one that dates to 1892. As the legend goes, a jail escapee ran onto the bridge one night and vanished without a trace. Nobody ever found him. Whether you believe the tale or not, standing on those old boards, you’ll feel why it stuck around for more than a century. Wikimedia Commons/Ymblanter
Cedar Bridge Lets You Drive Right Through
Every other bridge on this list is for walking, but Cedar Bridge still carries vehicle traffic straight through its wooden frame. It sits inside a quiet park with picnic tables and a gazebo nearby, the kind of spot where you’d want to stretch your legs anyway. A photo of Cedar Bridge landed on the cover of the novel that made this county famous. Fire destroyed the structure twice over the years, and each time, the community rebuilt it. The version you can drive through today went up in 2019.

Wikimedia Commons/Lance Larsen
Holliwell Stretches Longest Over the Middle River
At roughly 110 feet, Holliwell Bridge runs longer than any other covered bridge left standing in Iowa. You’ll find it about two miles southeast of Winterset, still resting in its original spot above the Middle River. The bridge shares screen time with Roseman in the film, and once you see it in person, you’ll understand why the crew picked it. Nothing about this one has been moved or rebuilt. The wood under your feet is the same wood that’s spanned this river for generations. Wikimedia Commons/Thebox1985
Imes Is the Oldest Bridge Still Standing
Imes Bridge holds the title of oldest among the six, first built back in 1870 at a different river crossing entirely. Workers moved it twice over the decades to keep it out of harm’s way, and today it sits just east of the small town of St. Charles. Finding it takes little effort compared to some of the others tucked down gravel roads. If you only have time for one or two stops on your drive, Imes gives you a straightforward introduction to what these bridges are all about. Wikimedia Commons/Thebox1985
Hogback Bridge Sits Near a Steep Ridge
Hogback Bridge takes its name from the steep ridge, or hogback, rising nearby, and you’ll cross the North River to reach it northwest of Winterset. Getting there means a couple of miles on gravel road, so give yourself extra time if you’re not used to driving unpaved country lanes. Photographers favor this spot for its quiet setting, away from the crowds that gather at Roseman. Among the six bridges, Hogback ranks as one of the taller and longer, and the payoff for the gravel drive shows the moment you round the bend. Shutterstock
Cutler-Donahoe Sits Inside Winterset City Park
If you want the easiest bridge to reach, head straight into Winterset City Park, where Cutler-Donahoe Bridge has stood since crews moved it there around 1970 to keep it from being lost. Two families once fought over naming rights, which is why the bridge carries a hyphenated name to this day. Kids can hit the playground and climb the park’s stone tower while you take in the bridge itself. For families road-tripping through the county, this makes a good first stop before you head out to the gravel roads. Wikimedia Commons/Teddi Yaeger
Every Bridge Wears the Same Red Coat
Nearly all the bridges in Madison County share the same red and white paint job, and there’s a reason beyond looks. The wood siding and roofs protect the timber trusses hidden inside each structure, and if you step inside, you can see the crisscross lattice work holding the whole thing up. Some bridges lean slightly when you view them from the side, though they stand straight when you look at them head-on.

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Each one runs a different length and follows its own design, so no two stops on your drive feel quite the same. Shutterstock
Mapping Out the Scenic Bridge Loop
You can reach all six bridges within a short drive of each other, though most of the route runs over gravel and dirt country roads rather than highways. A common loop takes you from Imes in the east out to Roseman in the southwest, cutting through the heart of the farmland along the way. Bring an actual map, since several bridges sit off the main roads where phone signal can get spotty. If you time your drive for fall, the foliage turns the whole loop into the best version of itself. Shutterstock
Walking, Biking and Taking It Slow
You can walk or bike across every one of the six bridges, and the wooden interiors paired with river views make for some of the best photos you’ll take all trip. Cedar Bridge’s park setting draws couples for weddings and families for picnics throughout the year. If you want the place to yourself, aim for early mornings or weekdays, when the crowds thin out considerably. Best of all, you won’t pay a cent to visit any of the six, whether you’re stopping at one or making a day of all of them. Shutterstock
The Festival That Started in 1970
Winterset hosts the Covered Bridge Festival every year on the second full weekend of October, a tradition that started back in 1970 and now pulls in large crowds from well beyond the county line. You’ll find crafts, food, live music, and old-time demonstrations spread through town during the weekend. The local Rotary Club runs bus tours out to several of the bridges, which takes the gravel-road guesswork out of the trip entirely. If you’d rather skip the driving and let someone else handle the route, this is the weekend to come. Shutterstock
Visit the Covered Bridges of Madison County
You can find the Covered Bridges of Madison County scattered around Winterset, Iowa, with all six open to the public year-round and free to visit. The most efficient way to see them is by car, following a loop that connects Imes, Cutler-Donahoe, Hogback, Cedar, Holliwell, and Roseman. Give yourself the better part of a day if you want to stop at each one. While you’re in town, know that Winterset is also the birthplace of actor John Wayne, which makes for an easy add-on stop. This article was created with AI assistance and human editing. Read more from this brand:

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