Logan Mills Covered Bridge

About Logan Mills Covered Bridge

Logan Mills Covered Bridge is the last remaining historic covered bridge in Clinton County, Pennsylvania. Built in 1874, this 55-foot Queenpost Truss bridge crosses Fishing Creek in Logan Township, nestled in the picturesque Sugar Valley. The bridge takes its name from the nearby Logan Mills gristmill, which remarkably still stands along the banks of Fishing Creek, making this one of the few covered bridges in Pennsylvania where the namesake mill remains intact.

History of Logan Mills Covered Bridge

Logan Mills Covered Bridge was built in 1874, though some evidence suggests a bridge may have existed at this location as early as 1847. According to Linn's History of Centre and Clinton Counties (1883), both the covered bridge and the adjacent gristmill were built by Colonel Anthony Kleckner, an early settler of Clinton County. Colonel Kleckner was a prominent figure who also had a gristmill, hotel, and home in Loganton, served as a Clinton County commissioner, and started the first school in Sugar Valley. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. A complete reconstruction was finished in January 2004, and the bridge remains in excellent condition today. The adjacent Logan Mills gristmill, built in 1840, was separately added to the National Register in 1980.

Architecture and Design

Logan Mills Covered Bridge features a Queenpost Truss design, measuring 55 feet long and 12 feet wide. Notably, the bridge has a shallow Queenpost design, meaning the supporting arch on the side only goes halfway up rather than extending to the top of the bridge. This shallow design is relatively uncommon and makes the bridge structurally less stable than full-height Queenpost bridges, though it has served the community well for 150 years. It is one of only 38 Queenpost-designed covered bridges remaining in Pennsylvania.

Visiting Logan Mills Covered Bridge

Logan Mills Covered Bridge is located in Sugar Valley, named for the many sugar maples that once filled the area. The valley is home to numerous Amish farms, creating a peaceful, pastoral setting. The bridge is located just a half mile off Route 880, only a few miles from Interstate 80. Coordinates are 41.005771, -77.386017. There is a large pull-off area near the bridge with room for several cars. While the beautiful wooded setting makes photography challenging due to surrounding private farmland, the combination of the covered bridge and adjacent historic gristmill creates a uniquely photogenic scene. Nearby attractions include the double waterfalls of Rosecrans and McElhattan Falls, the Piper Aviation Museum in Lock Haven, and the Choke and Puke Diner.