Jacks Mountain Covered Bridge

Jacks Mountain Covered Bridge is a covered structure that crosses Tom's Creek using horizontal wooden siding and a tin-covered gable roof. The structure employs a Burr truss system, which is a strong construction method that distributes weight evenly and allows the bridge to last a long time.

Joseph Smith designed and built this bridge in 1890 using the Burr truss method, which was a modern approach for its time. In 1980, it received recognition and was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The bridge belongs to a group of covered structures scattered across Adams County and its neighboring areas that represent how people once moved through the region. Walking across it shows the simple engineering approach that communities relied on for their daily travel needs.

Access to the bridge is along Legislative Route 01053 in Hamiltonban Township, southwest of Fairfield in Adams County, where parking space is available nearby. The best time to visit is late summer or early fall, when the weather is mild and the surrounding landscape looks especially pleasant.

The wooden structure still shows original engineering components from the 1800s, showing how builders crossed rivers without modern machinery. Many visitors miss the fact that the Burr truss method is particularly well preserved here, and you can clearly see the individual connected wooden pieces that hold the bridge together.

Location: Pennsylvania

GPS coordinates: 39.76690,-77.38690

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:02