Willow Hill Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge in East Lampeter, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, close to Ronks. Its Burr arch-truss design and history make it a distinctive local stop for anyone interested in Lancaster County covered bridges.
- Location: East Lampeter, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
- From Ronks: About a 21-minute walk or 1 minute by car from a two-star motel in Ronks
- Bridge type: Burr arch-truss over a branch of Mill Creek
- Length: 72.5 feet
Where Willow Hill Covered Bridge is
The bridge stands in East Lampeter, in Lancaster County, at coordinates 40.024424, -76.201528. It is about a 21-minute walk or 1 minute by car from Scottish Inns Ronks.
HistoricBridges.org identifies it as bridge 38-36-43. Lancaster County names its covered bridges for the bodies of water they cross and numbers them from the county’s eastern end downstream toward the Susquehanna River.
What to know about the bridge
Willow Hill Covered Bridge is a 72.5-foot Burr arch-truss bridge over a branch of Mill Creek. Its wooden superstructure and deck are protected by a roof, a design that helped shield bridges from weather and extend their working life.
The bridge was completed on May 21, 1962, using parts from two former Lancaster County bridges: Miller’s Mill and Daniel Good’s Fording. Lancaster County’s covered bridges have a longer history, too: the county had well over 100 in the late nineteenth century and 50 by the mid-twentieth century. They connected farming communities across waterways that could otherwise be impassable.
Route and safe access
Plan your route to the bridge before setting out; the location is given as 40.024424, -76.201528. HistoricBridges.org describes the bridge as open to pedestrians, while Lancaster County says its covered bridges are open to public travel.
If you stop for photographs, be careful and stay aware of your surroundings, as Lancaster County advises. Check Lancaster County’s official site before you go for current guidance.
Photography and countryside etiquette
Take care when stopping to photograph the bridge, and remain alert to activity around you. The county’s guidance is especially relevant at bridges that remain open to public travel. Choose a safe place to pause rather than letting a photo distract you from the surroundings.
Add the stop to a Ronks outing
The bridge can fit into a Ronks-area outing focused on Lancaster County’s covered-bridge history, alongside things to do near Dutch Wonderland.
A visit to the Amish Farm and House is another way to plan a Ronks-area outing.
FAQs
How long is Willow Hill Covered Bridge?
HistoricBridges.org gives both its total length and span length as 72.5 feet.
What kind of bridge is it?
It is a Burr arch-truss bridge over a branch of Mill Creek.
Why does the bridge have a roof?
Covered-bridge roofs act as weather barriers, helping protect the wooden structure and extend the bridge’s life.