Sentinel Pine Covered Bridge – Located in New Hampshire’s Franconia Notch State Park is the picturesque Sentinel Pine Covered Bridge. Built by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests in 1939, the roughly 60 foot long covered bridge crosses the Pemigewasset River just above a natural basin known as "The Pool”.
The covered bridge is named for a massive old white pine tree that once stood on the cliff above the pool; it watched over the pool much like a sentinel, hence the name of the covered bridge. The old pine was around 175 feet tall with a circumference of 16 feet. After the tree fell during the September 1938 hurricane, 60 feet of the tree was cut off and used as the main support for the bridge.
The Pool, seen above, offers an excellent view of the covered bridge. This natural basin has been a tourist attraction since the 1800s. During the 1800s, Professor John Merrill, known as the “Philosopher of the Pool”, would row tourists around the pool in a homemade boat and talk about how the earth was hollow (Hollow Earth Theory).
Visitors to the Flume Gorge, open from mid-May to the end of October, can visit this unique covered bridge while exploring the gorge. From the Flume Gorge Visitor Center, follow the Wildwood Path through the glacier boulders to the bridge or, when at the end of the Flume Gorge, follow the Ridge Path, passing Liberty Gorge, down to the bridge. During the off-season, Flume Gorge is closed, and the boardwalk is removed, but the Sentinel Pine Bridge can still be visited. However, the area can be very icy, and traction will be needed.
For hours of operation, fees, and more information on visiting Flume Gorge, visit the New Hampshire State Parks website.
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© Erin Paul Donovan. All rights reserved | Historic Information Disclaimer | Sentinel Pine Bridge Prints
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Bibliography:
Kulik, Stephen, Salmansohn, Pete, Schmidt, Matthew, Welch, Heidi. The Audubon Society Field Guide to the Natural Places of the Northeast: Inland. New York, NY: Pantheon Books, 1984.
Owner of ScenicNH Photography LLC
Erin Paul is a professional photographer, writer, and author who specializes in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the New Hampshire White Mountains. His work is published worldwide, and publication credits include: Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacker Magazine, and The Wilderness Society.
ScenicNH Photography LLC
Specializing in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire, Erin Paul’s photography and writing focuses on the history of the White Mountains, and telling the story of abandoned places and forgotten historical sites.