Bridges, Pemigewasset Wilderness – Since 2009, three bridges have been removed from the Pemigewasset Wilderness. At 45,000 acres, the Pemigewasset Wilderness is New Hampshire’s largest federally designated wilderness. For one reason or another, outdoor enthusiasts not familiar with the Pemigewasset Wilderness confuse these bridges. Two of the removed bridges crossed the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River, and one crossed Black Brook. The suspension bridge at the start of the Lincoln Woods Trail is not in the Pemigewasset Wilderness.
Federally designated wilderness areas (the Pemigewasset Wilderness) have the highest level of protection for federal lands; they are governed by the National Wilderness Preservation System and the Wilderness Act of 1964, which have very strict guidelines when it comes to human-made structures in designated wilderness areas. Because of these strict guidelines, when a structure in a designated wilderness gets to the point where it needs to be replaced, it is often dismantled without replacement.
Built in 1959-1960 and dismantled in 2009 without replacement, the first bridge removed was the 180-foot long suspension bridge that crossed the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River along the Wilderness Trail. It became a safety issue, and before it was dismantled, it had a two-person weight limit. This bridge was located just above the site of the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad’s trestle No. 17.
Built in the late 20th-century and dismantled in 2010, the second bridge removed, without replacement, was the Black Brook Bridge; this bridge crossed Black Brook (also known as Bear Brook) along the former Wilderness Trail. There was nothing wrong with this bridge, but it was part of the 180-foot long suspension bridge removal project. This bridge was located just above the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad’s trestle No. 16.
The third bridge removed was the 60-foot long Thoreau Falls Trail Bridge. Built between 1959-1961 and removed in 2018/2019 without replacement, this wooden bridge crossed the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River at North Fork junction. It was damaged during Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, and before it was dismantled, it had a one-person weight limit. This bridge was located just above the site of the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad’s North Fork Junction trestle.
Because only hand tools and non-motorized equipment can be used in federally designated wilderness areas, these bridges were dismantled by hand, and the bridge debris was removed from the wilderness by human and animal power. Of the three bridges, the Thoreau Falls Trail Bridge had the most character. This wooden bridge was a perfect example of how a bridge in a designated wilderness area should look; it blended in well with the surroundings.
More reading:
180-Foot Long Suspension Bridge, Pemigewasset Wilderness
Black Brook Bridge, Pemigewasset Wilderness
Thoreau Falls Trail Bridge, Pemigewasset Wilderness
Happy image making..
© Erin Paul Donovan. All rights reserved | Historic Information Disclaimer | White Mountains History
To license any of the photographs above for usage in print publications, click on the photograph.
Bibliography:
Donovan, Erin Paul. “Black Brook Bridge, Wilderness Trail.” ScenicNH Photography LLC, 02 Mar 2024, https://www.scenicnh.com/blog/2024/03/black-brook-bridge-wilderness-trail/.
Donovan, Erin Paul. “Suspension Bridge, Wilderness Trail.” ScenicNH Photography LLC, 20 Feb 2024, https://www.scenicnh.com/blog/2024/02/suspension-bridge-wilderness-trail/.
Donovan, Erin Paul. “Thoreau- Falls Trail Bridge Removal.” ScenicNH Photography LLC, 14 Jun 2015, https://www.scenicnh.com/blog/2015/06/thoreau-falls-trail-bridge-removal/.
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.