Gold Leaves & Old Timber: The Covered Bridges of the Brandywine Valley
For travelers seeking unique fall foliage views, Wilmington’s covered bridges offer a rare glimpse into 19th-century engineering and the region’s scenic local history.
It’s peak leaf-peeping season, and covered bridges are one of the best ways to take in autumn scenery. By mid-October, the winding back roads along Red Clay Creek and the Brandywine turn vibrant shades of gold and rust. And did you know that all three of Delaware’s remaining covered bridges—including the historic Ashland Bridge and the 154-foot Smith’s Bridge—sit within a 12-mile radius?
Delaware once had dozens of covered bridges spanning its waterways, but only three survived floods, fires and modern infrastructure. Between the covered bridges, travelers can visit some of Delaware’s stunning parks for picnics and/or hiking, grab coffee at locally renowned cafes, or explore some of Wilmington’s tax-free shopping centers.
The Perfect Autumn Loop: Three Covered Bridges, Twelve Miles, and Ultimate Fall Vibes
Start at HOTEL DU PONT in downtown Wilmington. This 1913 landmark has hosted JFK, Katherine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Duke Ellington and more. It is also known for its opulent decor like hand-carved woodwork, gold leaf, bronze balustrades and European chandeliers. Visitors can grab macarons and La Colombe coffee from newly opened Spark’d, the hotel bake shop’s outpost, to begin their day.
Travelers who love to shop should check out the Greenville Crossing Shopping Center and Powder Mill Square for upscale shopping and dining. If interested in picnicking, provisions can be found at Janssen’s Fine Foods before heading into the countryside.
First up along the route is Valley Garden Park, a hidden picnic spot with paved trails, a shallow river and miniature waterfalls. Even most Delawareans don’t know it.
Bridge #1: Ashland Covered Bridge, built in 1860. This is Delaware’s oldest original covered bridge, a one-lane lattice truss span on the Red Clay Creek Scenic Byway.
The next nature stop is Ashland Nature Center. Ashland Nature Center boasts 130 acres of woodlands, meadows and marsh along the scenic Red Clay Creek and offers a variety of outdoor recreation and environmental education experiences. Visitors can explore approximately four miles of self-guided trails. Mt. Cuba Center, voted USA Today’s Best Botanical Garden in 2020, is another incredible pitstop for garden and flower lovers of all ages.
Bridge #2: Wooddale Covered Bridge. Originally built in 1850, this covered bridge was destroyed in 2003 by a storm and then rebuilt. Nearby, the historic village of Wooddale once housed an iron works, post office and train station.
From here, travelers can take a detour to Centreville and refuel at Centreville Café or grab a pint and mushroom soup at Buckley’s Tavern, a longtime local haunt in this one-road historic village.
Bridge #3: Smith’s Bridge, built in 1839. Spanning the Brandywine Creek near the Pennsylvania line, this bridge offers views of the du Pont family’s Granogue estate and its stone water tower along the approach.
More to See and Do in the Area, from Hiking to History
If looking for even more foliage, roadtrippers can take another stop at Beaver Valley, First State National Historical Park. This park is perfect for rugged, uncrowded creekside hiking and is one of the valley’s best-kept secrets.
If passing through in the fall with kids, Ramsey’s Farm offers traditional fall fun like a pumpkin patch, hayrides and a corn maze.
More hiking: Known for its meadowland and blue gneiss stone walls built in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Brandywine Creek State Park sits within northern Delaware’s piedmont region with more than 14 miles of trails and a remnant old-growth forest.
Next, visitors must check out Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. The former home of Henry Francis du Pont (1880–1969), a renowned antiques collector and horticulturist, it houses one of the most important collections of Americana in the U.S. Its grounds offer fabulous displays of flora and fauna throughout the year.
Overnight option at The Inn at Montchanin Village and Spa: The former workers’ quarters for the DuPont gunpowder mills, this luxury estate is a fabulous place to spend a night or weekend if travelers want to stretch their adventure out over a couple of days.
Browse all the top recommended hotels in the Brandywine Valley here.
