Ohio Covered Bridges - Smolen-Gulf

The Smolen-Gulf Bridge. 10/6/2025 dwm

The Smolen-Gulf covered bridge is the longest in the country and the fourth longest in the world.

 

At 613-feet long and 93-feet above the Ashtabula River valley, it's an impressive bridge, connecting the top of two hills.

 

Smolen-Gulf is a modern bridge, built to handle tractor-trailers at highway speeds. It honors the bridges before it that were usually one lane with signs cautioning drivers to cross their horse-pulled wagon at a walk.

 

The other "longest" covered bridge I've seen is the Medora Bridge in Jackson County, Indiana. Built in 1875, it has three spans over the East Fork of the White River measuring 431-feet, 10-inches from one bridge abutment to the other. The length of the Medora's roof is 461-feet and the bridge siding at floor (or deck) level is 459-feet. (photo below left)

 

The longest historic bridge. 6/30/2011 dwm

 Each of the Smolen-Gulf's sections are 152-feet. When you include the connections, it measures 613-feet from end to end.

 Because the Ohio bridge is a modern creation, it was built to handle two lanes of vehicular traffic and offer safe passage for walkers on either side of the bridge. It commands attention.

 

 This bridge was designed by John Smolen, Jr, who later designed the West Liberty bridge (the shortest covered bridge).

 

Looking up at Smolen-Gulf. 10/6/25 dwm

We started the visit from a parking lot and viewing area slightly elevated over the bridge, then drove down the steep and winding road into the valley where we walked under Smolen-Gulf and through the Riverview Covered Bridge which will be featured next week.

While the bridge is impressive from every angle, looking up at it from the valley provided a sense of scale you don't usually get with a covered bridge. 

 

Most bridges, including the Medora bridge in Jackson County Indiana, fit their environment. 

 

Modern methods of building and safety requirements mean things are over-built. In Ashtabula County's write-up on the bridge it boasts the bridge is designed to last 100 years.

 

The east-facing side of the S-G bridge. 10/6/25 dwm

 The Medora and many other historic bridges endured for more than 100 years, but I doubt anyone worried about that when they were under construction.  

 

 I walked half-way across the bridge and we drove across it as well. 

 

 I suspect we may have felt the way some of the people around in the mid-19th century felt when the first covered bridges were made. 

 

 While panel trucks don't fit most old bridges, the Smolen-Gulf bridge has plenty of clearance with 14.5 feet above the road.

 

The only other like this one that we've seen was the Captain Swift Bridge near Princeton, Illinois, but this one makes that seem small by comparison.

 

 Smolen-Gulf Bridge

 

Built: 2008 

 

Style: Modified Pratt Truss 

 

Length: 613-feet over the Ashtabula River and county park 

 

The Smolen-Gulf bridge from the park/viewing area. 10/6/2025 dwm

The Smolen-Gulf bridge near Ashtabula, Ohio. 10/6/2025 dwm

Smolen-Gulf bridge with two-lanes and a 5-foot wide boardwalk for walking. 10/6/2025 dwm

The S-G bridge walkway and below left is the Riverview bridge. 10/6/2025 dwm

No passing on the Smolen-Gulf bridge. 10/6/2025 dwm

The S-G bridge from Indian Trails Park. 10/6/2025 dwm

The Smolen-Gulf bridge from inside the Riverview bridge. 10/6/2025 dwm