A Winter Visit to the Albany Covered Bridge in New Hampshire

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I took a winter drive along the Kancamagus Highway looking for places that were still open, and the Albany Covered Bridge was one of my favorite stops. It was an easy pull-off and a quick walk across the bridge before continuing the drive. Here’s what to expect if you plan to visit the Albany Covered Bridge in winter.

The Albany Covered Bridge in New Hampshire

The Albany Covered Bridge was built in the mid 1800s as a practical river crossing for the small town of Albany.

Like many covered bridges in New Hampshire, the roof and siding protect the wooden structure from weather and flooding.

Which is exactly why it has managed to last for so long.

This is what you see when you first walk up to the bridge surrounded by snow.

Today, the bridge sits just off the Kancamagus Highway and is one of the few remaining covered bridges in the White Mountains.

While it no longer carries regular traffic, it remains a well-preserved piece of local history and a popular stop for anyone driving through the area.

While I have visited the bridge in the fall, I have never seenit in the winter!

For all of my favorite fall spots, Best Places to See New Hampshire Fall Foliage in 2026.

My Visit to the Albany Covered Bridge in Winter

The parking lot was plowed, but it was a sheet of ice from storms that had passed through the night before.

We had microspikes with us, which I highly recommend for almost anything in New England during the winter.

The Albany Covered Bridge is one of my favorite winter stops along the Kancamagus Highway.

From there, we followed a short path through the trees toward the bridge, with snow covering everything around it.

Inside view of a wooden covered bridge showing exposed beams and a snow-dusted opening at the far end

You can walk through the covered bridge, which we did, and when you look down through the openings, you can see the Swift River frozen below.

It was beautiful to see the water moving beneath the ice.

Looking down at the Swift River, frozen in some spots and moving steadily through the ice.

Another favorite activity in winter is The Unique Experience Of Hiking The Flume Gorge Trail In Winter.

Once we reached the other side of the bridge, there was a small path that led down to the river.

We walked down and sat near the water, closed our eyes, and listened to it cascading over the icy rocks.

Viewing the Albany Covered Bridge from the benches near the Swift River

There are also a few side trails if you want to keep exploring, along with a sign for a cross-country ski trail.

It didn’t look groomed, but it seemed doable.

This short trail leads you toward the bridge and down to the river, and packed snow made it icy underfoot.

Before leaving, we stopped to read the informational signs about the history of the bridge and walked through it one more time before heading back to the car.

For all of my stops, read Driving the Kancamagus Highway in Winter: Everywhere I Stopped!