Hannaway Covered Bridge - Drive-by-Bonus
All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination. ~Earl Nightingale
Clearport Road was once a busy road. There was a post office, festivals, a sawmill, a smith’s shop and 5 mills. Due to all the traffic the Hannaway Bridge was a necessity. A large window was added in the 1930s so that drivers could have a clear view of oncoming traffic.
The bridge was built in 1881 by James W. Buchanan and rebuilt in 1904. Over the years it has experienced several damaging events. One such event There have been 2 restorations as well. One in 1996 and another one in 2017.
Fairfield County Ohio Covered Bridge Trail
Ohio is known for its covered bridges. At one point in time, Fairfield County had 279 timber truss bridges. This was more than any other county. Sadly, most of these no longer exist.
It is estimated that there are still 125 wooded covered bridges left in the state. Many of them have been relocated to private properties. Others are cared for by local parks departments. Out of the 125, 17 of these are in Fairfield County.
The 17 bridges are:
Charles Holliday Bridge (Millersport Kiwanis Sweet Corn Festival grounds)
Estate Bridge (Still open to vehicular traffic)
George Hutchins Bridge (Alley Park)
Hannaway Bridge aka Hanaway Bridge (Two Glaciers Park)
Hartman #2 Bridge (Lockville Canal Park)
Hizey Bridge (Private Property)
John Bright #2 Bridge (Ohio University Lancaster)
Johnston Bridge (Two Glaciers Park)
Jon Raab Bridge (Private Property)
Mink Hollow Bridge (Arney Run Park)
R.F. Baker Bridge (Fairfield Union School)
Rock Mill Bridge (Rock Mill Park)
Shreyer Bridge (Private Property)
Zeller-Smith Bridge (Sycamore Creek Park)
A map to these bridges is provided by Visit Fairfield County, and can be found HERE.
If you are interested in visiting all the covered bridges in Fairfield County, keep an eye on the Visit Fairfield County website. Covered Bridge tours are very popular. There is usually a guided bus tour every year. We have also heard people talk about motorcycle tours and cyclist tours.
The Fairfield County Park District
The Fairfield County Park District currently has eight original bridges. Of those, 5 are open to the public.
The bridges operated by the Fairfield County Park District are:
Hannaway Covered Bridge aka Hanaway Covered Bridge (Open to the Public)
Hartman No. 2 Covered Bridge (Open to the Public)
Hummel Covered Bridge (Park is still under development as of 04/19/20)
Johnson Covered Bridge aka Johnston Covered Bridge (Open to the Public)
Mink Hollow Covered Bridge (Open to the Public)
Rock Mill Covered Bridge (Open to the Public)
Roley School Covered Bridge (Currently in Storage)
Shade Covered Bridge (Park is still under development as of April 2020)
Why Were Bridges Covered?
Covered bridges were designed with roofs for practical and structural purposes. Having a roof kept the elements off the deck and trusses. Snow, rain, sun and wind can cause damage to the wood. Having a protective covering allowed these bridges to last longer.
Another reason why bridges were covered was for strength. Adding a covering to the trusses makes the bridge stronger. This allowed for the designers and builders to erect longer bridges.
The Hannaway Covered Bridge in Fairfield County
The Hannaway Covered Bridge is also referred to as the Hanaway Covered Bridge and Clearport Covered Bridge.
The bridge is accessible to the public and is now part of Two Glaciers Park. When the park is finished you will be able to visit two of Fairfield County’s historical covered bridges. At this point in time you can only access Johnston Covered Bridge from the park entrance.
The Hanaway covered bridge is accessible from Clearport Road. There is a very small parking area that has room for one car. Two vehicles can fit if you park a car behind the other one. There is a spot across the road that you can tell people park. Again, it is only big enough for one car.
Two Glaciers Park
Two Glaciers Park consists of 316+ acres. The Johnson Covered Bridge is located at the entrance. The park is still under development, but visitors are welcome. Both bridges are open to public viewing. We cannot find any information on the future trail information. If the trail follows Clear Creek, it will measure approx. 1.4 miles one way.
What You Can Expect at the Hannaway Covered Bridge
Please note that trail rules and regulations can change at any time. The following information was in effect for Hannaway Covered Bridge as of April 2020.
There are no bathrooms.
Should be a great place for birding in Ohio. There is water, trees and open fields. The bridge also allows for coverage. This American Robin had made a nest on the rafters. We also spotted Red-winged Blackbirds, Turkey Vultures, an Eastern Phoebe and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Concealed carry is permitted.
Pets are permitted if they have a valid registration tag and are under physical control of the owner. Leash cannot be more than six feet long.
Very little elevation change.
Only enough parking for one car. Two can fit if one parks behind the other.
There are no picnic tables.
There are 2 benches near the entrance.
Most of the shade is provided by the covered bridge.
No shelter house.
At this time there are no trails. Two Glaciers Park is still under construction. When finished, the trail will connect the Johnston Covered Bridge to the Hannaway Covered Bridge.
There are no trashcans.
Clear Creek.
No ADA parking is available.
Special Features - Historical park.
