Bridges

Covered Bridges

Ada Covered Bridge

The Ada Covered Bridge spans the Thornapple River, connecting the village of Ada to a public park on the other side. Rebuilt to its 1850s-era glory with the help of Ada's Amway Corporation.

Fallasburg Covered Bridge

One of only three covered bridges open to vehicle traffic in Michigan, this covered bridge spans 100 feet across the beautiful Flat River.

White's Covered Bridge

The bridge was the oldest covered bridge in Michigan, built in 1869. Located about 25 miles east of Grand Rapids. Unfortunately, it burned down in July 2013, though, a replica built in 2020 now stands in its place.

Bowen's Mill Bridge

A quaint scale replica of the covered bridge that once crossed the Thornapple River. A 17 foot water wheel and 1864 Grist Mill can be viewed from the bridge, which is about 30 miles south of Grand Rapids.

Urban Bridges

Gillett Bridge

The fourth longest concrete arch bridge in Michigan (474 feet) was built as an interurban railway over the Grand River in 1915. The Gillett Bridge is now a pedestrian walkway connecting two downtown landmarks, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and DeVos Place Convention Center and Performance Hall. Nowadays, the bridge is also occasionally used by meeting planners for a unique event option. 

Blue Bridge

One of the longest truss bridges in Michigan, this iconic bridge was originally a railroad crossing over the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids. It's been converted to a pedestrian walkway connecting downtown with the Grand Rapids Public Museum, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and Grand Valley State University.

Pearl Street Bridge

Michigan's third longest concrete arch bridge is actually not an arch bridge anymore – but it retains the historic arch facade. The Pearl Street Bridge spans the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids between the Amway Grand Plaza and Ah-Nab-Awen Park, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

Fulton Street Bridge

Michigan's second largest concrete arch bridge retains much of its historical integrity. Fulton Street Bridge runs parallel to downtown's Pearl Street Bridge over the Grand River between Pind Indian Cuisine and the downtown campus of Grand Valley State University.

Together, these four bridges lend a charming European feel to downtown, especially when they're lighted at night.

Sixth Street Bridge

This wrought-iron bridge was constructed in 1866 and is the longest pin-connected highway truss in Michigan. Spans 544 feet over the Grand River just north of downtown. HistoricBridges.org calls it "a model for how all bridges, especially historic bridges, should be cared for."

Rail-To-Trail Bridges

Kent Trails Bridge

Built in 1894, this 138-foot former railroad bridge over the Grand River connects Millennium Park to the southern suburbs of Grandville, Wyoming and Byron Center. It’s also called the Hopewell Indian Mounds Railroad Bridge for the adjacent historic mounds site (not open to the public).

North Park Bridge

One of the longest truss bridges ever built in Michigan (circa 1904) once connected the cities of Grand Rapids and Walker over the Grand River. A 116-foot section of that original bridge was relocated to Riverside Park in 1991, where it now crosses a canal on a bike/hike path.

Oxford Trail Bridge

This renovated railroad trestle spans 680 feet over the Grand River to connect Millennium Park and the Kent Trails Network to the city’s Black Hills Neighborhood (named for the numerous Black Walnut trees sprinkled throughout).