Cleveland. Blount County, off Ala. Hwy. 79. (205) 274-2153. The Swann Bridge, high above the rocky riverbed of the Black Warrior, is the longest covered bridge still in existence in the state. It spans 324 feet.

     Cullman. Cullman County north of U.S. Hwy. 278, 8 mi. west of I-65 on Co. Rd. 1043. (205) 734-0454. Site of the 1863 Battle of Hog Mountain, one of Alabama s longest covered truss bridges (1904) is found in a free park with picnic grounds.

     Equality. Coosa County off Ala. Hwy. 259 approximately 7 mi. north of Equality; turn left at Mt. Sinai Church and follow the road to the bridge. This modified Queenpost bridge was built in 1915-16 to span rocky Oakachoy Creek and give a direct route between the county seats of Coosa and Tallapoosa counties.

     Gadsden. Etowah County in Noccalula Falls Park. (205) 549-4663. Park open all year 8 a.m. to sunset. Admission charged to the park. Gadsden's outstanding recreational park has been home to this carefully-restored covered bridge since 1967. The bridge was hauled here piece by piece and faithfully reconstructed in its pioneer setting.

     Livingston. Sumter County, Livingston University Campus. (205) 652-9661. West Alabama's only remaining covered bridge stands on the campus of Livingston University. It was built over the Sucarnochee River prior to the Civil War of handhewn heartpine timbers joined with wooden pegs. Moved to its present site in 1969.

     Mentone. DeKalb County, access to Shady Grove Dude Ranch at Cloudmont Ski and Golf Resort, atop Lookout Mountain. (205) 634-4344. This 90-foot covered bridge, formerly located over a dry creek near Lincoln, Alabama, was moved in 1972 and restored over Little River at the site known during the Civil War as Old Union Crossing.

     Oneonta. Blount County, off U.S. Hwy. 231, three miles northwest of Oneonta. (205) 274-2153. Easley spans Dub Branch in rural Blount County. Tin-covered and in good repair, all 96 feet of its single span are preserved for backwoods travelers.

     Oneonta. Blount County, off Alabama 75 north of Oneonta. (205) 274-2153. Towering 70 feet above the Black Warrior River, this 220-foot-long bridge is the highest covered bridge above water in the United States. Nature trails and a roadside park border the crossing.

     This covered bridge, which was located in Blount County, is no longer standing. I had the privledge to visit this bridge, drive across it, park my vehicle, and walk around it's environment. I have not been there since it's destruction by an arsenist.

     Salem. Lee County, 8.7 miles east of Opelika on U.S. Hwy. 280/431 from I-85. Turn left on Wacoochee School Rd. Bridge is 1.3 mi. farther on the rgt. (334) 887-8747. Located on a rural road near the Salem community, this Towntruss bridge features oak pegs which join latticework, roof trusses, and the bridge's substructure.

     Oxford. Calhoun County, Oxford Lake, southwest of Anniston between U.S. Hwy. 78 & I-20. (205) 831-2660. In danger of being destroyed, this bridge was moved to the tranquil setting of the Oxford Lake and Civic Center and restored to its original state in 1990.

     Sterrett. Shelby County, Twin Pines Road off Ala. Hwy. 45. (205) 672-7575. One of Alabama's newest "old" covered bridges was built in 1988. It is nestled among the wooded beauty of the Twin Pines Conference Center Resort and spans the spillway of beautiful Lake Lauralee. Century-old wood from a barn in Chance, Alabama, was used to enhance the exterior of the 50-foot bridge.

     Sterrett. Shelby County, northeast of Sterrett. (205) 426-4911. A newly-constructed covered bridge of traditional design. Built to give access to development around Pumpkin Hollow Lake. Bridge is 100 feet long, 16 feet wide and 14 feet high.

     Talladega. Talladega County, in the Kymulga community north of Childersburg. (205) 378-7436 or (205) 362-9075. The 105-foot 1860s covered bridge spans the scenic Talladega Creek and lies adjacent to the Kymulga Grist Mill. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

     Talladega. Talladega County, six miles southeast of Talladega, east of Alabama 77 near Waldo. (205) 362-9075. Mentioned in a survey which dates from the 1850s, the Waldo Covered Bridge is one of Alabamas oldest. It is 115 feet long, 10 feet wide, and of a Howe and Queenpost combination design.