Henry David Thoreau Footbridge

The Henry David Thoreau Footbridge is a stunning bridge in Washington, Connecticut. It was built in 2015 and has quickly become a favorite spot for locals and tourists.

The bridge is a cross between a cable-stayed and a suspension bridge, with vertical suspender cables supporting the deck. These wires splay out from a single 35-foot-tall mast on one riverbank and sink into a steep hillside on the opposing riverside. The 5-foot-wide bridge deck twists in plan as it spans the river and reaches the bank near the nature trail. Around the bridge is the 650-acre Hidden Valley Preserve complete with multiple trails.

The bridge is named after the 19-century American naturalist, essayist, poet, and philosopher, Henry David Thoreau. He was a lover of all things relating to nature and is a leading environmentalist figure. Along the bridge, there are Thoreau quotes carved out of the steel railings. On the eastern end of the bridge is one of his most famous quotes, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” Gray Organschi Architecture were the designers of the bridge,

The Henry David Thoreau Footbridge is tri;y one of the most beautiful bridges in the state of Connecticut. Looking for more great spots to explore nearby? Check out the GoXplr Connecticut Map at goxplr.com/map/connecticut!