If you think bridges are just shortcuts across water, Iowa will change your mind.
These crossings hold local stories, trail magic, and small town pride that you can feel the moment your shoes touch the deck.
This guide gives you photo-friendly spans across the state, paired with directions and simple tips so you can show up ready to explore without guesswork.
You will get architecture, river views, quiet trails, and a few legends, all woven into daily life in Iowa communities.
Ready to see how design and history meet in one satisfying walk after another across Iowa?
1. High Trestle Trail Bridge, Madrid To Woodward
The first steps up to the High Trestle Trail Bridge always get me a little hyped.
You climb the path and those blue frames line up like someone planned a perfect photo just for you.
Out in the middle, the bridge floats over the Des Moines River with clear views both upriver and down.
The deck is wide, so you can slow down, stroll, and not feel like you are in anyone’s way.
If you like clean lines in your photos, every frame gives you a new angle to play with.
Twilight is wild here, the lights kick on, and suddenly it looks like you meant to be an artist all along.
Trail access near Madrid and Woodward makes it easy to park, walk out, and turn around if you only want the bridge.
I like to pause on the benches, catch my breath, and read the mining story behind the design.
If quiet sky, a steady breeze, and big open space sound good to you, this span really delivers that central Iowa calm.
Bring a light for the walk or ride back, and stay to the right so bikes can slide past without stress.
On clear nights you can look out, frame the river, and not even need to lean on the rail.
Punch 2335 Qf Lane, Madrid, Iowa, into your map and you will land close to the trail and an easy approach to the bridge.
2. Lovers Leap Swinging Bridge, Columbus Junction
I couldn’t help laughing at the little bounce under my feet for the first time at the Lovers Leap swinging bridge.
It is a classic suspension footbridge that sways just enough to feel fun, not scary.
The deck crosses a wooded ravine, and the walk in stays simple with steps, rails, and clear paths.
If you like quick stops that still feel like a real experience, this one fits into a half hour, maybe less.
Around town you will hear the Lovers Leap story, and the bridge has turned into a small point of pride for Columbus Junction.
I love how the cables, planks, and trees line up in photos, clean enough that you barely have to think about framing the shot.
Take your time in the middle, then wander the park trails for a couple more angles into the ravine.
Watch your footing after rain, since the wood can be slick when wet.
Don’t forget to plug 1000 South Second Street, Columbus Junction, Iowa, into your map to land at Swinging Bridge Park.
3. Bentonsport Bridge, Bentonsport
Ever wanted a whole river bridge to yourself?
The Bentonsport Bridge gives you that vibe, a quiet crossing in a tiny riverside village that feels just yours.
Its iron truss repeats strong lines, and I love how easy it is to grab photos that actually look intentional.
Because it is pedestrian only, the sound stays calm and you can stand in the center without dodging cars.
Plaques and local notes along the way explain how this crossing shaped the town, a nice reminder that bridges here connect people as much as banks.
If you think all old truss bridges look the same, the pattern work on this one might surprise you, it feels almost handmade.
Morning and late day light treat both the iron and the water kindly, and short paths along the shore give you a few extra angles.
Punch 21945 Hawk Drive, Bentonsport, Iowa, into your map and you will land at the edge of the village with a short stroll to the deck.
4. Roseman Covered Bridge, Winterset Area
Seen that red Iowa bridge in a movie or on a postcard?
Meeting the Roseman Covered Bridge in person feels like matching the picture, with the bright portal sitting over a quiet stretch of river.
The entrance frames your photos for you, and you can grab straight-on shots, side angles, and close timber details without much effort.
You reach it southwest of Winterset at 2451 Elderberry Avenue, where clear signs and a small parking area make it easy to stop and look around.
Inside, the roof bounces sound, so footsteps, quick comments, and a bit of wind all echo just enough to feel fun, not spooky.
Light flips fast between the bright portal and the darker middle, which is great if you like playing with contrast or just watching the mood change as you walk.
A lot of people link Roseman with other covered bridges nearby, and you might do the same once you see how simple the back roads make that loop.
5. Hogback Covered Bridge, Winterset Area
The first time I walked up to Hogback Covered Bridge, the red paint against the fields made it impossible to miss.
You go from open country road to a snug interior that turns the river into a neat rectangle at the far end.
The siding stands out cleanly, and the timbers have enough texture that your photos barely need any tweaking.
It sits northwest of Winterset, signed, quiet, and close enough to hear the water moving under the deck.
If you like easy loops, you can pair Hogback with Roseman and Holliwell and still keep the driving short and simple.
I usually grab a few shots from the bank first, then step into the portal for that straight-on view that just feels right.
Walk light on the deck, slide to the side when others pass, the closed space can feel crowded at times.
With that, don’t forget to pin 1879 Hogback Bridge Road, Winterset, Iowa, into your map for parking and a short stroll to the entrance.
6. Holliwell Covered Bridge, Winterset Area
Holliwell is the bridge that made me realize how long a covered span can feel in the best way.
You get a straight shot to the horizon, with the Middle River sitting under you and that red tunnel stretching ahead.
The tall portal and long roofline make it weirdly easy to nail a centered photo, even if you usually just point and hope.
I like to walk it once, then head down to the bank for a side view that shows how the bridge sits in the valley.
Parking is close, the area feels open, and there is enough room to play with angles without bumping into anyone.
Panels share a bit of history, and the spot doubles as a quick picnic break if you are stringing a few bridges together.
Photo fans love Holliwell because the proportions just work, for both phones and bigger cameras.
Set your map to 123 Holliwell Bridge Road, Winterset, Iowa, and you will only have a short walk from the pull off to the span.
7. Horn’s Ferry Bridge Site And Span, Lake Red Rock
I love spots where you can see the old and the new in the same glance, and the Horn’s Ferry bridge site is exactly that.
You get the original piers in the water and a modern pedestrian crossing just upstream, all sharing the same stretch of river.
Lake Red Rock opens everything up, wide sky, broad water, and a view that shifts every time the wind changes.
The path is smooth, and you can drop to the shore for photos that catch the old piers and the new span in one frame.
Birds work the basin all day, so if you like open landscapes more than tight crossings, this is a nice place to just stand and breathe.
Bring a layer, because wind off the water can feel way cooler than the forecast, and keep a steady pace on the exposed deck.
Late in the day, the light pulls warmer tones out of the concrete and makes the whole scene feel calm and pulled together.
Set your map to 1328 Marion County Highway G28, Knoxville, Iowa, and you will land close to the trail that leads straight to the bridge site.
8. Des Moines River Bridge At Keosauqua
Want cars, shops, and river views in one quick stop?
The Keosauqua Bridge lets you watch town traffic roll by while the Des Moines River just keeps doing its thing underneath.
Sidewalks give you a safe line across, so you can look up and down the water without playing dodge with vehicles.
Step off into the nearby riverside parks if you want a wider angle that shows the span and the town grid together.
Shops and small businesses sit close, and the curve of the road pulls your eye cleanly from one end of the bridge to the other.
On calm days the river throws back nice reflections, and I always end up waiting for that one still moment to grab a photo.
Use the crosswalks, watch for turning cars, and take most of your pictures from the park pull offs when you want more breathing room.
Early and late light make the concrete look softer and the trees along the bank pop just enough for simple, easy shots.
Punch 201 Main Street, Keosauqua, Iowa, into your map and you will land near the riverfront with clear viewpoints in just a short walk.
9. Iowa Women Of Achievement Bridge, Des Moines
Want a city walk that actually feels fun to look at?
This downtown Des Moines pedestrian bridge throws a bright arch over the river and gives you a smooth, easy stroll between banks.
The split deck separates directions, so you can walk without playing chicken with oncoming traffic on foot or bike.
I like stopping in the middle, turning toward the skyline, and seeing how clean the curve of the arch looks in photos.
At night the lights trace the lines of the bridge and give you a clear path, and in the daytime the white structure pops against the sky and water.
Stay to the right, give cyclists space, and grab the rail when you frame your shot so the skyline stays sharp.
Punch 1200 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa, into your map and you will end up close to the Principal Riverwalk and an easy walk right onto the bridge.
10. Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, Council Bluffs
This is the bridge where you can literally stand in two states at once and feel way too proud of it.
You walk out over the Missouri River, Iowa on one side, Nebraska on the other, and the curve of the deck makes the whole thing feel like a slow ride.
I always end up stopping halfway, checking the little state line markers, and doing the classic “one foot in each state” pose like it is my first time.
Views hit both ways, skyline one direction, big river the other, and it is shockingly easy to get photos that look like you planned them.
Evening is extra fun, lights come on, the towers glow, and the whole span feels like a casual, free attraction you sort of stumbled into.
Trails from Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park feed right onto the bridge, so you can turn a quick crossing into a full walk without thinking too hard about a route.
Stay to the right, give bikes space, and take your time in the center if the wind is up, it can make the whole deck feel a little alive.
For the Iowa side, use 4200 Avenue B, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and you will land near the park, the trails, and an easy stroll onto the bridge.
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