Review: Schofield Ford Covered Bridge, Tyler State Park

Outdoor Appeal: 10

Setting: Short access trail to Tyler State Park via Schofield Ford Covered Bridge, crosses the Neshaminy Creek with views of the bridge downstream on either side

Explorable Op's: A ton. The trail to the bridge is only about a 1/4 long but the Covered Bridge Trail does lead into the rest of Tyler State Park. The bridge is only accessible for hiking, biking and horseback riding so exploring the bridge is safe.

Difficulty: Easy. The trail to the bridge is actually a gravel road so it's plenty wide and there are no rock or roots to contend with. From the parking area off of Swamp Road there are two options to access the Bridge. You can follow the sign that says "Covered Bridge Trail" and take a steep set of stairs down the from the parking area or you can walk back out of the parking area and follow the road down to your left. Both options are easy but the stairs could present a problem for small hikers who are not yet totally aware of the absolute power of gravity.

Facilities: Primitive. No restrooms, water fountains or any other modern convenience nearby. But the trail is short so you're never far from the car.

Review: There are lots of covered bridges in Bucks County. I think there are 12 total. Max loves to go through covered bridges when we're driving. But the problem with most of them is that the whole experience takes about 5 seconds from start to finish. The wonderful thing about Schofield Ford Covered Bridge is that you kids can explore the bridge for as long as they want. No vehicles are permitted on the bridge so it clear for inquiring minds to wander about. Kids can even walk up the sloping beams to the small porthole windows to look out onto the creek both up and down stream. There are areas on both sides of the bridge that are have more sparsely

placed tree growth so you can put some distance between you and the bridge to get a good look at it. On our visit we walked over the bridge and downstream to a rocky shore along the Neshaminy. The view of the bridge was great, there was a cliff embankment on the opposite shore and, perhaps most importantly for the kids, an abundant supply of flat skipping stones. We went in early spring so geese we flying low in gaggles of 3 to 5 up and down the creek which made for a good show. This is our favorite covered bridge to visit. The trail is a perfect length for kids under 5. The surprise of "finding" the bridge around the bend in the road is a real show stopper for this age group. If you have older kids the bridge will provides quick gratification for the beginning of a longer trek into Tyler State Park and a welcome and visible end to the journey upon returning.

Recommendations: This is a good place to have a camera. It's a quintessential Bucks County scene and whether you are a tourist or a local a picture of a covered bridge is quaint memoir of your time outdoors. The areas around the bridge have trees to provide shade but are open and grassy enough to spread a blanket and have a picnic. The area we explored downstream on the

Tyler Park side of the creek had a gradual slope into the water and the stones were small enough that they didn't cause too many stumbles while walking. So if the temperatures are warm enough you may want to wade into the creek a bit to explore or go fishing. Although water ways always pose a possible danger, this area was relatively safe for knee-high wading. Back at the parking area there are open fields that look to be vacant of human activity, with the exception dogs walking their owners, year round. It occurred to me that this might be an ideal place to fly a kite - especially if you are the one just learning or relearning how to fly. You should be free of audience here.