Need an excuse to take a delightful drive in the country? Go looking for covered bridges on a sunny weekend afternoon. If you want to revel in rolling green hills, dotted with old red barns and grazing horses, while on a quest for covered bridges, go to Frederick County, Md. There you can take a 33-mile covered bridge sightseeing loop that will take you to three such bridges. The loop begins just off of Route 15, north of Frederick, and ends at Thurmont, Md.

The three bridges, Utica Mills, Loy’s Station and Roddy Road, are listed on the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic places and are within 12 miles of one another. Once there were 52 of these bridges, but over time, fires, neglect, storms destroyed almost all of them. The three bridges are located on narrow country roads, surrounded by trees and providing vehicles a way across babbling creeks. The water that flows beneath each one is clear and sends forth that soothing sound of water lazily bumping against smooth rocks and then splashing around them on the way to greater bodies of water.

The first bridge on the loop is Utica Mills Covered Bridge. Turn right on Old Frederick Road from Route 15 north of Frederick and then turn left on Utica Road. Drive through the bridge and park on the other side in the small area provided, next to a farm field. This bridge is the longest of the three at 101 feet and crosses Fishing Creek. All three have different truss systems and are restricted to holding 30,000 pounds of weight. A flood swept away half of this bridge in 1889, when it spanned the Monocacy River. After the flood, the remainder was moved by wagon to Utica, about two and a half miles away, and reassembled over Fishing Creek.

To reach the next bridge, go back the way you came on Utica Road and make a left onto Old Frederick Road. Drive 4.1 miles to a stop sign where you will make a left onto Route 550. Drive .4 miles and make a right onto Old Frederick Road. Travel 2.1 miles and make a left into the parking lot of Loy’s Station Park. The second bridge is Loy’s Station Covered Bridge, which is located beside Loy’s Station Park. It was built in 1848 and destroyed by arson in 1991. The rebuilding of the bridge was completed in 1994, using the original hardware, braces and rafters. Not only will you enjoy the bridge but also the park, with its playground equipment and expanse of green field. Loy’s Station bridge is 90 feet long and spans Owens Creek. Take a picnic lunch and enjoy it beside the creek where you will find a table for your enjoyment.

To reach the third bridge, turn left from the parking lot of Loy’s Station Park and drive through the Loy’s Station bridge. Drive .3 miles to a stop sign and make a left onto Rocky Ridge Road. Drive 2.9 miles on Rocky Ridge Road and make a right on Apples Church Road in Thurmont, which is the next street after Orchard Drive. The Apple Church Road sign is difficult to see, so look closely. Go straight on this road for 1.6 miles to the bridge. The third bridge is Roddy Road Covered Bridge, which is located just north of Thurmont. The Roddy Road bridge is the smallest of the three bridges and is 45 feet long. It is a one-lane bridge as is Loy’s Station Covered Bridge. Roddy Road bridge spans Owen Creek and is near Roddy Road Park. Drive through the Roddy Road Covered Bridge to a parking lot on the left.

When you return to Frederick on Route 15, you might consider taking the opportunity to visit Cunningham Falls State Park, which is off Route 15. For more information, call 301-271-7574. In addition, the Pryor Orchard is nearby at 1384 1B Pryor Road just off Route 15. Stop by and pick up some apples and other produce. For more information, call 310-271-2693 or visit www.pryororchard.com.

For information on places to visit in Frederick County, Md., visit www.fredericktourism.org.

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