Wilderness Bridge Projects


Pemigewasset Wilderness bridge removal projects in the New Hampshire White Mountains. This work focuses on the two trail bridges along the Wilderness Trail that were removed in 2009 and 2010, and the trail bridge along the Thoreau Falls Trail that was dismantled in 2019. These bridges were located within a designated wilderness area; these areas are governed under the National Wilderness Preservation System and the Wilderness Act of 1964. Both have strict guidelines when it comes to man-made structures, and permanent improvements are not allowed within these areas. Under the Wilderness Act, these bridges were considered permanent man-made structures.


Thoreau Falls Trail Bridge, My Viewpoint

Tropical Storm Irene - New Hampshire,Thoreau Falls Trail
Thoreau Falls Trail Bridge, My Viewpoint - Like many in the New England outdoor community, I have been closely following the Thoreau Falls Trail bridge removal project. I have had interesting conversations as to why the bridge should be replaced, but nothing yet has changed my position, I fully support removing this bridge from the Pemigewasset Wilderness. I wrote about this proposed bridge removal....[Continue reading] ...

Thoreau Falls Trail Bridge Removal

Thoreau Falls Trail Bridge Removal
Thoreau Falls Trail, Bridge Removal - In August of 2011, Tropical Storm Irene caused massive erosion damage to the White Mountains trail system in New Hampshire. Some trails were damaged so badly that they have been permanently closed. And to this day trail crews are still repairing Irene damaged trails...[Continue reading] ...

November 2013, Pemi Wilderness Suspension Bridge Update

Pemigewasset Wilderness Bridge Removal
November 2013, Pemi Wilderness Suspension Bridge Removal Update - The remaining debris from the Pemi Wilderness suspension bridge removal project, along the East Branch of the Pemi, in the New Hampshire White Mountains appears to have been removed out of the designated wilderness area. The debris is now outside of the wilderness boundary along the Pemi East Side Trail. However, some debris does remain at the Black Brook bridge site, which was also removed during this project ...

December 2011, Pemi Wilderness Steel Bridge Update

Pemi Wilderness - Steel Bridge Update
December 2011, Pemi Wilderness Steel Bridge Removal Update - Along with the removal of the suspension bridge that crossed the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River along the Wilderness Trail in the Pemigewasset Wilderness, New Hampshire, a steel beam footbridge along the Wilderness Trail that crossed Black Brook was also removed ...

August 2011, Pemi Wilderness Suspension Bridge Update

Pemi Wilderness- Suspension Bridge Update
August 2011, Pemi Wilderness Suspension Bridge Removal Update - Since the last update in April 2011, a couple more volunteer groups supervised by Forest Service have ventured into the Pemigewasset Wilderness of New Hampshire to remove bridge debris from the 180 foot suspension bridge. Located along the Wilderness Trail, this bridge was dismantled in late 2009 because of safety issues and to date debris remains at the site ...

April 2011, Pemi Wilderness Suspension Bridge Update

Pemigewasset Wilderness -White Mountains, NH
April 2011, Pemi Wilderness Suspension Bridge Removal Update - The Plymouth State College Adventure Education Club spent a weekend in March 2011 removing roughly a 1000 lbs (+ / -) of the remaining bridge material from the 180 foot long suspension bridge site along the Wilderness Trail in the Pemigewasset Wilderness, New Hampshire ...

September 2009, Pemi Wilderness Suspension Bridge Update

Pemigewasset Wilderness - Suspension bridge
September 2009, Pemi Wilderness Suspension Bridge Removal Update - Quick update on the Pemigewasset Wilderness Bridge Removal, along the Wilderness Trail. It has been decided that both bridges will be removed. Forest Service plans on having the suspension bridge dismantled before December ...

June 2009, Pemigewasset Wilderness Bridge Removal Proposal

Pemigewasset Wilderness - Suspension bridge
June 2009, Pemi Wilderness Suspension Bridge Removal Proposal - Here in the White Mountains of New Hampshire there is a buzz about the removal of the 180 foot long suspension bridge, which crosses the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River in the Pemigewasset Wilderness. The suspension bridge is located along the Wilderness Trail about a half mile past its junction with the Bondcliff Trail ...