Wooden Bridges & History Tour - Columbia County Tourism.com!

Tour directions start at the intersection of US Highway 151 and State Hwy 16. Once on Hwy 16 proceed to the northwest (toward Fall River). Look across divided highway and you will see a statue of Christopher Columbus blessing the newly discovered Americas and claiming the land for Spain.

Go about two miles and you will pass the Village of Fall River to your north (right) at the intersection of County Road D. If you need gasoline or something to eat, Fall River is a handy stop. There is even a furniture restoration business on main street.

Continue north (straight) on Hwy 16. Have you ever seen a round barn? Watch to your right. In about a mile (just before the junction with Hwy 146) look to the pastures on the south side (your left) of Hwy 16 for a herd of Scottish Highland Cattle.

Continue straight on Hwy 16 for half a mile to the intersection of Seier Road (at the Casino sign). Turn north (right) on Seier Road and continue for a mile to Bridge Number 1. This wooden bridge crosses over the tracks owned and operated by the Canadian Pacific Railroad. The wooden deck on this bridge was replaced years ago with a steel deck and sides, but the bottom structure and supports are still wood.

Immediately after crossing the bridge turn east (right) onto Fields Road. Within one-half mile you will intersect with State Hwy 146.

Turn north (left) onto Hwy 146. Continue straight on this picturesque and curvy highway (45-50 mph is a nice speed). You will pass through wetlands, watch for cranes and deer. Watch for an elk farm on the west (left) side of the highway.

Continue north (straight) on Hwy 146. Watch for the intersection of County Road A, Hwy 146 makes a sharp (25 mph) first half of an "S" Curve here. Please slow down. Continue to follow Hwy 146 on and through the S Curve. Continue north to Cambria.

You will enter Cambria on Hwy 146 and pass two agri-buisinesses. Didion Milling makes famine relief products from locally grown corn for worldwide distribution to poor countries. Seneca Foods processes and cans vegetables for sale right here in Wisconsin and worldwide. Follow Hwy 146 to the Stop Sign. Turn north (right) and proceed slowly down the hill to the center of town at the intersection with County Road P (Edgewater Street). A few feet before this intersection is a small parking lot to your left. If you wish to take a break, this is Cambria's main street. Next to the parking lot is Pride Originals, a custom furniture maker of Amish descent with exquisite pieces and offerings in his small showroom. Also on Edgewater street are two restaurants if you are looking for a bite to eat.

Back in the Family vehicle? Continue to follow Hwy 146 north across the small damn and up the hill. Follow Hwy 146 through another S Curve to the right at the top of the hill. Need gasoline or refreshments, ice cream cones, snacks, homemade brats...then stop at the convenience station at the top of the hill. Continue north on Hwy 46 out of Cambria through another S Curve. Follow Hwy 146 for another mile to the end of Hwy 146 at the intersection with State Hwy 33.

Turn west (left) onto Hwy 33 and follow Hwy 33 for two and a quarter miles to the second intersection with County Trunk H (drive past the first intersection with "H").

Turn north (right) onto County Trunk H. Please note: from this point on you are in the Amish Community. Please drive with care and defensively. Watch for slow horse drawn vehicles and pedestrians on and near the roads. Slow down when meeting, overtaking and passing the buggies. Please do not take pictures of the Amish people themselves, they find this offensive, but you may certainly take pictures of the buggies. Proceed north on County Trk H for about four miles to Kowald Road (if you cross the railroad tracks you have gone to far...turn around).

Turn east (right) onto Kowald Road. The first place on the left is an Amish family that operates a custom furniture business (closed Thursdays and Sundays). Continue east (straight) on Kowald Road a half mile to Bridge Number 2, Graffiti Bridge, so named because of all the graffiti painted on it.

A Word of Caution: Most of the graffiti is harmless, however there are a few words and phrases that may be offensive. Parents may wish to distract children from the graffiti by honking the horn going through the bridge and listening for an echo.

This bridge is one of two cement arch bridges that support the tracks through this wetlands area. As you look at the railroad tracks above on the ridge, keep in mind this dirt was hauled in by horse and train cars to raise the tracks to that height...and this ridge is half a mile long! These tracks are owned by the Union Pacific Railroad.

Follow Kowald Road for a few hundred feet to Bridge Number 3, another cement arch bridge. This bridge supports the railroad tracks across the Fox River. This bridge may be difficult to see if hidden by trees, but look to your right as you cross the small bridge over the river. You are at the headwaters of the Fox River and what you cross is hardly bigger than a small stream. Yet this is the start of one of the most historic rivers in the Midwest. The Fox is one of only two "north-flowing" rivers in Wisconsin. What you see here grows into a great river that has spawned industry and commerce in our state from Portage to the Port of Green Bay. From this small beginning, the Fox creates Buffalo Lake, Lake Puckaway, Lake Butte de Morts and Lake Winnebago, the largest lake in Wisconsin, and finally empties into Lake Michigan. It is on this river that the explorers Joliet and Father Marquette first traveled into Wisconsin from Green Bay, found the portage between the Fox River and the Wisconsin River, and traveled to the Mississippi River which opened part of our nation for settlement by the French and English.

Continue straight east to the stop sign at Inglehart Road. Turn south (right) onto Inglehart Road and drive up the hill. Here is a small white country church used by local farm families with an adjoining cemetery. The small white hall building next to the church used to be a one-room country school house which sat across the railroad tracks and was moved across Bridge Number 4 by local farmers using wagons pulled by horses when the school closed. The deck on Bridge Number 4 was black-topped several years ago to smooth out the crossing because the wooden deck was becoming quite rough.

On the north side of the bridge (same side as the church) is Schmidt Road to the east. Turn east (left) onto Schmidt Road and proceed slowly down a peaceful, tree covered country road. Watch for grazing cattle, a few horses and even some Guinea Hens and chickens in the ditch or on the road. Please drive slowly or some feathers may fly! At the end of Schmidt Road you will intersect with County Road M.

Turn south (right) onto County M and proceed about a mile to Bridge Number 5. Bridge 5 is the longest bridge on the tour and still has its plank decking. 5 mph is the posted crossing speed. When you cross this bridge you will hear the decking clatter beneath your wheels! Don't worry, usually the bridge keeps standing until you get across.

Immediately after crossing the bridge you stop at the intersection of County Trunk E. The house across the road to your left used to be another country school house. Turn east (left) onto County E and cautiously approach the RR Crossing. Stop for Red Flashing Lights at the crossing...the Union Pacific trains are fast on these tracks. Upon crossing the tracks look to your left and see the wooden bridge you just crossed over.

Continue east (straight) on County E for one mile to the intersection with Sterk Road. (If you reach County Trunk EF you went to far, turn around). Turn south (right) on Sterk Road. After your first curve, look right, you will see an octagon home. Continue south on Sterk Road to Bridge Number 6. This bridge also has its wooden planking. Slow down...this one has quite a hump...and listen to the boards as you cross.

Continue south on Sterk Road for half a mile to the intersection with Friesland Road. Turn east (left) onto Friesland Road. Continue a quarter mile to Friesland.

Friesland is a quiet rural hamlet and offers you an opportunity to take a break in the small park in the center of town. Park your vehicle and relax under the covered rest area on one of the many picnic tables. Across the street is a historic grocery store, which still has its original wood slat floor, where you can get made to order deli sandwiches, snacks and soda for you to purchase and enjoy as a picnic lunch in the park. Stop in at Floral Art & Gifts for unusual gifts or a flower! (Friesland businesses are closed on Sundays.)

When it is time to leave Friesland...proceed south on County Trunk EF toward State Hwy 33. You will drive past the cemetery and the Post Office in the first block. (If you cross the railroad tracks on EF you are going the wrong way. Turn around and go the other way. If you cross other railroad tracks at a lumber yard and a parking lot full of semi-trailers, turn around, go back to the stop sign and turn left.)

Continue south on EF until you reach the stop sign at Hwy 33. Watch for traffic from the west coming over the hill. Turn east (left) onto Hwy 33. Follow Hwy 33 three miles to the stop signs at State Hwy 73.

Turn south (right) onto Hwy 73 and proceed south one mile into the Village of Randolph. There are several places to eat and gas-up in town. In the center of town just before the railroad crossing, turn east (left) onto Stark Street (the main street) and you will find several stores and shops featuring very interesting and unique merchandise for your shopping pleasure. Several places to get food. Park and browse. A large yellow and black painted, historic department store, which still has its original wooden balcony and wooden lathe floors, is like stepping back a hundred years and worth the stop.

Follow Stark Street back to Hwy 73. Turn south (left) and cross the railroad tracks. Continue south and you will pass a large seed company. If you need seeds or plants...stop in. Continue south on Hwy 73 and experience another S Curve. Gas and groceries here. Finish the S Curve and head south on Hwy 73. You will cross another railroad bridge, but this one is modern, at South Randolph. A supper club here if you have been saving your appetite all day.

Continue south on Hwy 73 a few more miles to a cross roads called Lost Lake. Here is an old church being converted into a historical museum. Cannot guarantee if the museum is open. Also a tavern with restaurant.

Continue south (straight) on Hwy 73. After you cross County Trunk D...and about a mile later cross Lienke Road...start watching for a township road to the west (right) called "Old 73" or "Old 73 Road".

Turn west (right) onto Old 73 Road and continue south for about half a mile. Here you will cross Bridge Number 7, an old steel bridge over the Crawfish River. The bridge is rusty but still picturesque. Cross the bridge and almost immediately you will cross a newer bridge over State Hwy 151. Continue into the City of Columbus. You will pass a cemetery and trailer court. You then cross over a brand new cement bridge that just this year replaced another wooden old wooden railroad bridge. Continue to the stop sign at Hwy 16 & 60.

Your Choice: You may either turn left or right.

Right on Hwy 16 & 60 takes you back to US Hwy 151 and past several restaurants...fast food and family...and a couple of convenience stations.

Left on Hwy 16 & 60 takes you to the historic downtown of Columbus where you will find shops and several places to eat...even a night club. You way out of town toward Madison is to turn west at the traffic lights onto Hwy 73 & City Hwy 151 and travel about two miles out of the city to the US Hwy 151 expressway (if you cross over railroad tracks again, you are going north toward Beaver Dam). If you do cross the railroad tracks you will see an operating old-fashioned root beer stand with carhops.

We hope you enjoyed your day with us in Columbia County and we invite you to return often. If you have comments about our "Bridges of Columbia County Road Tour" we would love to hear from you.

Contact us at Tours@ColumbiaCountyTourism.com