Built in 1901 by J.J. Daniels, Baker’s Camp Covered Bridge is an example of the Burr Arch Truss design. Daniels was a prolific covered bridge builder, and two of his other Putnam County bridges still stand – the Oakalla, just southwest of Greencastle, and the Dunbar, immediately west of Greencastle. An additional 16 of his bridges remain in use in Lawrence, Montgomery, Jackson, Parke, and Vermillion counties.
The original abutments of the Baker’s Camp Bridge were of cut stone and are still in place. The bridge is well maintained and one of three spanning Big Walnut Creek as it meanders alongside the Big Walnut Natural Area, a scenic 2,600-acre preserve among the rolling hills and steep ravines of Big Walnut Creek Valley. Its sister bridges are on the north side of State Road 36 – Rolling Stone Covered Bridge is about a 20-minute drive, and Pine Bluff Covered Bridge is about a half-hour north of Baker’s Camp.
Directions: Starting from the Putnam County Courthouse, head north onto US-231. Turn right onto US-36, just past downtown Bainbridge, IN. Then turn right onto North County Road 300 East. Stay on this road until you see the covered bridge.
