The old single-lane, wood-planked Burnt Mill Bridge was built around 1911 to carry Honey Creek Loop Road across Clear Fork in what is now the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. The bridge is a combination of a Pratt through-truss span on the east end and a half-hip Pratt pony-truss on the west end with a large concrete pier in Clear Fork.
The old bridge was replaced in 2006 with a new two-lane concrete girder bridge with a concrete deck. This seems a bit of an overkill for a gravel road, but it is a much needed improvement to the bridge. Adjacent to the west end of the bridge is a large gravel parking area, picnic tables and vault toilets. This is one of the more popular river access points in the south end of the park. It also provides access to a couple of trails in the area. We stopped in late November 2013 to see the old bridge. Earthen berms at each end prohibit vehicle use of the old bridge and the rotting planks kept me from walking out on it.
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| Picnic tables and trailhead kiosk |
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| The west end of the old Burnt Mill Bridge |
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| The old bridge from the kayak launching area |
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| Both spans of the old Burnt Mill Bridge |
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| The pony truss span of the old Burnt Mill Bridge |
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| The east end of the old Burnt Mill Bridge |
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| Clear Fork downstream of the new bridge |
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| The center pier of the new Burnt Mill Bridge |
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| Honey Creek Loop Road reverts to gravel just beyond the new bridge |
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| The old and the new |
There is no entrance fee at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.
The park website is http://www.nps.gov/biso/index.htm.
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