A bridge that floats
In the village of Brookfield, the road crosses Sunset Lake on a bridge that floats directly on the water — the only floating bridge in New England, and one of very few in the country. Versions have spanned the pond since 1820, buoyed rather than piered because the lake is too deep for conventional footings.
The village
Brookfield is a tiny, roads-less-traveled village that time has treated gently — a general store, a historic inn and the pond at its center. Crossing the floating bridge by car or on foot is a genuinely odd, delightful experience, with the water lapping at deck level.
Around the pond
Sunset Lake is a fine spot for a swim or a paddle, and the surrounding hills are prime dirt-road cycling and foliage-driving country — quiet, scenic and utterly Vermont.
Visiting
Check locally on the bridge’s status before relying on a crossing, as it has periodically closed for reconstruction; either way, the village and pond are worth the back-road detour.
Bon à savoir
Questions fréquentes
What is the Brookfield Floating Bridge?
A bridge across Sunset Lake that floats on the water itself — the only floating bridge in New England, dating in some form to 1820.
Why does it float?
Sunset Lake is too deep for conventional piers, so the span is buoyed on the surface.
Can you swim there?
Yes — Sunset Lake is good for a swim or paddle, in a quiet back-road village setting.
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