Blue Ridge Tunnel
A 1.3 km railway tunnel dug in the 1850s, now converted into a historic walking trail you can hike through.
Designed under the engineer Claudius Crozet and dug through the Blue Ridge by Irish immigrant labourers using hand tools and black powder, this railway tunnel opened in 1858 and was then the longest in the United States. It was converted into a trail in 2020. The full out-and-back route is about 7 km and flat and easy to walk. Inside the tunnel it is pitch-dark, damp and cold all year round, so bring a torch and a jacket. Entry is free, and there are car parks at both the east and west ends. The eastern entrance is near Afton. It can be paired with Humpback Rock and the southern entrance to Skyline Drive on the same day.
Opening hours
Sunrise to sunset
Nearby sights
- Skyline Drive South District, Shenandoah National Park
- Humpback Rock
- Wintergreen Resort
- King Family Vineyards
- Crabtree Falls
- University of Virginia Academical Village & Rotunda
- The Fralin Museum of Art
- Historic Downtown Mall