Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail

Dogs Unknown

Features Cave

You can begin the trail at either end. Parking is limited to 56 spots and no buses on the East side and just 20 spots and 2 bus spots on the West side. It's dark in the tunnel, bring a flashlight or headlamp. The temperature in the tunnel may very widely from the temperate outside the tunnel, plan accordingly.

The elevation gain on Hiking project is deceptive. This is a tunnel so the elevation shown in the center of the trail elevation graph isn't correct. This trail also does not intersect with the AT. Although on the map it looks like it does it actually travels many hundreds of feet below.

Opened in 2020 and one of the coolest hikes in the area, the Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail travels through an old rail tunnel. Access it from either end via approach trails and experience an entirely different hike from others you might find in the area.

It's a 4273 feet long tunnel traveling under the Blue Ridge Mountains. Designed by Claudius Crozet and opened in 1858 at the time it was the the longest rail tunnel in North America. The tunnel was used until 1944 when it was replaced with an adjacent tunnel to accommodate larger trains. The old tunnel was opened as a hiking trail in 2020. Visit blueridgetunnel.org for more information.