An 1850’s Railroad Tunnel Trail - The Blue Ridge Tunnel
This tunnel was built during the construction of the Blue Ridge Railroad in the 1850’s. This is the longest of four tunnels engineered by Claudius Crozet to cross the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, and it was the longest tunnel in the US at the time of its completion. Some enslaved laborers, along with Irish immigrants, worked under Crozet’s supervision worked on this project. The Irish were paid $1-2 a day and the enslaved laborers were rented from their owners who were grateful for the extra income. The tunnel was used by the Virginia Central / Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad until it was abandoned and replaced by a new tunnel in 1944.
On September 21, 2020, the tunnel was opened with an access trail after a decade of stabilization and restoration work.
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What you should know:
Claudius Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail system is open from sunrise to sunset.
There are other walking trails in addition to the actual tunnel.
There is parking at both locations but may fill up quickly, especially on the weekend.
There are portable toilets near the parking area / entrance.
There is no admission fee.
There is NO lighting in the tunnel, so make sure to bring headlamps and/or flashlights.
Location: 215 Afton Depot Lane in Afton, VA, and 483 Three Notched Hwy, Waynesboro, VA.
For more information: Blue Ridge Tunnel