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    Recommended Reviews - Blue Ridge Tunnel

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    Absolutely epic. Walk in the dark at least part of the time without lights and it's totally safe to do so as the surface when I was there was smooth. It's a hypnotic spot. A true nugget you won't regret. And you'll get your 8-10,000 steps along the way.

    View leaving the tunnel
    David H.

    This trail/tunnel is a must see if you're in the area. We started at the East trailhead and were able to get a parking spot on a Friday around 2pm. There's a fairly level walk to the tunnel itself, which is nearly a mile long. Definitely bring your flashlight or it will get pitch dark inside and you'll have to turn back. It's kinda deceiving since you'll see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel and think you're almost at the end way before you're really almost done. The ground is mostly level inside but there are some ridges and a few mini-craters to watch your footing. Also, the tunnel is 55-60 degrees even when it's much warmer outside so be ready for that. This isn't a hard core long Appalachian Trail style hike by any means but it's unique and something to check out if you're in the area.

    Blue Ridge Tunnel, Afton VA
    Bruce K.

    I couldn't figure out where the East Trailhead was located but I sure found the signage for the West Trailhead at 483 Three Notched Mountain Hwy, Waynesboro, VA 22980. A nice parking area loop where I left the car and followed the path. It was about a mile and a half (?) of mostly smooth walkway though some of the grading could be challenging. I'd put it at a 1 or 2 on the difficulty scale - easy enough for kids and pushing a wheelchair but definitely not for someone with walking issues. Other than that, the trail is lovely and it was busy enough with couples, kids and even grandparents walking along. Only one or two benches and no water sources, but definitely doable for someone as out-of-shape as yours truly. The trail goes right to the tunnel entrance and if you're lucky, there won't be a crowd of people in the way of getting a few amazing pictures of this 4273 foot long tunnel. Its dark and cold and humid, but you can see the light at the far end and that was very cool. There's some history here but no captions of explanations on site. In the mid 19-th century, the Virginia Central Railway wanted to connect to the Shenandoah Valley. To do that, they needed to build a rail line across the Blue Ridge Mountains. And so France-born Claudius Crozet who had been an engineer in Napoleon's army but was now the chief engineer on the Blue Ridge Mountain railroad project and tasked with establishing a rail crossing through the mountains. His plan for achieving this involved building four tunnels, with the last of the four being the longest and most challenging by far. At the time of its completion in 1858, it was the longest tunnel in the United States. It's worth pointing out that the project predated the invention of dynamite, so the work was done with hand tools and black powder, making it exceedingly slow and dangerous. This Blue Ridge Tunnel was used until 1944, when it was replaced by an adjacent parallel tunnel that was able to accommodate larger freight trains. As this new tunnel became known as the Blue Ridge Tunnel, the original was renamed the Crozet Tunnel in honor of the great engineer. So technically, THIS business on Yelp should be renamed Crozet Tunnel. [Review 15103 overall, 605 of 2021, number 1318 in Virginia.]

    Beth K.

    It's a nice but dark (obviously... it's a tunnel). The floor is a little uneven and water dripping down. The tunnel is decently long and the walk from the parking lot is decently long as well. Parking is okay- could use more spots on busy days. Pet friendly.

    Tunnel walk
    Albert D.

    Nice trail to do real good walk gets nice and cool in the tunnel It's a must if you are in the area

    Matthew F.

    The history is neat but let's face it - there's only so much to see. The total hike to and from the parking lot is around 3 miles, of which around 2 miles is underground. The parking lot is on the smaller side so that can be an issue. The tunnel is cold, so be prepared for that. Your cellphone flashlight will do, but bring something brighter if you actually want to look around. You walk in, you go a mile, you come out to the other side, and you go back. That's about it.

    Matt A.

    Neat little trail through the tunnel that took over 9 years to make. We went when it was 20 degrees outside so obviously a little cold in the middle but otherwise a cool walk through history. The tunnel is about .5 mile from the parking lot and the trail through the tunnel is another .5- 1 mile long. I'm not exactly sure the distance but probably 3 miles round trip unless you decide to walk to the other parking lot. Overall the trail is pretty flat and it gets pitch black inside so I would bring a flashlight or some sort of light. This is also close to Veritas winery and Blue Mts. Brewery if you want drinks after (both are very good). Overall would recommend this just because not everyday you can walk through a tunnel through a mountain. There are also lots of signs along the trail with bits of history and information on the tunnel.

    East side entrance
    John M.

    Beautiful March day, so we decided to go for a hike (actually walk) at the Blue Ridge tunnel. We started on the Afton side and walked over to the Waynesboro side. I wouldn't consider it a hike. It was all relatively flat and gravel covered. There were plenty of dogs on the walk as well as strollers. You will need a flashlight or headlamp. You can use your cell phone flashlight, but doesn't put off a great light. Be prepared for it to be wet. It hadn't rained in a few days and there were still plenty of water on the path and coming down into the tunnel. If you have shoes that you don't want to get dirty, I wouldn't wear them on this walk. Side note: easy trip down to Rt 151 to grab a drink!

    Tunnel Information

    Highly recommend this trail. It's about 0.6 miles from the parking lot to the entrance to the tunnel. Even if you don't want to walk the 1-mile tunnel (definitely bring a flashlight and a jacket!), it's worth the walk to see the entrance. Kids could make the tunnel walk if they aren't afraid of the dark

    West entrance. You can see the light from the other end.

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    Ask the Community - Blue Ridge Tunnel

    Review Highlights - Blue Ridge Tunnel

    We started at the East trailhead and were able to get a parking spot on a Friday around 2pm.

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    Scenic Overview

    Scenic Overview

    4.7(3 reviews)
    1.0 km

    When you time the stop just right it's a 5 star experience. So today was perfect Fall foliage with…read moreblue skies and large puffy clouds which was ideal for viewing and photography. Help out a new friend and offer to take photos too! There are trash cans use them!

    This Scenic Overview is only accessible via Interstate 64 East and is available to cars only; no…read moretrucks allowed. This view is located in Afton, VA just after exit 99. The road that you will see below is the Rockfish Gap Turnpike, which is accessible at exit 99 on Interstate 64. My visit here was on the afternoon of July 28, 2019. My first attempt at stopping here was in 2016, however, due to the fog, we ended up not stopping here that day since you couldn't see anything. Fast forward three years and the weather was much better and in a condition where we could stop and and enjoy the views. The views of the Afton Mountains, which is part of the Shenandoah Valley, are breathtaking. On this day, there were few clouds in the sky and full sunshine. You can see the blue hues of the Blue Ridge as you look toward the mountains. There are some flowers and such near the spot too, and even had some butterflies visiting. There are several signs about some of the history of the area, including the Greenwood-Afton Rural Historic District, Flight of Richard C. Dupont, and Rockfish Gap Meeting. Overall, this was a great stop. This is one of those places where you can stop, stretch your legs, and get some awesome views in the process. There are no facilities here, but there are some trash cans. If your travels have you coming this way, this place is definitely worth stopping at, even if it's just for a few minutes. You'll probably feel more relaxed after taking in the views too. I will continue to stop here if my travels take me this way.

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    Scenic Overview
    Scenic Overview
    Scenic Overview

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    Fountain Cave Adventure Tours

    Fountain Cave Adventure Tours

    5.0(4 reviews)
    24.1 km

    If you've toured the Grand Caverns walking tour and find yourself peering into the dark recesses of…read morethe cavern, the Fountain Cave adventure tour is a must on your next visit. Visiting on a day when temperatures were only forecast to reach a high of 42F, it was pleasantly warm inside Fountain Cave and did not require bundling up for most people. Long sleeves, long pants, and boots, are required due to the terrain you "may" cover in addition to keeping the [damaging] oils from your skin off the cave features. Helmets, mounted lighting, gloves and knee pads are provided and were all in good condition. The floor of the 1800s walkway is mostly dry but moist areas are present throughout the tour and can be very slippery; following the instructions provided by the tour guides (three points of contact) will ensure everyone stays upright in these areas. Dana and Ashelynn were our guides for a group of 7 and always took point and rear to ensure everyone was safe and accounted for. Dana took the prominent role in discussing the history, and geology, of Fountain Cave and was a very engaging guide. While Fountain Cave is not as large as Grand Caverns, getting to tour this cave by headlamp and put yourself INTO the exhibit is truly an awesome experience. The bonus comes in the form of the Adventure "opportunities" that run near or parallel to the original 1800s pathway; for those not able or interested in taking the Adventure routes, you simply stay on the 1800s walkway and meet up with the rest of the group a small distance down the path. There are a few instances on the tour where a break is taken in total darkness. The first is a short ways into the tour and is designed to show you the amount of light that can be picked up from the entrance way after your eyes are given time to adjust. The second sets the stage to show how the cave would have been illuminated by a small candle. Note: please be respectful of the other guests if taking photos in these black-out moments; lowering your camera to the lowest brightness setting and staying back from the group prevents ruining the experience for others. IMO, the only way to make the Fountain Cave tour better is to increase the length of time spent within. Just like the Grand Caverns tour, I still found myself peering into the areas off the guided tour path wondering...is there more to this cave that hasn't been discovered yet.

    This is a hidden treat for those who have an adventurous side, are athletic, and want to stay away…read morefrom the crowds at Luray. As avid rock climbers and athletes, this was perfect for us - crawling around in hidden passages, scrambling over formations, and challenging our comfort zone. Our guides - Karen and Abby - were incredible! The amount of knowledge, stories, and personality is what made this tour not just great, but amazing! Highly recommended. Be wary, it is physically strenuous.

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    Fountain Cave Adventure Tours - Pretty formations!

    Pretty formations!

    Fountain Cave Adventure Tours
    Fountain Cave Adventure Tours - An Adventure "opportunity" early in the tour; after entering you'll veer right and run parallel to the 1800s path before rejoining it.

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    An Adventure "opportunity" early in the tour; after entering you'll veer right and run parallel to the 1800s path before rejoining it.

    Blue Ridge Tunnel - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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