Unearth The Voyage
America’s abandoned railway corridors have transformed into incredible biking adventures, complete with dramatic tunnels carved through mountains and towering bridges spanning deep valleys. Former train routes now offer cyclists the chance to pedal through history while enjoying some of the country’s most spectacular scenery. Pack your bike lights and sense of adventure for these tunnel-filled trails that promise unforgettable rides through gorges, over trestles, and into the heart of America’s natural beauty.
1. Great Allegheny Passage (PA–MD)
Stretching 150 miles from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, this legendary trail threads through the stunning Youghiogheny River Gorge at Ohiopyle. The crown jewel is the Big Savage Tunnel, running over 3,291 feet through solid rock.
Historic Brush and Borden tunnels add extra excitement to your journey. Cool air greets riders entering these dark passages, where headlamps reveal dripping stone walls and echoing sounds create an otherworldly experience.
Between tunnels, spectacular valley views unfold as you roll along gentle grades originally designed for steam locomotives hauling coal and freight across Pennsylvania’s rugged landscape.
2. Route of the Hiawatha (ID–MT)
Known as the crown jewel of rail-trails, this 15-mile dirt path delivers pure mountain magic with 10 tunnels and 7 soaring trestles. Your adventure begins with a 1.661-mile journey through the St. Paul Pass Tunnel, where darkness envelops you completely.
Bring powerful lights for safety and atmosphere as you emerge onto breathtaking wooden trestles high above forested valleys. Each tunnel entrance feels like stepping into a mountain’s heart, with cool temperatures providing relief on hot summer days.
The combination of engineering marvels and pristine wilderness makes every pedal stroke feel like traveling through a postcard-perfect landscape.
3. Elroy–Sparta State Trail (WI)
America’s first rail-trail still amazes visitors with three hand-dug tunnels that showcase 1800s engineering ingenuity. Tunnel #3 stretches an impressive 3,810 feet, creating a three-quarter-mile journey through complete darkness.
These passages stay naturally cool and wet year-round, requiring bike walking during winter months when they’re closed November through April. The echoing drip of water and your footsteps creates an almost cathedral-like atmosphere inside.
Pioneer trail-builders carved these tunnels by hand through solid sandstone, and their legacy continues inspiring cyclists who experience this piece of Wisconsin’s transportation history firsthand.
4. Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail (WA)
Cross Washington State on this 200-plus-mile adventure that cuts straight through the Cascade Range via the incredible Snoqualmie Tunnel. This 2.3-mile passage offers perfectly flat riding through inky darkness that feels like traveling through the mountain’s core.
The tunnel maintains a constant cool temperature, making it a refreshing break during summer rides. Your bike lights create dancing shadows on wet walls while the distant exit appears as a tiny pinpoint of light.
Emerging from the tunnel reveals dramatic mountain vistas that make the dark journey worthwhile, showcasing Washington’s diverse landscapes from farmland to alpine peaks.
5. George S. Mickelson Trail (SD)
Wind through South Dakota’s Black Hills on this 100-plus-mile crushed limestone trail featuring over 100 converted railroad bridges and four rock tunnels carved into piney canyons. Each tunnel offers a cool respite from prairie sun while revealing the region’s mining heritage.
Towering ponderosa pines frame tunnel entrances, creating natural portals between different canyon environments. The gentle grade makes these passages accessible to family cyclists while maintaining enough adventure to thrill experienced riders.
Wildlife often shelters near tunnel mouths, and lucky cyclists might spot deer or wild turkeys during early morning or evening rides through these historic mountain passages.
6. Silver Comet Trail (GA) + Chief Ladiga (AL)
Sixty paved miles through Georgia connect with Alabama’s Chief Ladiga Trail, creating 94 continuous miles of smooth riding. The photogenic Brushy Mountain Tunnel near Rockmart provides the perfect photo opportunity with its stone archway framing distant landscapes.
Multiple impressive trestles carry cyclists high above rolling countryside, offering bird’s-eye views of farmland and forests. The tunnel’s cool interior provides welcome relief during hot Southern summers while maintaining the trail’s family-friendly accessibility.
This partnership between two states demonstrates how former railroad corridors can unite communities while preserving transportation history for future generations of cyclists to enjoy and explore.
7. Allegheny River Trail (PA)
Smooth riverside riding along Pennsylvania’s Allegheny River features two impressive bikeable tunnels: the 3,350-foot Kennerdell Tunnel and 2,868-foot Rockland Tunnel. Both passages require headlamps for safe navigation through their dark interiors.
Carved directly into hillsides, these tunnels showcase the determination of railroad builders who refused to let terrain stop their progress. Cool air flows through both passages, creating natural air conditioning during summer rides.
Between tunnels, the trail follows gentle riverside grades with frequent wildlife sightings and peaceful water views that make this route perfect for contemplative cycling through Pennsylvania’s scenic river valley landscape.
8. Tunnel Hill State Trail (IL)
Named for its single atmospheric tunnel, this trail features a 543-foot passage that was originally over 800 feet before a 1929 collapse shortened it. The tunnel’s mysterious history adds intrigue to every ride through its shadowy interior.
Twenty-plus wooden trestles carry cyclists over forested ravines, creating an elevated journey through Illinois countryside. Each bridge offers unique perspectives of seasonal changes, from spring wildflowers to autumn color displays.
The tunnel’s curved shape means you can’t see the exit when entering, adding mystery to the experience as your bike lights gradually reveal the passage ahead through this piece of preserved railroad history.
9. Pine Creek Rail Trail (PA)
Cruise 62 miles along the floor of Pennsylvania’s “Grand Canyon,” where Pine Creek carved dramatic gorge walls that tower overhead. This trail offers intimate access to one of the state’s most spectacular natural features.
Towering rock walls create a cathedral-like atmosphere while the gentle creek provides constant companionship with its peaceful flowing sounds. Wildlife thrives in this protected corridor, making every ride a potential nature-watching adventure.
Tiny riverside towns dot the route, offering rest stops and glimpses into local history while the gorge walls display millions of years of geological history in their colorful rock layers.
10. New River Trail State Park (VA)
Follow Virginia’s ancient New River for 57 miles on this linear state park stitched together by dozens of wooden trestles and two short tunnels. The northward-flowing river creates unique ecosystems that support diverse wildlife populations.
Multiple trestles provide elevated viewing platforms over the slow-moving river, where herons, kingfishers, and other water birds create natural entertainment. The tunnels offer brief respites from sun while maintaining the trail’s gentle, accessible character.
Rich Civil War and railroad history permeates every mile, with interpretive signs explaining how this transportation corridor shaped regional development and continues serving communities through recreational use.
