Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail

About this route

The Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail follows the 1850s Blue Ridge Railroad grade under Rockfish Gap, linking a trailhead on Afton Depot Lane in Afton with a second on Three Notched Mountain Highway in Waynesboro. Nelson County owns the trail and tunnel and the Nelson County Parks and Recreation Department maintains them. From one trailhead to the other it runs about 2.25 miles, or roughly 4.5 miles if you walk end to end and return the way you came; the county says a hike to the western portal and back typically takes about an hour and a half at a comfortable pace. The tread is crushed stone, 10 feet wide, with a 1 to 2 percent cross slope for the entire trail. The centerpiece is the tunnel: 4,273 feet of unlit bore driven through the mountain by Irish immigrant laborers under engineer Claudius Crozet, opened to rail traffic on April 13, 1858, and at that time the longest railroad tunnel in North America.

Which trailhead you start from changes the trip. The east approach, at 215 Afton Depot Lane, runs 3,346 feet (0.63 miles) to the east portal with a net elevation change of +37 feet, an average grade of 1.5 percent, a maximum grade of 5.3 percent over 150 feet, and most of the rest under 1.6 percent; the county rates that side fully ADA accessible and puts 56 spaces in the lot, with no bus parking. The west approach, at 483 Three Notched Mountain Highway, is 4,279 feet (0.81 miles), gains 175 feet, averages 6.5 percent and tops out at 19 percent, with grades ranging from -17 to +19 percent over lengths of 150 feet or more and staying over 5 percent for a majority of the section. That side is not ADA accessible, holds 20 cars, and does take buses. It also includes a concrete mat stream crossing that may have water flowing over it during or shortly after rainstorms. For a less strenuous trip, or for accessible or wheelchair access, the county recommends starting from the east.

Plan on the tunnel being dark and wet. It is not lit for its full 4,273 feet, and the county's rule is that you must bring your own flashlight or headlamp; a high-powered one is strongly recommended. Water drips continuously from the ceiling and walls, leaving ruts and puddles that make the ground uneven and inconsistent, and the interior stays between 55 and 65 degrees year round, so the county advises appropriate clothing and sturdy, comfortable shoes. Visitors are asked not to touch the tunnel walls, to stay off the rocks along the trails, and not to drink any water coming off the mountainside or from the rocks inside the tunnel, so fill bottles before you arrive: there are no water fountains anywhere on the trail. Portable restrooms sit at both parking areas and nowhere else. Both lots are small and limited, and the county's stated policy is that when the parking areas are full the trail is considered full. Park only in designated spaces and never along the roadways; the road and land leading to the trailhead are privately owned, and there is no overnight parking, RV parking or camping at either trailhead. Hours are daily, sunrise to sunset. Dogs are allowed on the trail and in the tunnel on a leash at all times, and cyclists are welcome, encouraged onto the gentler east side and required to yield to pedestrians, though the county also posts that mountain bikes are permitted only on designated roads.

Why this difficulty rating: Nelson County publishes no difficulty rating, and the trail has two very different halves. From the east trailhead it is 3,346 feet (0.63 miles) to the east portal, net elevation change +37 feet, average grade 1.5 percent, maximum 5.3 percent over 150 feet, with most of the rest under 1.6 percent; the county calls that grade gentle and rates the east trail fully ADA accessible. The tunnel adds 4,273 feet at a 1.3 percent average grade, net +55 feet. The west section is 4,279 feet (0.81 miles), net +175 feet, average grade 6.5 percent, maximum 19 percent, with grades ranging from -17 to +19 percent over lengths of 150 feet or more and grades over 5 percent for a majority of it; the county calls that section more challenging, marks it NOT ADA accessible, and warns the steep grade may limit access to people with limited mobility. Rating left null because the agency publishes grades and elevation changes, not a difficulty class.

Highlights

• Walk or ride through a 4,273-foot unlit 1850s railroad tunnel bored under the Blue Ridge at Rockfish Gap
• Restored stone portals on the original Blue Ridge Railroad grade, engineered by Claudius Crozet
• Opened to rail traffic on April 13, 1858, and the longest railroad tunnel in North America at the time
• Fully ADA-accessible east approach: 0.63 miles of 10-foot-wide crushed stone at a 1.5 percent average grade
• Track chair tours from the east trailhead by appointment, a joint program of Nelson County Parks and Recreation and the nonprofit Blue Ridge Packs and Tracks, scheduled 04/12/2026 to 10/25/2026
• Dogs allowed on the trail and in the tunnel, on a leash at all times
• Tunnel interior stays between 55 and 65 degrees F year round

Map and trailheads

Approximate locations for orientation only. Carry an offline map — cell service is unreliable on much of this network.

Know before you go

Route type

Point to point

Surfaces

Crushed stone, Gravel

Setting

Mountain

Amenities

Parking, Restrooms

Parking

Parking is available at both trailheads. East trailhead, 215 Afton Depot Lane, Afton VA 22920: 56 parking spaces, no bus parking. West trailhead, 483 Three Notched Mountain Hwy, Waynesboro VA 22980: 20 parking spaces, buses may park here. The county describes the trailhead parking areas as small and limited and states that when the parking areas are full, the trail is considered full. Park only in designated spaces and never along roadways. There is no overnight parking, RV parking, or camping at either trailhead. The roadway and the land leading to the trailhead are privately owned and visitors should obey all parking signage. Driving directions per the county trailhead map: east trailhead — from I-64 take Afton Exit 99, right onto 250 East, after 1.5 miles a sharp right onto VA-6 East, go 0.5 mile and turn right onto Afton Depot Lane. West trailhead — from I-64 take Afton Exit 99, left onto 250 West toward Waynesboro; the trail entrance will be on your left.

Restrooms

Portable restrooms are available at both the eastern and western parking areas. There are no restrooms along the trail itself or inside the tunnel.

Water

There are no water fountains on the trail; bring your own drinking water and fill your bottle before arrival. Nelson County explicitly warns visitors not to drink any water coming from the mountainside along the trail or from the rocks inside the tunnel.

Fees

No official Nelson County page states a fee for the Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail, and none states that access is free either — the Parks and Recreation facility listing and the county tourism trail page simply do not address fees, so no "free" amenity is claimed. Confirm with Nelson County Parks and Recreation at (434) 263-7130 or recreation@nelsoncounty.org if it matters to your plans. The separate Blue Ridge Packs and Tracks track chair tours are booked through the county recreation portal, which lists the fee as "See Options" rather than publishing a price.

Permits

No permit is listed for general trail or tunnel use. The Blue Ridge Packs and Tracks track chair tours at the east trailhead are by appointment only and require registration through the Nelson County Parks and Recreation portal; after registering you are contacted by a member of Blue Ridge Packs and Tracks, and the county asks you to call Parks and Recreation if you have not been contacted within two business days.

Hours

The trail and tunnel are open daily from sunrise to sunset. The Nelson County Parks and Recreation facility listing shows the facility status as Open. Nelson County Parks and Recreation: (434) 263-7130, recreation@nelsoncounty.org. (Office hours are not listed here because the county's own pages give two different figures.)

Dogs

Dogs allowed on leash

Accessibility

The east trailhead is the accessible option. Nelson County's official trailhead map states the east trail is fully ADA accessible, with 56 parking spaces and no bus parking, and gives 3,346 feet (0.63 miles) to the east portal, net elevation change +37 feet, average grade 1.5 percent, maximum 5.3 percent over 150 feet with most of the rest under 1.6 percent, a 10-foot trail width and a 1-2 percent cross slope for the entire trail. The Parks and Recreation facility listing recommends the east side for accessible/handicap access and a less strenuous experience, and the county tourism trail page recommends it for improved accessibility for wheelchair users. The west trail is marked NOT ADA accessible; the county cites significant elevation change and a 19 percent maximum grade and warns the steep grade may limit access to people with limited mobility. The county notes the trail surface is crushed gravel and that the tunnel is unlit, stays cool year round, and has constant water dripping that can create puddles and ruts, and asks visitors to consider these conditions when planning. Nelson County Parks and Recreation also runs a joint program with the nonprofit Blue Ridge Packs and Tracks offering track chair rides through the Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail from the east trailhead — an off-road-capable electric wheelchair guided by the rider along with a walk-along volunteer who has overall control, with able-bodied guests able to join the walk — Tuesday mornings at 11am and Sunday afternoons at 1pm by appointment only, scheduled 04/12/2026 to 10/25/2026, for ages 1 to 99, with a 300 lb weight limit for the rider.

Stroller friendly

Not yet verified

Good with kids

Yes

Seasonal notes

The county lists the trail and tunnel as open daily from sunrise to sunset and publishes no seasonal closure. The tunnel interior remains cool year round, typically between 55 and 65 degrees F. The Blue Ridge Packs and Tracks track chair program at the east trailhead is scheduled 04/12/2026 to 10/25/2026.

Weather exposure

Nelson County publishes no shade or sun-exposure detail for the two approach sections. Inside the tunnel the county describes conditions as constant rather than seasonal: 55 to 65 degrees F year round, with water dripping continuously from the ceiling and walls, so expect to get wet regardless of the forecast; the county advises appropriate clothing and sturdy, comfortable shoes. Rain matters most on the west side, where a concrete stream crossing may have water flowing over it during or after rainstorms and the county advises caution in wet conditions.

Cell service

Not yet verified

Emergency

Not yet verified

Hazards and wildlife

• The tunnel is not lit for its full 4,273 feet and is very dark; Nelson County requires visitors to bring their own flashlight or headlamp and strongly recommends a high-powered one
• Ground surface inside the tunnel is inconsistent; the county asks visitors to be cautious when walking through
• Water drips continuously from the ceiling and walls, and the surface inside the tunnel may be uneven due to ruts and puddles caused by that constant drip
• Tunnel interior holds 55-65 degrees F year round; the county advises appropriate clothing and sturdy, comfortable shoes
• The west approach is steep: 6.5 percent average grade, 19 percent maximum, grades from -17 to +19 percent over lengths of 150 feet or more, and over 5 percent for a majority of that section; the county warns the steep grade may limit access to people with limited mobility
• A concrete mat stream crossing on the west side may have water flowing over it during or shortly after rainstorms; the county advises caution in wet conditions
• County rule: do not touch the walls inside the tunnel
• County rule: do not drink any water coming from the mountainside along the trail or from the rocks inside the tunnel
• County rule: stay off the rocks along the trails
• No water fountains anywhere on the trail; fill water bottles before arrival
• Trailhead parking is small and limited; when the parking areas are full the county considers the trail full, and the roadway and land leading to the trailhead are privately owned

Nelson County publishes no species-specific wildlife guidance for this trail. Its posted rules ask visitors to stay on designated trails and avoid damage to plants, trees, and wildlife; collecting plants or animals is prohibited; visitors should pack out all trash; and feeding wildlife and releasing balloons are not allowed.

Read the Virginia wildlife and safety guide