Abandoned PA Turnpike: Two Trailheads, Two Tunnels

Park at the wrong trailhead and you'll walk 8 miles before seeing the big tunnel. Here's how to pick your entry point, what to bring, and why biking wins.

By Oscar
Historic abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike tunnel entrance in Sideling Hill with natural light framing the darkness.

Everyone parks at Breezewood. The problem is that the longer, darker tunnel is over eight miles east. If you park at the Breezewood end on foot, you are looking at a 17-mile round trip on cracked asphalt.

There are two separate entry points for the Pike2Bike trail. One approaches Ray’s Hill Tunnel from the west. The other approaches Sideling Hill Tunnel from the east off Oregon Road. Pick your entry point before you make the drive to one of the premier abandoned places in PA.

Key Takeaways

  • Navigation: Choose your entry point. For the faster Sideling Hill tunnel approach, park at the Waterfall (East) lot (Google Maps | Apple Maps). For Ray’s Hill, use the Breezewood (West) lot (Google Maps | Apple Maps).
  • Route Strategy: Biking is strongly recommended for the full 17-mile round trip on the cracked asphalt Pike2Bike trail.
  • Tunnel Gear: Bring a powerful light, not just a phone. Sideling Hill is 6,700 feet of total, unmaintained darkness.
  • Hazards: Watch for broken glass on the asphalt and falling debris or deep puddles inside the unmaintained tunnels.
The main western entrance of the Sideling Hill Tunnel on the Abandoned PA Turnpike

A full ride-through of the abandoned turnpike, including both tunnels. Gives you the best sense of what to expect inside Sideling Hill.

The Two Trailheads: Pick the Right One

Because the abandoned turnpike spans 8.5 miles across Bedford and Fulton counties, choosing where to park dictates your entire day.

West End: Breezewood (Ray’s Hill Tunnel)

The Breezewood trailhead parking area on the abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike lanes

The primary access point is near the intersection of Route 30 and Tannery Road in Breezewood. When you drive up the small hill past the dirt lot, you park directly on the abandoned eastbound lanes of the turnpike. The massive concrete expanse holds over 100 cars.

Parking GPS: 40.00154, -78.22511

Ray’s Hill Tunnel is a 1.3-mile walk or ride east from this parking area. It is 3,532 feet long. It is straight, so you can usually see the light at the other end.

Best for: first-timers who want a shorter introduction, or cyclists planning to ride the full 8.5 miles eastbound to Sideling Hill.

East End: Oregon Road, Waterfall (Sideling Hill Tunnel)

There is no actual waterfall in Waterfall, Pennsylvania. That is just the town name. Do not go looking for one.

Parking GPS: 40.048683, -78.095839. This was the former Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Sideling Hill Camp on Oregon Road.

From this lot, a quarter-mile connector trail leads through the woods to the abandoned highway. Once on the asphalt, it is less than a half-mile walk west to the Sideling Hill Tunnel entrance.

Sideling Hill Tunnel is 6,782 feet long (just over 1.28 miles). Due to its length and a slight drainage arc, you cannot see light from the other side when you are at the center. It is pitch black.

Best for: anyone who specifically wants the complete-darkness experience of the bigger tunnel without walking 8+ miles from Breezewood to get there.

Nature reclaiming the abandoned highway near the eastern portal of Sideling Hill Tunnel

The Tunnels: What to Expect Inside

Darkness and Temperature

The absolute pitch-black interior of the Sideling Hill Tunnel

Both tunnels are unlit. Inside Sideling Hill, there is a point at the center where you cannot see either portal. A phone flashlight will not cut it.

Warning: Bring a high-lumen headlamp with fresh batteries, plus a backup light. The Sideling Hill Tunnel is 1.28 miles long with no ambient light in the middle.

Even in August, both tunnels act like massive concrete refrigerators. Inside temperature drops 20+ degrees compared to the open road. Bring a layer regardless of the outdoor forecast.

Road Surface and Debris

Deep cracks and heaving asphalt on the abandoned turnpike surface

The asphalt inside the tunnels is cracked, heaving, and scattered with decades of debris: shattered glass, rusted metal, nails, and tacks.

Cyclists: Flat tires from broken glass are the most common reason people get stranded on this trail. Carry at minimum two spare tubes and a patch kit.

For hikers: stiff-soled boots, not trail runners. The debris punctures thin soles.

Graffiti and Atmosphere

Interior tunnel walls are covered in spray paint. There are layers of it going back decades. This provides atmosphere, but do not go expecting clean stone.

Multi-layered graffiti and street art on the concrete walls of the abandoned tunnels
Light at the end of the tunnel: looking toward the portal from inside Sideling Hill

Hike or Bike: Which Is Better?

A cyclist's POV riding through the dark tunnels of the abandoned turnpike

Walking 17 miles on a straight, cracked highway is punishing. The route offers no change in terrain, no switchbacks, no shade. On foot, it is a workout without much payoff.

Biking is the right call for most people. The distance between the two tunnels becomes a casual ride. If you are doing the full point-to-point: drop one car at the east end on Oregon Road, drive the second car to Breezewood, and ride east. You end the day with one tunnel from each direction.

Walking makes sense in one scenario: entering from the east off Oregon Road and only targeting Sideling Hill. The hike in is under three-quarters of a mile.

Before You Go: Gear and Logistics

  • Headlamp (mandatory): High lumens, fully charged, with a backup. Not a phone flashlight.
  • Tube repair kit and pump (cyclists): Broken glass is everywhere. This is not optional.
  • Extra layer: The tunnels run cold year-round.
  • All supplies before you go: No restrooms, no water, no food anywhere on the trail. Load up at the truck stops in Breezewood before heading to the west trailhead.
  • Cell service: Fine at both trailheads and on open-air sections. Zero bars inside both tunnels.
  • Dogs: Allowed on leash, but the glass and metal debris make it rough on paws.
  • Shuttle logistics: There are no commercial shuttle services found for this stretch. Bring two cars or plan an out-and-back.

Photography Tips: Abandoned Turnpike & Tunnels

Tunnel Portal Composition: The tunnel entrances are architecturally dramatic. Shoot from outside looking into the darkness using a moderate focal length (35-50mm). The framing of light at the tunnel mouth against dark interior creates natural contrast and visual drama.

Interior Darkness Challenge: The pitch-black interior of Sideling Hill requires long exposures (3-5 seconds or more) with high ISO (1600-3200). Use a tripod for sharpness. The graffiti walls are surprisingly photogenic when lit by headlamp or external light:use this for dramatic side-lighting.

Tunnel Light Techniques: Shoot from inside looking toward the portal entrance. The tunnel becomes a frame for the light beyond:use this leading-line composition. The geometric tunnel walls and repeated arch patterns create strong compositional structure.

Cyclist Motion: If you’re photographing someone riding through, shoot from outside the tunnel with the cyclist emerging from darkness into light. Panning technique works well for capturing motion on the straight stretch.

Graffiti Documentation: The accumulated decades of spray paint is visually complex. Wide-angle shots show layers and scale. Close-ups reveal individual pieces. The evolution of vandalism over 50+ years is its own photographic subject.

Avoid Flash: Flash bounces chaotically off tunnel walls and creates flat, unnatural lighting. Use headlamp positioning or extended exposures instead. The ambient darkness is part of the aesthetic.

Season Context: Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) provide pleasant temperatures for photography sessions. Summer midday heat on the open road sections makes extended photography uncomfortable.

When to Go

The tunnels work in any season. In summer, stepping inside is cold relief from the heat. In winter, the open road sections between tunnels can hold ice for weeks.

Avoid walking the full open-road midpoint in peak summer. There is no shade and no water. June weekends before the heat sets in are the sweet spot if you are on foot.

The Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike is one of the more distinctive historical stretches you can ride in the region. For more day trips in the area, the South Central PA guide covers what else is worth exploring.

The abandoned turnpike section was bypassed in 1968. The modern turnpike was rerouted around Rays Hill and Sideling Hill. The old alignment, including both tunnels, has been open to hikers and cyclists since the 1990s.