Though Virginia is home to quite a few rail trails, only one features a giant, explorable tunnel cut through a mountain. That honor belongs to the Blue Ridge Tunnel in Nelson County. The tunnel was constructed in the 19th century for train traffic, which was its primary purpose until the mid-20th century. It was donated to the county in 2007 and opened as a public rail trail in the fall of 2020.
I first heard about the Blue Ridge Tunnel trail shortly after its opening, when RVA Hiker Girl posted a video about it on her YouTube channel. I knew from that moment that I wanted to hike it with my family, and we finally got our chance last week. There is already plenty of internet literature out there about the hike, but I thought it might be helpful to provide some tips for other families that are thinking about exploring the trail with a toddler. Without further ado, here is all you need to know for a toddler-friendly Blue Ridge Tunnel experience:
1. Head to the East Entrance for stroller accessibility.
The tunnel has an East Entrance trailhead in Afton and a West Entrance trailhead in Waynesboro. I had read that the West Entrance has fewer parking spots and a much steeper grade between the parking lot and the tunnel, so we headed to the East Entrance. We passed a group of porta potties next to the trail entrance, which makes for a quick and convenient bathroom stop if you need one. I’m happy to report that our BOB Stroller rode smoothly on the trail’s fine gravel surface for the duration of our visit.
2. Plan to walk a bit before getting to the tunnel.
The parking lot is roughly 0.6 miles from the tunnel itself, so there is some walking involved before arriving at the actual tunnel entrance. I found this helpful to know when budgeting for factors like nap time and how many snacks to bring. Along the way, there are signs that share the history of the tunnel and surrounding area, as well as a couple of mile markers that let you know when you’re getting closer to the main attraction.
3. There will likely be a temperature difference.
The inside of the tunnel stays between 55 and 65 degrees year round, so we found it refreshingly cool on a hot summer day. I packed a light sweatshirt for everyone just in case we needed them, plus a little muslin blanket in the event that my toddler fell asleep in her stroller (which of course she didn’t do until we were almost back to our car). The toddler and I were warm enough from the outdoor part of the hike that we both refused the extra layer, but it’s always better to have something and not need it than the other way around.
4. Be creative with your light sources.
A headlamp or real flashlight (not a cellphone) is required to enter the unlit tunnel, so we decided to bring a few of each. My older daughter and husband wore lamps, while I preferred to light the way with a flashlight. We set two additional headlamps to the red light setting. I looped one around the stroller to make it more visible to passersby, and I removed the band from the other one and clipped it to the back of my toddlers’ shorts, making her easy to spot if she took off in the dark. These extra steps were certainly not necessary, but they worked well for us.
5. Be mindful of how your toddler feels about the dark.
As I mentioned above, the tunnel is DARK, but it is not hard to see where you’re going with an adequate light source. That said, if your toddler is terrified of the dark, you may want to hold off on this adventure until they’re a little older. I wasn’t sure how my toddler would react, so I tucked my baby carrier into the basket underneath the stroller just in case she wanted to be held. Fortunately, she oohed and aahed when we entered the tunnel, and she was perfectly content to both stroll and walk while we were inside. We did pass a family with a child that needed more comforting, so this is something to keep in mind.
6. Little shoes may get wet.
The stone walls on the eastern side of the tunnel are damp to the touch, and there is even cascading water in some places. This adds to the magical, other-worldly feel of the tunnel, but it also means that there are often puddles lining either side of the trail. My toddler naturally made a beeline for any pool of water she could find. I was for the most part able to keep her feet firmly on dry land, but I was glad that she was wearing water-friendly shoes in case of accidental sloshing.
7. Be prepared to go back the way you came.
This is an out and back trail, not a loop. Once you reach the west side of the tunnel and take some celebratory photographs, you will have to retrace your steps. For us, this was good news, as both girls loved the tunnel and wanted to go back inside immediately. Since the tunnel is approximately .8 miles long, and the walk between the parking lot and the East Entrance is approximately .6 miles long, you are looking at a 2.8 mile round trip walk, assuming you don’t explore the trail on the western side at all (we did not, since we had the stroller and knew that the other side had a steeper elevation gain).
8. Keep an eye out for trains.
Though trains obviously no longer run through the Blue Ridge Tunnel, there are in-use train tracks just on the other side of the fence by the East Entrance parking lot. If you’re lucky, you and your toddler might catch sight of a super-long train coming through! We had the pleasure of seeing one as we were returning to our car, and we stopped to watch for a little while. My toddler was fast asleep in her stroller by that point, but she would have loved it had she been awake.
9. Have fun!
This is a truly unique experience, and definitely worth the trip. We enjoyed everything from the falling water and cool temperature to the gentle echo and proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. My toddler got a big kick out of exploring this special trail, and hopefully yours will, too. Feel free to share any questions or tips of your own in the comments. Thanks for stopping by!
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