After two-decade effort, Crozet Tunnel opens to the public



Nelson County Parks and Recreation opened the Claudius Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail system to pedestrians and bicyclists on Saturday at Rockfish Gap in Afton. The trail has two access points, a 12-space parking lot can be found at 215 Afton Depot Lane and there is a trailhead situated just east of Waynesboro at 483 Three Notched Mountain Highway that has 25 parking spaces and two oversized areas for small buses. The trail is open from sunrise to sunset.

Erin Edgerton

Jaclyn Barton The News Virginian Nov 21, 2020

AFTON — Nearly two decades after restoration efforts began, the Claudius Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail opened to the public on Saturday.

Pedestrians and bicyclists can now explore the 2.25-mile trail that passes through the restored railroad tunnel, which lies over 700 feet below the Blue Ridge Mountains at Rockfish Gap. The nearly mile-long tunnel was constructed between 1849 and 1859 and was designed by Claudius Crozet, namesake of the western Albemarle County community.

“It’s a beautiful day,” said Paul Collinge, a Claudius Crozet Blue Ridge Foundation board member. The foundation has worked with Nelson County to restore the tunnel and open it to the public.

Collinge has worked on the tunnel project for 10 years now. He sat at the eastern trailhead entrance in Afton on Saturday and greeted visitors as they trekked to and from the long, dark tunnel. ... “I’m impressed with the number of families that have managed to show up,” Collinge said. “It’s the very first day it’s open, and it’s like they’ve been sitting here waiting with their bikes in the garage, and out they go.”

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PHOTOS: Opening of the Blue Ridge Tunnel

Erin Edgerton Nov 21, 2020

The Blue Ridge Tunnel trail opens Saturday, Nov. 21 to pedestrians and bikers nestled 700 feet below the Blue Ridge Mountains at Rockfish Gap in Afton. The abandoned train tunnel, constructed between 1850 and 1858, is about 50 degrees and hikers are recommended to bring a flashlight.

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ERIN EDGERTON, THE DAILY PROGRESS The Nelson County Parks and Recreation opened the Claudius Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail system to pedestrians and bicyclists Saturday, Nov. 21 just 700 feet below the Blue Ridge Mountains at Rockfish Gap in Afton. The trail has to access points, a 12-spot parking lot can be found at 215 Afton Depot Lane and a trailhead situated just east of Waynesboro at 483 Three Notched Mountain Highway that and has 25 parking spaces and two oversized areas for small buses. At just over 2.25 miles one way, the crushed stone path offers the explorer a chance to travel back in time to touch the original pin scars from the 1850s. The trail is open from sunrise to sunset.

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Erin Edgerton
Erin Edgerton is a staff photographer for The Daily Progress. Contact her at (434) 249-2466, eedgerton@dailyprogress.com, or @erineedgerton on Twitter.