I first learned about the National Tunnel from Great Little Walks in the Pittsburgh Area by Yvonne Merrill and Mary Shaw. While it is a little hard to find these days, it's a great book and I highly recommend it. The Allegheny Library System has at least one copy so if you have a library card you should be able to access it.
How do you get to the National Tunnel? Take I-79 to the Southpointe/Hendersonville exit (exit 48). At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn east towards Hendersonville and go 0.5 miles to a stop sign. Turn left at the stop sign onto Morganza Road, and then go 0.6 miles downhill and turn left onto Cecil Henderson Road. Travel 1.2 miles on Cecil Henderson to the trail access/parking area on the left. It is a short walk from the parking area to the tunnel - if you're standing at your car, facing the trail then the tunnel is maybe 3/4 of a mile to your right.
One of the really nice things about the National Tunnel, in my opinion, is that this is a very active stretch of the Montour Trail. While out cross-country skiing today I met 7 other people, 5 of whom were also skiing. I usually visit the Tunnel during the winter because I think the icicles are very cool. Because the tunnel is 623 feet sometimes it gets its own atmosphere going in there. While the tunnel does have reflectors, it is interesting to note that the reason why the tunnel is so dark is because it has a slight bend in it - you literally can not see the end of the tunnel. (I find this very amusing). Here are some pictures from my winter adventures at the National Tunnel.
How do you get to the National Tunnel? Take I-79 to the Southpointe/Hendersonville exit (exit 48). At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn east towards Hendersonville and go 0.5 miles to a stop sign. Turn left at the stop sign onto Morganza Road, and then go 0.6 miles downhill and turn left onto Cecil Henderson Road. Travel 1.2 miles on Cecil Henderson to the trail access/parking area on the left. It is a short walk from the parking area to the tunnel - if you're standing at your car, facing the trail then the tunnel is maybe 3/4 of a mile to your right.
One of the really nice things about the National Tunnel, in my opinion, is that this is a very active stretch of the Montour Trail. While out cross-country skiing today I met 7 other people, 5 of whom were also skiing. I usually visit the Tunnel during the winter because I think the icicles are very cool. Because the tunnel is 623 feet sometimes it gets its own atmosphere going in there. While the tunnel does have reflectors, it is interesting to note that the reason why the tunnel is so dark is because it has a slight bend in it - you literally can not see the end of the tunnel. (I find this very amusing). Here are some pictures from my winter adventures at the National Tunnel.
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| Montour Trail - mile marker 26 |
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| See the 'fog' that builds up in the center of the tunnel. Lots of ice on this particular day. |
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| Slightly passed the middle of the tunnel, seeing the bend in it. |
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