Chairlift & Tunnel

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Hidden in the mountainous folds of Southwest Virginia, Natural Tunnel awaits the amazement of both seasoned acquaintances and new visitors alike. The main attraction at the 850-acre Natural Tunnel State Park, Natural Tunnel pierces Purchase Ridge for 850 feet at an average height of 50 feet and houses both a creek and a railroad—that’s right, trains run through the Tunnel on a regular basis, their horns echoing off the magnificent 300-foot cliffs surrounding the Tunnel.

Visitors can access the base of the tunnel via a 0.3 mile trail which is graded by series of switchbacks.  For those who want a more leisurely visit, the park runs a chairlift with a $3.00 fee for the ride roundtrip from the Visitor Center parking area to the floor of the tunnel’s natural amphitheater. The chairlift is 536 feet long and descends 230 feet. The chairlift is in operation seven days a week from Memorial Day through Labor Day. It operates on weekends only in May, September and October. It runs from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on weekends. Except for a Christmas event, the chairlift is shut down after the last weekend in October.

A 500-foot boardwalk and observation deck from the foot of the chairlift to the base of the tunnel provide accessibility to guests with disabilities

Visitor's Center Chairlift & Tunnel Campground Swimming Pool Hiking Trails Blockhouse Amphitheater

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Last modified: 04/06/11