Nada Tunnel

The tunnel was carved out of a sandstone ridge in Powell County between 1910 and 1911, built for a narrow-gauge logging railroad to push timber through the mountain to a sawmill miles away. Two crews worked from opposite ends of the ridge using dynamite and steam machinery. When the first load of logs jammed inside and had to be blasted loose, the bore was enlarged to its current 12 feet wide by 13 feet tall — dimensions that have stayed the same ever since. Once the timber was gone, the tracks came out, a dirt road went in, and the tunnel was eventually paved for vehicle traffic. It now carries a single lane of Kentucky Route 77 under the ridge and sits on the Red River Gorge Scenic Byway.

On a motorcycle the proportions register differently than in a car. At 12 feet wide, there is clearance, but the unlit bore narrows your world fast — headlight on, throttle back, attention fully forward to the arch of daylight at the far end. The protocol is informal but clear: check for oncoming headlights before entering, because there is no room to pass inside. Coming out the other side, the canyon walls of Red River Gorge open up immediately, and KY-715 is the natural next move for anyone who wants to follow the gorge through.

The tunnel is free, and access is open year-round, though the road can collect wet debris in spring and after heavy rain, which is worth keeping in mind at the portal where the pavement tends to stay damp.