PENNSYLVANIA - Just past the neon lights and truck stop chaos of Breezewood, Pennsylvania, lies a secret path that feels less like a hiking trail and more like the set of a post-apocalyptic movie. Because that is exactly what it is.
PENNSYLVANIA - Just past the neon lights and truck stop chaos of Breezewood, Pennsylvania, lies a secret path that feels less like a hiking trail and more like the set of a post-apocalyptic movie. Because that is exactly what it is.
Hidden in the brush of Bedford and Fulton counties is a crumbling, 13-mile stretch of the original Pennsylvania Turnpike. Bypassed and abandoned in 1968, this "Ghost Highway" has been left to the elements for over 50 years, creating one of the most surreal travel destinations in the state.
Here is the story of the road that time forgot—and how you can explore it yourself.
Why Was It Abandoned?
When the Pennsylvania Turnpike opened in 1940, it was an engineering marvel known as "America's Super Highway." However, it had a fatal flaw: the tunnels.
While the highway was four lanes wide, the tunnels through the mountains were only two lanes (one in each direction). As traffic exploded in the 1950s and 60s, these tunnels became massive bottlenecks, causing miles-long traffic jams.
By 1968, state officials decided it was cheaper to build a completely new bypass over the mountains than to expand the existing tunnels at Rays Hill and Sideling Hill. Overnight, 13 miles of highway were shut down, barricaded, and erased from the maps.
Walking the "Zombie Land"
Today, the road is officially known as the "Pike 2 Bike" trail, but locals know it as the Abandoned Turnpike.
Nature is slowly reclaiming the asphalt. Trees sprout through cracks in the passing lane, and retro reflectors still dot the median. But the main attractions are the tunnels.
The trail features two massive, pitch-black tunnels: Rays Hill Tunnel (3,532 feet long) and Sideling Hill Tunnel (a staggering 6,755 feet long).
Entering them is a spine-tingling experience. Even in the middle of summer, the air inside drops to a chilly 50 degrees. Without lights, they are terrifyingly dark. The acoustics are so strange that a single footstep echoes for seconds, and the silence in the center is heavy and oppressive.
Hollywood Comes to PA
The eerie atmosphere is so convincing that Hollywood took notice. In 2008, the highway was a primary filming location for the dystopian movie The Road, starring Viggo Mortensen.
If you’ve seen the film, you’ll recognize the peeling paint and dark tunnel mouths where the characters hide from "road gangs." The production team didn't have to do much set dressing—the highway already looked like the end of the world.
How to Visit
Unlike many abandoned places, this one is legal to visit (though you do so at your own risk). It is open to hikers and bikers, though the crumbling pavement makes it a bumpy ride for road bikes.
- Where to Park: The most popular access point is just east of Breezewood. Look for the "Pike 2 Bike" parking lot off Tannery Road.
- What to Bring: A powerful flashlight is non-negotiable if you plan to enter the tunnels (your phone light won't be enough). Bring a jacket, even in July.
- The Route: It is an out-and-back trail. From the Breezewood parking lot, it is about a 2-mile hike/ride to the first tunnel (Rays Hill).
For those brave enough to enter the dark, the Abandoned Turnpike offers a rare glimpse into the past—a frozen moment in 1968 where the cars stopped, but the road remained.
