Pretty sure that is the road that my husband and I took when we camped at Poe Paddy, back in the early 90s. We took that road in my 1989 Honda Civic. Supposed to be a one mile shortcut, which ended up taking 3 hours and a bit of moving and rearranging rocks and small saplings. We will never forget that!
Lewisburg and Tyrone. Bellefonte Central owned a portion of it. PRR later owned the line. They didn't want the lines to meet. A lot of people didn't know the L&T were only MILES APART.. The rails to Penn State book is about the RR.
I have photos of what these original tunnels looked like in 1916-1924, if you are at all interested. My grandfather and his buddies spent time camping hunting and fishing on Penns Creek
So glad you showed the two tunnels. For the Poe Paddy Tunnel...that new stonework on both entrances is all new. The tunnel had to be closed for repairs when it was starting to collapse. If you were hiking the Mid-State Trail, you had to go up and over the mountain to keep hiking south. When you walked through the tunnel, you may have noticed a small white cabin a short distance from the opening. In speaking with one of the owners, he told me that to access their cabin, he and his buddy actually snaked their way over and through lots of scaffolding holding the ceiling up. He said it was very dangerous and in bad shape. It was closed, but they did it anyway. The previous opening from the the east side of the tunnel was a corrugated pipe about 6 feet tall. It was about 50 feet long, and when you reached the end of it, you were in the raw part of the original tunnel. It was very creepy walking through there. In the middle, it was so dark you could not see your feet. One winter when I hiked through it, there were ice stalagmites growing up due to the water dripping from the ceiling, and they were quite tall. The west end of the tunnel was very much like the Coburn tunnel opening. The new addition was extended out and you can see that 'shelf' above the new opening. There was no pretty entrance to the tunnel from the west. When they redid the tunnel, they used a much larger pipe to raise the height, and widening it enough for an emergency vehicle to get through. The yellow gates were added at that time too. The bridge deck was also redone. It was widened for vehicle use and the sides were made safer so you would not fall through the railings. It used to look just like the bridge near the Coburn tunnel. I was through the tunnel not long after it opened...and there was water pooling and flooding the floor. I was told that repairs were made to mitigate that problem. I think they raised the base or added more drains. As a side note, when you were heading back to your Jeep, if you would have turned right and drove about a 1/2 miles or so, you will come to a dead end. That road is the rail bed and takes you to where another bridge used to be. It was washed out years ago, and it would connect to the trail/rail bed on the other side of the creek and take you over to Coburn. Also, right before that pretty cabin at the end of the bride, you can turn left and follow a trail that would take you over to where it hooks into the rail bed on the way to Coburn...where the other bridge crossed the creek. I did that YEARS ago and it's quite a walk, but it all connects. Thanks for sharing your adventures. It's fun to see some favorite trails through another persons eyes. All the best to you.
when we were there about 8 yrs ago, the poe paddy tunnel was blocked and signs said no access but that didnt stop anyone, it used to be a popular place for kayaking, (when there is water in the creek), the tunnel connected a large loop of the creek, you would get in the first side with the benches and out on the other side, haul your kayak back thru the tunnel and do it again!
An awesome adventure Cliff I really enjoyed it!!! I loved that Beautiful view!!! The 2nd tunnel was the best with it's original rock!!! Thank you Cliff for sharing!!!
Poe Paddy tunnel is my favorite place to visit- A friend and I once hiked from there to Coburn many moons ago and passed by that second tunnel, it was great, a little painful though.
Thanks for taking us along. I enjoy tunnels, especially railroad tunnels. My grandfather used to work for a railroad in the western part of PA back in the day.
Just recently found your videos about a month ago. Have been binge watching! I grew up in Cameron County, Pa and now live in Nebraska. Now you're making me want to move back to Pa after watching this and remembering how beautiful it is there. Makes me miss it!
Me too. I tell Cliff he's saved my marriage. I used to whine daily about my dislike of N.Y. and my craving need to return to Pa. where I grew up. I am 73 and want to die there in 40 or 50 yrs. Hubby is NY born and will not budge. Thank God for Cliff.
Ive enjoyed hiking camping fishing dualsporting hunting kayaking all through these parts for my whole life. In the winter time the poe tunnel would get long stalactites and stalagmites of ice hanging down and coming up from the floor, it was so cool, doesnt do that anymore with the newer "improvements" they made to it
Well Cliff that was super fantastic. A beautiful vista. two tunnels, just love the tunnels. The first was just a tunnel but the second was totally awesome just loved it. Felt sorry for the way you came but I just loved seeing them. Loved the last bridge too. What a great area. Thanks so much for taking me along and please stay safe
A-ha-ha-ha! You made it to Ingleby. I drove over that road while doing an article for State College Magazine back in the '90s. I never walked through the tunnels and wish I had. Thanks for another great video.
Vista view was gorgeous! Oh my gosh when the leaves turn there!! That was cool they gave the bats their area in first tunnel. Must be large population? 2nd natural tunnel was Amazing!! Loved that bridge. You & Naomi did awesome on that rough terrain. Love your videos!!!🥰
Too close to Creek that cabin would flood. Perfect otherwise. Those are called horse apples in my area. What kind of Bats. That is a super beautiful place. That looks like roads in southern Mo. and the booth heel area. So pretty there, love those over looks, that Tunnel is loads better then the other. Thank you Cliff another great video.
It really is a beautiful place. That cabin along the creek sits high above the water. I have hiked out there for years and have never seen it damaged by creek water. It used to be a cute little rustic cabin, but over the years, they have updated it to a lovely cottage.
Beautiful scenery..tysm for tackling that terrible terrain for us..that last tunnel was really something awesome because of the originally kept from years gone by...
Hi Cliff, wow poor Naomi bless her, actually I think she secretly enjoyed it. That first tunnel I think they spoilt a bit by lining it as it hides away the history, the second tunnel though was very cool and as you mentioned there was some awesome geology on show. Thank you for taking us along, much love. xx💖
Whow! Awesome video cool stuff those old railroad tunnels like the rock formations The cabin was a neat place to see by the creek was quite homey Also I hope your Jeep didn’t suffer to much on that unkept road Enjoyed the hike!
Very cool Cliff, been many decades since ive been through both tunnels and glad too see they are still standing. Poe looks completely different and glad to see what they turned it into! Thanks for the show 👍👍🇺🇸
Just happened to stumble onto your site and I thoroughly enjoy your videos with the historic and beautiful scenery in them! Great site I would love to be doing what your doing! You should get a partner to help with the filming and just in case you run into any trouble! Stay safe my friend!
You are seriously bringing up memories of our trip a month ago. You are hitting all the places we were. We went to penns View vista then straight to ingleby vista since they are so close. Enjoyed that tunnel. We went the opposite way down the same trail you did with our rav4. People looked at us funny also lol. May I suggest, since you have a portable tire inflator, if you come up to some of that rocky terrain on one of those trails. Let a little air out of your tires. Since you will be going slow anyway. It saves from a tire slamming into a sharper rock. Add that little bit of air back when you get on the other side.
I'm from the town of monongahela pa and there is an old rr tunnel up in the hills abandoned years ago that has to be 800-1000 ft long and on sort of a bend. Be a cool vid! Haven't been up there in years. Most locals don't even know it's there!
That view from the top was definitely breathtaking and very beautiful there Cliff. Going thru those tunnels was awesome too. Thanks for sharing the one they remade for pedestrians, that used to be huge for trains at one time and you could tell that too. Very cool bridge you crossed with a small path to walk on there. That view is awesome from that bridge. A very awesome walk thru all this and thanks for sharing the experience man.
Excellent fishing for trout on Penns creek. Fly fisherman come form all over to fish it during the Green Drake hatch in June. Beautiful area around Poe Valley and Coburn, I have fished there many times. Nice video.
Naomi likes it ruff lol. These roads are what I was talking about on the other video, our state has let these mountain roads go to hell. Knob Ridge Road by Reeds Gap and Still House Hollow at the bottom of the 7 Mountains are others that are now horrible. I used to run on all these roads back in the late 90's in my '82 Subaru wagons, carried 3 spare tires, battery, 5 gal gas jug with fuel line, extra distributor, fuel pump and a roll of wire. Good times.
I carried a tow strap and folding camp saw for years never know if you break down back on one of those roads , or need to cut a small tree up and pull it out of the way. I still carry a blanket and snacks , and a jug of water and antifreese. Also a bag of kitty liter for snow.
Been thru that tunnel many times. Spooky. Had a couple shots of whiskey with 2 old timers at the cabin that is on the other side. Never forget those nice gentlemen. He showed us pictures of travelers from all over he’s had visit. Really cool day. PBS had a cool special about this area some time ago. The coburn tunnel was creepy too! We stayed in a cabin near it a long time ago. The cabin was crap and is probably gone now.
I remember those two old gentleman. I too was invited in for a visit and pictures were shared. Last time I spoke with one of the guys was a few years ago, after the tunnel was reopened. The other gentlemen had passed away and was greatly missed by his buddy. These were the guys who climbed through the closed tunnel that I mentioned in my comment. I have had many lunch breaks at the picnic table that sits next to the cabin. Lots of good memories.
Thanks for sharing ive been going through that tunnel ever since I was a kid. Im pretty familiar with Penns Creek and the Millmont area and Union County.
That's a really cool tunnel there I like the second one better but boy they had to have some small engines cuz that was a kind of lopsided looking hole.the first tunnel the pool Patty or whatever you call the tunnel that one I think they messed the front side up where you came in I like the back side of it where you had the original and then the one in the middle I understand for the bats but I think the other side look cooler than the first side you came in. I already did your videos I used to live up in Pennsylvania for a short time and I look at these places where you go and it's like God I wish I still lived up there.
yeah they've stopped maintain the roads back in the mid 70"s . At point look out and Penns view you'll get the occasional Bald eagle and golden eagle fly by ...
@@thewanderingwoodsman7227 I just saw your video. Grew up there. And now I'm older, stating to learn the history and area. Being a dumb kid I didn't care. I would like to find an old tunnel, caves or waterfalls. Won't explore caves. I'm not stupid. But like to look and explore.
