These Unique Tunnels In New Mexico Are Downright Surreal

Even if you’ve never heard of the Gilman Tunnels, you still may have seen them. They’ve been used as a filming location for movies such as "3:10 to Yuma" and "The Scorch Trials" (the sequel to "The Maze Runner"). These historic railroad tunnels in New Mexico are located in the Jemez Mountains, near the town of Jemez Springs.

The Guadalupe River surges below the tunnels, through the Guadalupe Box Canyon.

The red-hue of the surrounding rocks is simply beautiful.

This location is so scenic that it’s clear why it appealed to movie location scouts.

But the Gilman Tunnels weren’t created for a film project.

During the 1920s, the Santa Fe North Western Railroad decided to build a line through this area to provide access for logging and mining companies. But the Guadalupe Box Canyon stood in the way. The rock here was extremely hard and the gushing river complicated the project.

Still, this was not a sufficient deterrent. Workers forged ahead with the plan, using dynamite to create the two railway tunnels.

They were dubbed the Gilman Tunnels after William H. Gilman, the company’s vice president of operations.

This railroad was primarily used for hauling timber down from the mountains.

After timber operations ceased in the 1960s most of the company’s land was deeded to the Forest Service. The old train tracks were replaced with a road.

It’s a good idea to visit the tunnels during the fall. Sadly, graffiti is an ongoing issue at this site and, although you’ll find it on the guardrails year round, the Forest Service restores the rocks after the summer season.

To reach the Gilman Tunnels, just turn off Highway 4 onto NM 485.

This video by John Cline Productions gives you an idea of what it's like to drive through the Gilman Tunnels. The tunnels first appear about one and a half minutes into the footage.

There's plenty of things to do in this part of New Mexico. After you visit the tunnels, be sure to explore the town of Jemez Springs, which is known for its hot springs.