There’s something unsettling about tunnels. Whether they’re under or aboveground, built for vehicular or pedestrian traffic, natural or manmade, tunnels are mysterious and dark places that can cause the imagination to run amok. So in a state that’s known for its underground caves *and* aboveground geological features, you’re sure to find all sorts of creepy tunnels in the Bluegrass! Here are seven spooky tunnels in Kentucky to explore by car, bike, or foot; summon your courage and set forth on a fun fall adventure!

1. Boone Tunnel
Boone Tunnel, 9859 Harrodsburg Rd, Wilmore, KY 40390, USA
Gabriel Starr/Google Local
Located in Jessamine County, Boone Tunnel is an abandoned tunnel in Kentucky that was once used by myriad modes of transportation to cross the Kentucky River. The history of this area is fascinating and the tunnel -- which hails from the early 20th century -- still stands. Boone Tunnel is no longer open to vehicle traffic and you wouldn't want to drive through it anyway, because it pretty much leads to nothing these days. But that just makes it all the more intriguing to explore!

Get an in-depth look at the Boone Tunnel:

2. Cumberland Gap Tunnel
Cumberland Gap Tunnel, Kentucky, USA
Stratosphere/Wikimedia Commons
Down in the area where Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia converge is Cumberland Gap, a region known for its scenic roads. While most enjoy driving above ground, you may be surprised to learn of the Cumberland Gap Tunnel in Kentucky. This stretch of highway is one of only two mountain tunnels in the country that crosses a state line, and if you have yet to experience it, you should!

Ride along on a drive through this tunnel:

3. Wagon Tunnel
40831, Chevrolet, KY 40831, USA
Andy Anderson/Google Local
Lots of local legend and lore surround this creepy tunnel in Harlan, Kentucky. You'll find this unique tunnel along a 100-year-old wagon road; the tunnel is said to have been punched through the sandstone caprock with a hand-held star drill, hammers, and black powder many years ago!
4. Gun Creek Tunnel
Dawkins Line Rail Trail, Kentucky, USA
Kentucky State Parks/Facebook
This hidden gem is a fun tunnel for hikers and bikers alike. You'll find the 662-foot-long Gun Creek Tunnel along the Dawkins Line Trail near Jenny Wiley State Resort Park. A new addition to the park, this trail is designed for hikers, cyclists, and even horseback riders, and follows the old Dawkins Line railroad bed. Visit the Kentucky State Parks website to learn more about this cool railway tunnel!

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5. Louisville Mega Cavern
Louisville Mega Cavern, 1841 Taylor Ave, Louisville, KY 40213, USA
Louisville Mega Cavern/Facebook
Comprised of 17 miles of tunnels and corridors below Kentucky's largest metropolis, Louisville Mega Cavern is rife with opportunities for exploration. A former limestone mine in the Bluegrass State; today, Louisville Mega Cavern offers adventures that are truly bucket-list worthy, including a 90-minute walking tour that allows for an immersive experience of this extraordinary underground tunnel system.

Learn about the history of this intriguing place:

6. Mammoth Cave
Mammoth Cave, KY 42259, USA
Margaret River/Flickr
Easily the most famous underground tunnels in the world, Mammoth Cave is a massive underworld with more than 400 miles of known passageways -- and more being discovered each year.
7. Nada Tunnel - Red River Gorge, KY
ehrlif/iStock via Getty Images Plus
We saved the best for last: Kentucky's iconic and intriguing Nada Tunnel, a 900-foot tunnel known as the Gateway to Red River Gorge. Driving through this one-lane tunnel is an exciting and harrowing experience, made even more thrilling by the stories surrounding it, because...
...according to locals, the tunnel is reportedly haunted by a railroad worker killed during its construction in 1910.
Nada Tunnel Road, Nada Tunnel Rd, Kentucky 40380, USA
ehrlif/iStock via Getty Images Plus
Will you encounter these spirits during your journey through Nada Tunnel? There's only one way to find out...

 

Have you been to any of these spooky tunnels in Kentucky? Let us know about your experiences in the comments. For more spooky fun in the Bluegrass State, pay a visit to Kentucky’s very own ghost town… if you dare!

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More to Explore

Spooky Places in Kentucky

William Suphan | May 22, 2023

What are the most haunted places in Kentucky?

The most haunted places in Kentucky include:

  • Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville. This creepy place was a place for victims of the Tuberculosis epidemic in 1910 where over 63,000 people died.
  • Maple Hill Manor in Springfield. This manor was built by slaves in 1851 and visitors claim to hear soldiers walking the halls and knocking on doors.
  • Lick Creek Cemetery in Lick Creek. Strange phenomena including disappearing apparitions, glowing objects and more have been reported here.
  • Bobby Mackey’s Music World. This old-fashioned bar is said to be the most haunted bar in the country.

Learn more about the most haunted places in Kentucky.

What are some little-known haunted places in Kentucky?

Some little-known haunted places in Kentucky include:

  • Thompson House in Newport. Once known as the Southgate House, this mansion is where many have reported ghostly encounters.
  • Benham Schoolhouse Inn in Benham. People claim to hear books slamming and see lights going on and off in this old school.
  • Ramada Inn in Paintsville. It is said that Room 216 is full of laughing ghosts and various unusual sounds.
  • Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia. There have been reports that ceiling tiles move on their own here and screaming ghosts haunt the halls.

Find out more about little-known haunted places in Kentucky. 

What are the most haunted streets in Kentucky?

The most haunted streets in Kentucky include:

  • Florence Street in Corbin. Locals claim that it always feels like they’re being watched when going down this road.
  • Red Dog Road in Harlan. People claim to see flickering lights in the trees and hear crunching sounds coming from the woods by this road.
  • KY 90 - There’s a local legend of a newlywed couple who visited here and the bride fell to her death and is said to haunt this street.
  • Power Street in Cumberland. Locals report that the ghost of a young girl runs around crying and rattling doorknobs on this street.

Discover more about the most haunted streets in Kentucky. 

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