Most People Have No Idea This Unique Tunnel In Minnesota Exists
If you find yourself way up north, past Two Harbors on the North Shore, you’ll likely drive through this scenic tunnel on highway 61. It goes 1,344 feet through Silver Creek Cliff, and was only finally completed in 1994 to prevent drivers from having to take the treacherous route near the cliff’s edge, or a detour several miles inland that was used prior to the 1920s.
The tunnel took 3 years to complete because 500,000 cubic yards of rock had to be blown away.
When the prior road was being used, visitors were in constant danger of boulders tumbling down onto the pavement... not to mention the giant drop into Lake Superior that was stopped by only a small barrier.
The tunnel is beautifully designed with tile-covered walls, and provides a much safer route. You can still explore the views from the old road, as the Gitchi-Gami State Trail runs right along the cliffside.
This 86 miles of trail provides stunning views, and of course most importantly, a closer look at the history of places like Silver Creek Cliff. Check out this video for a closer look at the Silver Creek section.
Do you remember driving on the old highway 61 route around Silver Creek Cliff?
Minnesota staff writer for Only in Your State and owner of Minnesota blog NorthGuide.co, I'm a Minneapolis transplant who loves my cats, camera, and local coffee. On the weekends I'm usually exploring the North Shore or making my way through the list of Minnesota's State Parks. Want to talk about MN or ask me a question? Tweet me @sotafiedjo!
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