PA Abandoned Places

Exploring The Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike

The Abandoned PA Turnpike Pike 2 Bike Trail

If you’re looking for information about exploring the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike, you’re in the right place!

Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike Rail Trail at Rays Hill Tunnel.

Officially known as “The Old PA Pike Trail” (or TOPP Trail), no trail in the Keystone State delivers post-apocalyptic vibes quite like the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Bicycling the Sideling Hill Tunnel in September 2020.

Eight and a half miles of abandoned superhighway, last open to normal vehicle traffic in 1968.

The Abandoned PA Turnpike in Bedford County.

Two eerily dark tunnels along the route, one more than a mile long.

Water pooling inside the Sideling Hill Tunnel. — The Sideling Hill Tunnel along the abandoned PA Turnpike.

Relics of the nation’s first superhighway, now a hauntingly desolate hiking and biking trail in Bedford and Fulton counties.

Mermaid graffiti along the Abandoned PA Turnpike in Fulton County.

If all of this sounds appealing to you, follow along as I explain exactly how to find the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike, and what awaits you when you arrive!

Aerial view of the eastern portal of the Sideling Hill Tunnel along the Abandoned PA Turnpike.

Legal Disclaimer

This property is not maintained or monitored for safety conditions, and therefore this is strictly a VISIT AT YOUR OWN RISK DESTINATION!

By voluntarily exploring this location, YOU assume the risk of any personal injury or damage to personal property, and shall not hold the author liable for any injuries, loss, or damages that may occur while visiting this location.

Directions to the Abandoned PA Turnpike

There are two main trailheads for the Abandoned PA Turnpike – one is just outside of Breezewood in Bedford County, while the other sits near Sideling Hill in Fulton County.

An orange bicycle sits on the graffiti-covered pavement in front of the western portal of Rays Hill Tunnel, its concrete façade weathered and tagged with layers of colorful artwork, along the 8.5-mile Abandoned PA Turnpike in Bedford and Fulton counties. — Rays Hill Tunnel near Breezewood.

Stretching 8.5 miles, the trail forms a near mirror image from either end, featuring a tunnel roughly a mile in at both trailheads and a four-mile span of flat forested highway between them (see segment map below.)

Map of the 8.5-mile Abandoned PA Turnpike Trail showing the route between the Breezewood and Sideling Hill trailheads, with labeled segments, distances, and locations of Rays Hill Tunnel and Sideling Hill Tunnel along the former Turnpike corridor in Bedford and Fulton counties.

Directions to the Breezewood Trailhead

The Breezewood trailhead and parking area is located near the intersection of Route 30 and Tannery Road, at GPS coordinates 40.00154, -78.22511.

If you’ve been visiting the Abandoned PA Turnpike as long as I have, you probably remember when the only parking option was a small dirt lot off Route 30 that held just a few dozen cars (shown as Old Parking Area on the map below.)

Map showing the Breezewood Trailhead for the Abandoned PA Turnpike, highlighting the former parking area, the new designated parking area along Tannery Road, and the trail’s proximity to Route 30 at the western end of the 8.5-mile former Turnpike corridor in Bedford and Fulton counties.

As of 2025, you simply pass through the former dirt lot, drive up the little hill, and park right on the Abandoned PA Turnpike next to the trailhead, a massive improvement with space for well over a hundred vehicles (see photo below.)

Photo of the Breezewood Trailhead showing newly painted accessible parking spaces beside the cracked pavement of the Abandoned PA Turnpike, with arrows indicating the adjacent parking area at the western end of the 8.5-mile former Turnpike trail in Bedford and Fulton counties.

From the Breezewood trailhead, you’ll be hiking/biking east, where you’ll encounter Rays Hill Tunnel in 1.3 miles.

Yellow-highlighted photo showing the Breezewood Trailhead entrance to the Abandoned PA Turnpike, with an orange bicycle parked beside a graffiti-covered barrier and an arrow indicating where the 8.5-mile former Turnpike trail begins in Bedford and Fulton counties.

Directions to the Sideling Hill Trailhead

The Sideling Hill trailhead and parking is located just off of Pump Station Road in Fulton County, at GPS coordinates 40.04878, -78.09578.

As of December 2025, there’s still no signage along Pump Station Road marking the trailhead entrance, but the photo below shows exactly what to look for.

Photo showing the approach to the Sideling Hill Trailhead from Pump Station Road, with a red pickup truck parked at the intersection and an arrow indicating the parking area located up the narrow, tree-lined access road leading to the 8.5-mile Abandoned PA Turnpike in Bedford and Fulton counties.

Parking at Sideling Hill works the same way as at Breezewood – you’ll pull right onto the old Turnpike before starting your trek.

Aerial map highlighting the Sideling Hill Trailhead for the Abandoned PA Turnpike, showing the designated parking area along the old roadway and its connection to Pump Station Road at the eastern access point to the 8.5-mile former Turnpike corridor in Bedford and Fulton counties.

Check out the photo below for a visual of the Sideling Hill parking area and trailhead.

Photo of the Sideling Hill Trailhead on the Abandoned PA Turnpike, showing a red pickup truck parked on the cracked old roadway, an orange bicycle near graffiti-covered barriers, and arrows marking both the parking area and the start of the 8.5-mile former Turnpike trail in Bedford and Fulton counties.

From the Sideling Hill trailhead, you’ll be hiking/biking west, where you’ll encounter Sideling Hill Tunnel in 1.2 miles.

Photo of the Sideling Hill Trailhead entrance to the Abandoned PA Turnpike, featuring an orange bicycle in front of graffiti-covered concrete barriers and a marked pathway showing where the 8.5-mile former Turnpike trail begins in Bedford and Fulton counties.

Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike FAQs

When was the Pennsylvania Turnpike built?

Ground was broken for the Pennsylvania Turnpike in October 1938, and it opened to traffic in October 1940.

Souvenir brochure for the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Why was this stretch of the PA Turnpike abandoned?

Because the two 2-lane tunnels along this stretch of the turnpike caused severe traffic back-ups as vehicles on the 4-lane highway had to merge to pass through them.
Information below from PA Turnpike exhibit at the State Museum in Harrisburg.
An informational plaque about the Sideling Hill Tunnel at the PA State Museum in Harrisburg.

When was this stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike abandoned?

A bypass around the tunnels and up over the mountains was opened in 1968.
Information below from PA Turnpike exhibit at the State Museum in Harrisburg.
Informational sign about the abandoned turnpike tunnels, on display at the PA State Museum in Harrisburg.

Is it legal to visit the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike?

Yes – this section of road is officially known as “The Old PA Pike Trail” (or TOPP Trail for short), with a number of improvements planned pending availability of funds.

Was the abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike built on top of an old railroad?

Yes it was – the Pennsylvania Turnpike was built on top of the started-but-never-completed South Pennsylvania Railroad, which was a joint partnership between famous businessmen of the day William Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie (pictured below in front of the Rays Hill Tunnel in 1884), Henry Clay Frick, and J.P. Morgan. Image of Andrew Carnegie standing next to the Rays Hill Tunnel during initial construction.

Is it true that the abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike was used to film a movie?

Yes – the 2009 post-apocalyptic survival flick “The Road” was filmed at several locations along the abandoned PA Turnpike, including the Rays Hill Tunnel.
A scene from the post-apocalyptic film "The Road", filmed at the Rays Hill Tunnel in 2009.

Is the Abandoned PA Turnpike open year-round?

Yes – even in the winter you can enjoy hiking along this unique trail.
Aerial view of the eastern portal of Rays Hill Tunnel in the snow.

Exploring the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike

Before you set out to explore the Abandoned PA Turnpike, you should familiarize yourself with “The Rules of the Road.”

Yellow “Rules of the Road” sign for the Old PA Pike (TOPP) Trail, outlining safety guidelines, permitted uses, prohibited activities, and bat-habitat protections for visitors exploring the 8.5-mile Abandoned PA Turnpike in Bedford and Fulton counties.

If you plan to tackle the entire 8.5 mile trail, the choice of starting point is completely up to you – both ends work equally well.

Orange bicycle parked on the cracked, overgrown pavement of the Abandoned PA Turnpike, with colorful “End of the Road” graffiti painted across the old highway and leafless woods lining this 8.5-mile former Turnpike stretch in Bedford and Fulton counties.

If you only have time to explore a portion of the trail, I personally recommend starting at the Sideling Hill trailhead, as the Sideling Hill tunnel is nearly twice as long as the Rays Hill tunnel and delivers the most impressive photos and experience, in my opinion.

A person in an orange jacket stands beside an orange bicycle on the cracked pavement leading to the graffiti-covered entrance of Sideling Hill Tunnel, surrounded by rocky hillsides and bare winter trees along the 8.5-mile Abandoned PA Turnpike in Bedford and Fulton counties. — Western portal of the Sideling Hill tunnel.

Though the 4-mile stretch of trail between the tunnels is relatively uneventful, a few side trails leave the old highway and take you to some fascinating spots in Buchanan State Forest; I’ll mention those at the end of this article.

An orange bicycle stands on the cracked, overgrown pavement of the Abandoned PA Turnpike, with the long, tree-lined roadway stretching toward distant ridges under a partly cloudy sky along this 8.5-mile former Turnpike route in Bedford and Fulton counties. — Facing west on the Abandoned PA Turnpike, between the two tunnels.

Practical Tips For Exploring the Abandoned PA Turnpike

I’ve covered this trail on foot and by bike many times, so here are some helpful tips to ensure your Abandoned PA Turnpike adventure is safe and enjoyable.

An orange bicycle rests on the cracked pavement in front of the graffiti-covered eastern portal of Sideling Hill Tunnel, its weathered concrete façade rising from a wooded hillside along the 8.5-mile Abandoned PA Turnpike in Bedford and Fulton counties. — The eastern portal of the Sideling Hill tunnel in December 2025.

Tip #1 – Pay Attention!

The trail surface is nothing like the smooth rail trails or paved suburban greenways you may be used to. This is a half-century-old roadway slowly crumbling back into the earth. Expect potholes, loose gravel, scattered rocks, and exposed roots along the way. Stay alert – it’s easy to twist an ankle or wipe out on a bike if you’re not paying attention.

View of the abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike between the Rays Hill and Sideling Hill tunnels, featuring a cracked, weathered two-lane roadway stretching straight into the distance, bordered by leafless hardwoods on the left and dense evergreens on the right along this 8.5-mile trail in Bedford and Fulton counties.

Tip #2 – Bring A Flashlight

If you plan on exploring one or both tunnels, keep in mind that they are completely unlit and pitch black inside. Be sure to bring a flashlight or headlamp – your cellphone’s flashlight simply won’t cut it.

A photographer illuminated by a spotlight inside the Sideling Hill Tunnel.

Tip #3 – Bring a Jacket or Hoodie

The temperatures inside the tunnels can be dramatically colder than the air outside, even in the middle of summer. If you tend to get chilly, consider bringing a hoodie or light jacket to stay comfortable during your exploration.

Interior of Rays Hill Tunnel along the Abandoned PA turnpike. — Interior of Rays Hill Tunnel.

Tip #4 – Bring Snacks and Drinks

There are no amenities along the trail – no water, no restrooms, no services of any kind. Your best bet is to make a pit stop at the Sheetz in Breezewood or the Sideling Hill Turnpike Plaza near that trailhead before heading out onto the Abandoned PA Turnpike.

Crosswalk and concrete walkway leading from the Abandoned PA Turnpike trailhead back toward the Sideling Hill Service Plaza, with gas pumps, parked vehicles, and distant ridges visible along this access point to the 8.5-mile former Turnpike corridor in Bedford and Fulton counties. — The Sideling Hill Turnpike Plaza is a 5 minute drive from the Sideling Hill trailhead, and you can access it even if you aren’t driving on the turnpike.

Tip #5 – Be Prepared for the Graffiti

There is a lot of graffiti out there – some of it juvenile, some of it artistic, and some of it definitely not kid-friendly. If you’re bringing little ones along, be prepared for a few unexpected (and possibly awkward) questions as you make your way down the trail!

A graffiti mural along the Abandoned PA Turnpike.

Highlights of the Abandoned PA Turnpike

The two main highlights of the Abandoned PA Turnpike are the two tunnels; I’ll describe each of them in detail in this section.

Rays Hill Tunnel on the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike — Rays Hill Tunnel.

1. Rays Hill Tunnel

At 0.7 miles long, the Rays Hill Tunnel was the shortest of the 7 original Pennsylvania Turnpike Tunnels.

Graffiti-covered entrance to Rays Hill Tunnel on the Abandoned PA Turnpike, with colorful artwork lining the weathered concrete portal and leaf-strewn pavement leading into the dark tunnel along this 8.5-mile former Turnpike corridor in Bedford and Fulton counties. — Western portal of Rays Hill Tunnel in December, 2025.

Rays Hill Tunnel straddles a county line – its eastern portal sits in Fulton County, while its western portal lies in Bedford County.

Portal of Rays Hill Tunnel on the Abandoned PA Turnpike. — Eastern portal of Rays Hill Tunnel.

The image below, from the State Museum in Harrisburg, is what drivers would have seen approaching the tunnel from Breezewood in the 1940s.

The western entrance of the Rays Hill Tunnel prior to 1968, on display at the PA State Museum.

Fast forward to today, and here’s what you can expect.

The Abandoned PA Turnpike rail trail in Bedford County. — Rays Hill Tunnel along the Abandoned PA Turnpike trail in Bedford County.

You’ll notice the asphalt and paint around the western tunnel entrance look much fresher because, years after this section was abandoned, PennDOT used the roadway to train employees on paving, line-painting, rumble-strip installation, and road-reflector testing.

Rays Hill Tunnel along the Abandoned PA Turnpike.

Each tunnel has small offices at its eastern and western portals, but aside from graffiti and piles of trash, there’s not much worth exploring.

Control room of the Rays Hill Tunnel along the Abandoned PA Turnpike. — Rays Hill Tunnel office along the Abandoned PA Turnpike.

There is no artificial light inside either tunnel along the trail, but at Rays Hill Tunnel you can see one end from the other.

The inside of the Rays Hill Tunnel, illuminated by a red headlamp.

One interesting feature of the eastern portal of Rays Hill Tunnel is that it is the only portal on any of the original Turnpike tunnels that does not have a ventilation fan on top of it.

The Pike 2 Bike Rail Trail in Bedford County PA. — The eastern portal of Rays Hill Tunnel.

Here’s the same view in 1940, shortly after the completion of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

The eastern portal of Rays Hill Tunnel in a historical photo at the State Museum in Harrisburg.

2. Sideling Hill Tunnel

Sideling Hill Tunnel on the Abandoned PA Turnpike in September 2020.

The Sideling Hill Tunnel was the longest of the original seven Turnpike tunnels, at 1.3 miles in length.

The eastern portal of the Sideling Hill Tunnel as pictured in a historical photo at the PA State Museum in Harrisburg.

Because of the tunnel’s length and the slight arc in the tunnel (to allow for proper drainage and prevent ponding water in the center), it is impossible to see one end from the other.

Interior of the Sideling Hill Tunnel on the abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike.

That means that the Sideling Hill Tunnel is VERY dark inside, the closer you get to the center – bring a strong flashlight!

Sideling Hill Tunnel illuminated by a hiker's headlamp. — Sideling Hill Tunnel illuminated by a hiker’s headlamp.

As with the Rays Hill Tunnel, the walls of Sideling Hill Tunnel are a virtual museum of ever-changing graffiti, ranging from the mild to the wild to the downright profane.

A bright orange bicycle rests inside one of the graffiti-covered tunnels along the Abandoned PA Turnpike, positioned in front of a vivid yellow mural of a potted flower bouquet painted on the weathered concrete walls of this 8.5-mile former Turnpike corridor in Bedford and Fulton counties. — Some of the more tame graffiti inside the Sideling Hill Tunnel.

An obvious trail up the left side of the eastern portal of Sideling Hill tunnel leads to the entrance of the ventilation room on top.

Ventilation turbines above the Sideling Hill Tunnel on the Abandoned PA Turnpike.

Massive fans on top of the tunnels helped force fresh air in and exhaust fumes out.

The twin fans above the Sideling Hill Tunnel on the abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike.

As with the tunnel walls, the ventilation room is heavily graffitied and quite popular with urban explorers looking to leave their mark.

Ventilaltion fan above the Sideling Hill Tunnel on the abandoned PA Turnpike. — Ventilation fan above the Sideling Hill Tunnel on the abandoned PA Turnpike.

Just off to the side of the ventilation room is the old control room.

Control room for the ventilation system on the eastern portal of the Sideling Hill Tunnel.

From here operators monitored the carbon monoxide levels in the tunnel and adjusted the airflow and fans accordingly.

Control room for the fans above the Sideling Hill Tunnel.

Holes in the roof mean that even indoors, the floor can be quite muddy.

The remnants of the ventilation room on top of the Sideling HIll Tunnel.

A stairway behind the fans leads to the ventilation shafts above the tunnel.

Stairway leading to the ventilation ducts above the Sideling HIll Tunnel.

These fans have been silent for more than 50 years, but the roar must have been deafening up close.

One of the two massive fans on the eastern side of the Sideling HIll Tunnel.

3. Cove Valley Service Plaza

Just a few yards from the Sideling Hill trailhead you’ll find the former Cove Valley Service Plaza, now just a large paved area that was used for a time after the closure of this section of the Turnpike as a State Police shooting range.

Remnants of the Cove Valley Travel Plaza along the abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike in Fulton County.

The old buildings and gas pumps at Cove Valley have vanished, their foundations seemingly reclaimed by the earth.

The old Cove Valley Travel Plaza along the abandoned PA Turnpike.

Exploring the Abandoned PA Turnpike in the Winter

For a truly unique experience, try hiking (or cross-country skiing) the Abandoned PA Turnpike in the winter!

Approaching the snow-covered western portal of Rays Hill Tunnel along the Abandoned PA Turnpike.

The starkness of the snow-covered landscape adds an even more post-apocalyptic vibe to the trail.

Snow at the mouth of Rays Hill Tunnel along the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Be sure to dress warmly – the tunnels are quite chilly in the winter.

A winter scene from Rays Hill Tunnel along the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike.

So chilly, in fact, that you may even encounter ice formations hanging from the roof!

Ice formation inside Rays Hill Tunnel along the Abandoned PA Turnpike.

The Sideling Hill Service Plaza “Trailhead”

In 2025 the state opened what they are calling the “Sideling Hill Trailhead” at the rear of the Sideling Hill Service Plaza along the modern-day PA Turnpike.

Sideling Hill Trailhead area featuring a covered pavilion with picnic tables, a curved concrete kiosk displaying trail information, and bike racks at the starting point for exploring the 8.5-mile Abandoned PA Turnpike in Bedford and Fulton counties.

Essentially an extension of the employee parking lot at the plaza, it features a nice picnic pavilion and a replica of a turnpike tunnel portal that highlights some local attractions, including the Abandoned PA Turnpike.

Informational kiosk at the Sideling Hill Trailhead displaying a detailed map, trail guidelines, and nearby points of interest for visitors accessing the Abandoned PA Turnpike, an 8.5-mile former highway stretch running through Bedford and Fulton counties.

Do not confuse this service plaza trailhead with the ACTUAL Abandoned PA Turnpike Sideling Hill trailhead!

Map showing the route from the Sideling Hill Service Plaza to a trailhead on the Abandoned PA Turnpike, highlighting a 1.5-mile approach via N. Hess Road and Pump Station Road to reach the TOPP Trail along this 8.5-mile former Turnpike corridor in Bedford and Fulton counties.

The ACTUAL Sideling Hill trailhead for the Abandoned PA Turnpike trail is 1.5 miles away, and you’d have to walk or ride your bike on a series of windy two-lane roads with no berms or separate bike lanes to get there from the service plaza.

Two-lane road leading from the Sideling Hill Service Plaza toward the trailhead for the 8.5-mile Abandoned PA Turnpike, with guardrails, open fields, and a ridgeline rising in the distance along the Bedford–Fulton county line. — One of the roads you would have to walk along or ride on to access the ACTUAL Sideling Hill trailhead for the abandoned PA Turnpike.

In my opinion, the new service plaza trailhead is best used as a quick pitstop before or after your Abandoned PA Turnpike adventure, thanks to its convenient restrooms and plentiful food and drink options.

Concrete walkway leading from the Sideling Hill Service Plaza toward the covered trailhead pavilion, with parking areas, signage, and surrounding woodland marking the access point to the 8.5-mile Abandoned PA Turnpike in Bedford and Fulton counties.

But to be clear, I would NEVER recommend riding a bike or walking along those 1.5 miles of two-lane road between the service plaza and the actual Sideling Hill trailhead of the Abandoned PA Turnpike – that’s an accident just waiting to happen.

Covered picnic pavilion marked “Trailhead,” featuring green metal roofing, wooden picnic tables, and a paved gathering area next to the starting point for exploring the 8.5-mile Abandoned PA Turnpike in Bedford and Fulton counties.

If you want to drive to the service plaza trailhead before or after you check out the Abandoned PA Turnpike trail, you’ll find it where Mountain House Road dead-ends in the employee parking area behind the service plaza.

Final Thoughts on the Abandoned PA Turnpike

The Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike trail absolutely lives up to the hype!

Approaching the western portal of the Sideling Hill Tunnel on the Abandoned PA Turnpike in September 2020. — Approaching the western portal of Sideling Hill Tunnel on the Abandoned PA Turnpike in September 2020.

It is arguably the most famous abandoned attraction in Pennsylvania, and certainly the largest at 8.5 miles long.

View from above Rays Hill Tunnel along the Abandoned PA Turnpike near Breezewood.

Whether or not any of the planned improvements to “The Old PA Pike Trail” / TOPP Trail ever come to pass, only time will tell.

The author inside the Rays Hill Tunnel. — The author inside Rays Hill Tunnel.

In the meantime, you can enjoy biking or hiking the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike just the way it is!

Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike Bike Trail near Breezewood.

Want to see a cool video about the Abandoned PA Turnpike?

Check this out!

Looking for more nearby abandoned sites?

The Abandoned Sideling Hill POW Camp in Fulton County is literally within a few hundred yards of the western portal of Sideling Hill Tunnel along the Abandoned PA Turnpike, and the two share a common thread you’ll want to read about.

Inside the General's quarters at the abandoned Sideling Hill POW Camp. — Inside the General’s quarters at the abandoned Sideling Hill POW Camp.

The Abandoned South Penn Railroad Aqueduct in Fulton County was built close to and at the same time Sideling Hill Tunnel was first being bored as a proposed railroad tunnel, in the 1880s.

The intricately-crafted South Pennsylvania Railroad Aqueduct in the Buchanan State Forest.

38 Abandoned Places in PA You Can Legally Explore highlights 38 abandoned places in PA that continue to fascinate visitors decades after they outlived their intended purposes.

A collage featuring four of the best abandoned places in Pennsylvania you can legally visit.

30 Must-See Attractions in Bedford County is your guide to some of the best things to see and do on the western side of the Abandoned PA Turnpike.

A collage of four photographs showcasing attractions in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Top left: A woman stands on a wooden dock, gazing out over a calm lake reflecting autumnal trees and a bridge in the distance. Top right: The iconic Coffee Pot-shaped building with its gray walls, red accents, and a sign reading "THE COFFEE POT" against a backdrop of yellow fall foliage. Bottom left: A couple takes a selfie at a scenic overlook, with lush green hills stretching to the horizon under a blue sky with fluffy clouds. Bottom right: A historic red covered bridge over a serene creek, surrounded by verdant greenery and under a partly cloudy sky.

9 Must-See Attractions in Fulton County is your guide to some of the best things to see and do on the eastern side of the Abandoned PA Turnpike.

The best things to see and do in Fulton County Pennsylvania.

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