Tunnel Hill State Trail
A 543-foot tunnel, trestles, cuts, wetlands, towns, and fifty miles of converted railroad grade carry walkers and cyclists across southern Illinois.
Artwork inspired by Walter Ellison
The trail follows former Cairo & Vincennes and later Big Four railroad alignments, translating rail engineering into a gentle but long-distance route. Cuts, fills, trestles, and the namesake tunnel show how builders forced a nearly level corridor through rolling southern Illinois while towns grew around depots and freight access.
Most visitors should choose a segment rather than attempt the entire trail. Vienna to Tunnel Hill offers the signature tunnel and bridges; northern reaches connect to wetlands and Harrisburg. Carry lights for the tunnel, repair supplies for bikes, water, and a shuttle plan. Crushed stone can slow narrow tires after rain.
- Length
- About 50 miles
- Namesake
- 543-foot tunnel
- Surface
- Crushed limestone
Quick guide
- Choose a segment
- Match mileage and trailhead logistics before committing to a one-way ride.
- Carry a real light
- The curved tunnel interior is dark, damp, and shared by travelers moving both directions.
How to make Tunnel Hill State Trail count
- Choose a segment
- Match mileage and trailhead logistics before committing to a one-way ride.
- Carry a real light
- The curved tunnel interior is dark, damp, and shared by travelers moving both directions.
- Read the grade
- Notice cuts, embankments, drainage, and trestles that kept trains level through broken terrain.
- Prepare for distance
- Water, shade, cell service, surface quality, and repair options vary far from Vienna.
Good to know
This is a daylight-use trail, open daily from dawn to dusk. The Vienna visitor-center exhibits are not open, although its restrooms remain available. Free parking is available at Vienna, Harrisburg, Tunnel Hill, and other official access points. Shuttle planning is required for a one-way trip.
Notice these
- Tunnel Hill passage
- Railroad trestles
- Vienna trailhead depot