There are lots of interesting and unique destinations in New York that are worth taking a drive to and seeing. The Culvert Road Tunnel is one of these such places. This tunnel is the only place where you can actually go under the Erie Canal.
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A Unique Destination
The Culvert Road Tunnel was originally built in 1823. However, The tunnel that exists now was rebuilt in 1906 to accommodate the widening of the Erie Canal. If you are fascinated by architecture, this tunnel is a must-see. Building a structure that allows for travel beneath the Erie Canal is quite an amazing feat, especially at the time when it was built.
Exploring the Tunnel
Regardless of which side of the Culvert Road Tunnel you approach from, there is an area to pull off and park. Remember that people live close to the tunnel, so be respectful when visiting. The tunnel is a one-lane road with sidewalks on both sides, allowing people to walk through the tunnel. You can also climb up the sides of the tunnel to reach the top and walk along the Erie Canal.
The inside of the tunnel is consistently wet, and that is because it leaks. I don’t know about you, but that didn’t exactly set my mind at ease when both drove and walked through. All I could think was, “Well, It’s been here this long…” A marker on the side of the tunnel states that the tunnel was featured on Ripley’s Believe it or Not. I have scoured the internet hoping to find a copy of that video to share here with you, but no such luck.
Getting to the Culvert Road Tunnel
The Culvert Road Tunnel was pretty easy to find. In fact, when I entered the word “Culvert” into Google Maps, it automatically suggested it to me. (Sometimes technology can be so helpful!)
Address: 3699 Culvert Rd, Medina
Google Map Link
Other Places to Visit in the Area
Medina Falls
This waterfall takes little to no effort to view and it is a great destination to visit when you want to experience some incredible beauty without having to expend a great deal of effort
Have you seen the Culvert Road Tunnel? What did you think? Do you know of other “marvels” in New York State? We would love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment below.