Photos of Backbone Rock Tunnel
About Backbone Rock Tunnel
Backbone Rock is a fin of grey rock over 20 m tall and 6 m thick that runs straight across the Beaverdam Creek valley. Incredibly Highway 133 goes right through it because of a hole punched in it in the early 1900s to build a logging railroad. The arch is rough and lopsided, with a hand-chiselled notch at the top where the railway crews had to make room for locomotive smokestacks. Standing well back on the road shoulder lets you capture the full height of the rock over the tunnel. Plus you can use the highway centre line running into the opening as the perfect leading line. A telephoto lens from the far side of the day use parking lot flattens the ridge into a wall with a small black door in it. Cars come through steadily in summer, so if you are patient you should be able to shoot with a car in the gap for scale. Stone steps built in the 1930s climb both sides of the rock to a path along the top, which gives you a view straight down onto the road and the creek. The valley is deep and wooded, so the tunnel faces stay in shade most of the day and overcast light suits the mossy rock and dark trees better than sun, which blows out the road and leaves the arch black. Autumn adds pops of red and yellow trees over the grey rock but it is the busiest season since everyone wants to see/shoot the colours. Parking is on the gravel pull-off beside the tunnel or in the paved lot across the road. The walk to Backbone Falls starts from the same lot so it's worth adding that to your photography adventure while you are in the area. (Shady Valley, Tennessee, United States)
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