EISPIRATEN

Not to be confused with the Bridge To Nowhere, the road is in the same neck of the woods, high above the western flank of the East Fork. Also known as the Tunnels to Nowhere, this dirt road was built during the Cold War days with the U.S.S.R. when he U.S. government decided that Los Angeles needed an escape route to the desert in the event of a nuclear strike.

The real name is Shoemaker Road, an offshoot of East Fork Road on the way to the East Fork trailhead. Normally it's a pretty boring hike, except for the tunnels, but the second time I visited, on a rainy day, it took on a whole new dimension. The road is about 2.5 miles each way, and dead ends shortly after the second tunnel. Construction began in the 1950s, but it was abandoned back in the 1960s due to cost overruns, rockslides and environmental concerns.

The first tunnel ....



This doesn't exist anymore. It was one of two old bee farms ....



Inside the first tunnel ...



Setting to mood for your dark tunnel adventure ....



More caveman art for your viewing pleasure ...



Still more nightmarish creations on the way through the tunnels ...



Back view of the second tunnel ...



An old water tank perched near the side of the road....



Beneath the road there are a series of drainage tunnels. This road was built well and meant to last ...



Inside the tunnel above. Because it was raining I opted not to explore it, yet ...

I think it would be hilarious to mount one of those motion-activated singing fish inside the tunnel. I'd wait for someone to set it off and then wave my flashlight around. Then I'd yell, "Tunnel Dance Party!" and start bopping around like a maniac.

Or a malfunctioning Lincoln robot.

Ha, ha, Limbo Dance Party! President Lincoln wins.

Jefferson Davis agrees.

Fun photos - thanks for sharing

Just put up a YouTube video on the road along with some hidden places most people miss.

Another excellent video!

Thanks Gene

Great job! I love the clips of old films. And that music for Tunnel One is exactly how I feel when I walk through it.

That was an excellent video, thanks for sharing.

Who knows what evil lurks in the depths of tunnels?

Brings back memories. Used to go to nighttime drum circle parties in the first tunnel - good vibes until the witchcraft/animal sacrifice folks started to show up and use the spot for their ceremonies as well.

Cool spooky murals. Looks like the taggers went wild on everything in sight up there since last time I was there.

Thanks again for another awesome history lesson and outstanding video voyage.

It must be difficult spray painting those murals in the pitch blackness. Every inch of the walls have now been tagged, but at least they're restricting their "artwork" to the inside of the tunnels.