Entry No. 36 — the Boulder file — filed under: railroad
Moffat Tunnel East Portal
The official death toll for building this tunnel was 28; a multi-year research project by Preserve Rollins Pass found the real number was nearly double — at least 54 — a ledger kept deliberately short for political and financial reasons. A dirt road from Rollinsville dead-ends at the portal mouth, a concrete arch bored 6.2 miles straight through the Continental Divide, and if you wait long enough a coal train will materialize from the dark, rattle past you at close range, and vanish back into the mountain on the other side. Massive ventilation fans kick on in the aftermath to clear the exhaust. When it opened in 1928 it was the longest railroad tunnel in the Western Hemisphere.
The story
The official story printed in 1928 claimed 28 men died boring 6.2 miles of concrete and granite straight through the Continental Divide. You didn't hear it from us, but that tally was engineered. A multi-year investigation by Preserve Rollins Pass dragged the real records into the light: at least 54 workers lost their lives in the dark beneath the ridge. The lower count was kept deliberately short by officials terrified of political fallout and spiraling construction costs on what was then the longest railroad tunnel in the Western Hemisphere.
Today, the East Portal sits at the end of a dead-end dirt road in Rollinsville—a heavy concrete arch punched directly into the mountainside. It remains a fully operational piece of heavy rail infrastructure. Stand near the portal mouth long enough and the ground will start to pulse before a freight train or Amtrak line materializes out of the black, rattles past your chest at point-blank range, and plunges into six miles of solid rock. The moment the tail end disappears, massive industrial ventilation fans roar to life, blasting a plume of scrubbed diesel exhaust out into the alpine air.
What it's like
To get there, you'll take East Portal Road straight out of Rollinsville—a narrow dirt route that ends abruptly at the portal and the USFS trailhead parking lot. Standard vehicles handle the dirt fine in dry weather, but the lot fills fast on summer weekends, so aim for a dusk visit or early morning. You'll park, pass the vault toilets, and walk up to the security chain-link fence guarding the tracks. Stay behind the fence; this is an active mainline rail property. Between trains, the quiet of the James Peak Wilderness takes over, punctuated only by the sudden jet-engine hum of the giant exhaust blowers.
The move: Drive the dirt road to the portal at dusk, post up near the chain-link fence, and wait for a freight train to emerge from the mountain — then walk the James Peak Wilderness trails above the portal while the fans still run.
📍 Before you go Take East Portal Road from Rollinsville — it's dirt and dead-ends at the portal; passable for standard vehicles in dry conditions but narrow. A USFS parking permit is required; large lots can fill early on weekends. Vault toilets on site. The portal itself is active railroad property — stay behind the fence. James Peak Wilderness group size is capped at 12.
- 📍 Rollinsville
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Hours: Added 2026-06-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Devil's Slide Trestles (Rollins Pass) — Examine the high-altitude wooden trestles built for the brutal over-the-pass rail route that this tunnel was built to bypass.
- Stage Stop (Historic Rollinsville Stage Station) — Grab a look at Rollinsville's 1868 stagecoach stop on your way out along the dirt road.
- Train Cars Coffee & Kava — Head 15 minutes north to Nederland to get coffee inside a set of converted vintage rail cars.
Good to know
Is Moffat Tunnel still an active railroad?
Yes. Freight coal trains and Amtrak lines regularly run straight through the 6.2-mile bore beneath the Continental Divide. Keep clear of the tracks and respect all railroad boundary fencing.
What are the driving and parking conditions at the portal?
Access is via East Portal Road out of Rollinsville, which is dirt, narrow, and dead-ends at the portal. It is generally passable for standard cars when dry. A USFS parking permit is required at the trailhead lot, which fills up quickly.
Why was the real death toll hidden during construction?
While official records listed 28 fatalities when the tunnel opened in 1928, research revealed at least 54 men died. The lower figure was maintained to minimize political scandal and secure financial backing for the project.
Can I hike into the mountains from the portal?
Yes, the East Portal doubles as a major trailhead for the James Peak Wilderness, giving access to trails like South Boulder Creek and Crater Lakes. Group sizes in the wilderness area are capped at 12.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · coloradorailfan.com · summitpost.org · cmc.org
last checked: 2026-06-21