4 Reviews
Hello everyone! This is a friendly reminder that any of these fun places we may visit, we are a guest at. Please treat both businesses and trails with the utmost respect. We here at Hidden San Diego follow the 'Leave no Trace' mantra, meaning whatever you bring with you comes back with you. If you see trash on a trail, please do your part to help remove it. Remember, we are not picking up trash from another person but instead cleaning up for Mother Nature. Happy adventures!
Personal Experience: Tunnels are not usually my thing. They go on forever and once you're deep in there, you have no way out besides trekking forward or trailing back the same way you came in. On top of that they are pitch black inside, dirty and definitely not for those with extreme claustrophobia. With that out of the way, who's down for a real adventure?
This was a crazy time. It took many months of my friend persuading me into embarking upon a tunnel of this size. I finally caved in though. We went maybe 1.5-2 miles in and had some light show fun deep inside. All was well at the beginning.
My friend is mapping out the entire underworld of San Diego and asked if he could quickly map out one of the small inlets from the main tunnel we were in. I said sure. Well, 30-40 minutes goes by and he's still not back. I call his name. No answer. I scream his name. No answer. I scream it again and again and still no response. This is when I realized that I was several miles inside a super-creepy tunnel, a small female (thankfully with some protection as I recommend you always bring too) and alone. I decided I was not going to wait any longer for him because who knows how long he may be.
I pretty much ran back, the light bouncing up and down off the ceiling and ground and looking and feeling as if I were in a horror movie. It was a nightmare come true and thankfully nothing bad happened. I made it out okay and unscathed. Will I be tunnel exploring with my friend again? Probably not. 🙂
There are several different sections and multiple inlets that will take you different directions. Be careful not to get lost! We just went straight and still didn't go all the way through. We went maybe 35 minutes in I'd say.
It is pitch black inside the tunnels. Not an inch of light. Make sure you have proper lighting. Here is a better example of how dark it is inside, but still, imagine it pitch black:
Jonathan
I wish this wasn’t for members only…. 🙁
July 24, 2016
Vista_4_Life
Did you find your friend?
August 4, 2016
Anonymous
The picture of the cockroach is enough to keep me out.
October 23, 2018
Tiffany Rogness
I used to live in these tunnels for many years. Just under the Johnson freeway exit ramp. The real entrance to hells gate. The 3 tunnels merged into a rotunda, then spread out into different tunnels that went on for miles & miles. You could start there and end up in santee, or mission Valley. To say that they aren’t haunted is an understatement. Haunted and creepy they are. Thankfully we lived in the one dry tunnel and just far enough in that you couldn’t be seen. If it rains you’ve only got about 9 to 11 minutes to get the fuck outta there, otherwise you and your stuff will be swept away fast. Contact me if you want more information or have questions.
May 9, 2021