Deep in Angeles National Forest, a mysterious concrete tunnel appears, a remnant of the nuclear panic of the Cold War era. The tunnel, part of the Tunnels to Nowhere, was built in the 1950s as part of an evacuation route from fast-growing Los Angeles. The plans focused on a potential north-south route through the San Gabriel Mountains, a 25-mile carve-out connecting greater Los Angeles to the High Desert.
The project, officially named Shoemaker Canyon Road, began in 1956, with 4 miles of road carved out along the steep canyon, leading to two tunnels hand-laid with rocks. However, work stopped completely in the 1970s due to concerns about nuclear fallout fading, new environmental concerns rising, and a lack of funding.
Environmentalists pushed back against bringing the road back, citing potential harms to animals and ecosystem-level impacts. The growing environmental movement led to increased support for setting aside areas as wilderness, shifting attitudes from earlier sentiments that had pushed for more roads through the forest.
The Tunnels to Nowhere are now one of the multiple abandoned road projects in Angeles National Forest, providing shade and refuge for hikers. The main purpose of the tunnels is now to provide a cool and shaded spot for hikers to rest and take in the views. The area is currently closed through 2025 due to the Bridge Fire.
The San Gabriel Mountains pose a unique challenge for roadbuilding efforts, with their transverse range and dynamic geology making it difficult to navigate. Decades of failed road projects, including the Bridge to Nowhere and state Route 39, have left behind abandoned infrastructure. There are currently discussions about reopening state Route 39, but it remains to be seen if any of the options will lead to the completion of a north-south route. Despite this, the Tunnels to Nowhere remain a testament to the challenges and uncertainties of building infrastructure in the ever-shifting San Gabriel Mountains.