Skip to content

Union Canal Tunnel

Union Canal Tunnel from directly overhead

Union Canal Tunnel is a historic site in Pennsylvania, at a modelled elevation of 166 m. Big Lick Mountain stands 545 m to the north-northwest, 18 miles off. The nearest named place is Union Canal Tunnel Park, a park 0.1 miles away. Route 419 Scenic Byway passes 4.8 miles off. 43 named summits stand within 25 miles.

First transportation tunnel built in the USA

What to expect

Access
Yes

How to reach it

Coordinates40.34918, -76.46081

Named places within 25 miles

Parks
  • Union Canal Tunnel Park: 0.1 mi
  • Lions Lake Park: 0.9 mi
  • Coleman Memorial Park: 0.9 mi
  • Gloninger Park: 1.0 mi
  • Cleona Community Park: 1.2 mi
Attractions
  • Mount Hope Mansion: 8.6 mi
  • Schaeffer Farm: 9.2 mi
  • The Old Hershey Chocolate Factory: 10.7 mi
  • Black-tailed Prairie Dog: 10.8 mi
  • American Elk: 10.8 mi
Museums: 54
Nature reserves: 45
Peaks: 43
  • Mount Ararat: 2.6 mi
  • Governor Dick Hill: 7.1 mi
  • Conewago Hill: 7.3 mi
  • Hulls Hill: 7.5 mi
  • Spring Hill: 7.5 mi
Artworks: 34
  • "Hot Dog" Frank statue: 3.1 mi
  • Cuewe-Pehelle Statue: 3.1 mi
  • Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show: 7.0 mi
  • Summer: 10.8 mi
  • Spring: 10.8 mi
Historic sites: 34
Gardens: 25
Picnic sites: 15
  • Quitte Creek Nature Park: 2.8 mi
  • Swing Circle: 4.1 mi
  • Ampitheater: 4.2 mi
  • Main Campfire Circle: 4.2 mi
  • Hemlock Grove: 8.4 mi
Springs: 8
  • Penryth Spring: 2.3 mi
  • Schaefferstown Spring: 9.5 mi
  • Spring Creek Springs: 10.0 mi
  • Bethany Childrens Home Spring: 14.7 mi
  • Lititz Spring: 15.4 mi
Cliffs: 5
Waterfalls: 3
  • Acrigg's Falls: 10.9 mi
  • Swatara Falls: 22.9 mi
  • Un-named Falls: 22.9 mi
Beaches: 2
  • Mt. Gretna Lake & Beach: 7.2 mi
  • Concrete Beach: 23.6 mi
Ghost towns: 1

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 25 miles of Union Canal Tunnel. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Big Lick MountainNNW 340°545 m18.4 mi
Good Spring MountainN 353°500 m19.4 mi
Short MountainNW 319°500 m21.3 mi
Bear MountainNNW 336°496 m19.9 mi
Stony MountainNW 305°491 m14.5 mi
Third MountainWNW 285°488 m19.0 mi
Panther HeadN 2°473 m16.2 mi
Little MountainN 2°471 m22.2 mi

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox07:1018:4219:18
June solstice05:3719:5920:40
September equinox06:5418:2919:05
December solstice07:2616:0016:43

Local time (America/New_York).

Climate normals

Months averaging 5080 °F: Apr–Oct.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F303240516170747366544334
Precip in3.12.53.63.74.04.54.94.64.64.13.23.6

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Lebanon 2 W, under a mile away.

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap element node/10816325988

More historic sites in Pennsylvania

Day trips start here

Drive to it

Byway plans a real route around stops like this one.

Private beta · Free to join

Take the scenic way to Union Canal Tunnel.

Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.

Private beta · Free to join · No card · Invite when a spot opens