The Amazing Sutro Tunnel

I had wanted to visit the Sutro Tunnel for quite a while given its historical significance and the engineering marvel that it was… However, the tunnel is on private property and has a caretaker. So, I was quite happy to receive an invitation to visit and film the site.

The story of Adolph Sutro and the Sutro Tunnel project is an interesting one and I would suggest looking at the website above or looking around online for more details, but to quickly summarize: the project was conceived of, and led by, Adolph Sutro, a Prussian immigrant. The idea was that a drainage adit run into the heart of the Comstock Lode in Virginia City would more efficiently drain the mines and also help with ventilation, make transportation easier and offer an alternative exit to miners in case of emergencies. Later, the tunnel was also used to haul out waste rock (for a fee, of course).

Adolph Sutro had been selling tobacco in San Francisco, but left for Virginia City in 1860 after the potential of the Comstock Lode was more fully realized. Construction of the Sutro Tunnel commenced on October 19th, 1869 and water began to flow in 1878 after years of work and many natural and man-made obstacles.

Anticipating the rich ore in the Comstock Lode beginning to play out, however, Sutro had been steadily selling his shares in the project toward the end. He took the proceeds from these share sales and returned to San Francisco, where he, arguably, made an even bigger name for himself as mayor of the city and developer of Sutro Baths, Cliff House and other projects. Sutro died in 1898.

Thank you to the Friends of Sutro Tunnel for having me out to visit and thank you to all of those who are putting the Sutro Tunnel back on the map... Also, some of you may have recognized my buddy, Michael, from Gold Country Explorers (check out his page on Facebook - there is some great material there) with me on this visit. Credit goes to him for connecting me with the Friends of Sutro Tunnel.

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All of these videos are uploaded in HD, so I’d encourage you to adjust your settings to the highest quality if it is not done automatically.

Several kind viewers have asked about donating to help cover some of the many expenses associated with exploring these abandoned mines. Inspired by their generosity, I set up a Patreon account. So, if anyone would care to chip in, I’m under TVR Exploring on Patreon.

Thanks for watching!

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Growing up in California’s “Gold Rush Country” made it easy to take all of the history around us for granted. However, abandoned mine sites have a lot working against them – nature, vandals, scrappers and various government agencies… The old prospectors and miners that used to roam our lonely mountains and toil away deep underground are disappearing quickly as well.

These losses finally caught our attention and we felt compelled to make an effort to document as many of the ghost towns and abandoned mines that we could before that colorful niche of our history is gone forever.

So, yes, in short, we are adit addicts… I hope you’ll join us on these adventures!

#ExploringAbandonedMines
#MineExploring
#AbandonedMines
#UndergroundMineExploring

[chrisbinckes]

the drainage pond was probably fenced off from the wild horses due to heavy metal contamination and other dangerous colloidals in suspension.... gold mining following quartz vein runs the risk of unleashing huge amounts of natural arsenic crystals.... i lived up in far north queensland (herberton) and my hound became real sick after drinking river water contaminated with mine runoff.... thanks for the upload real interesting.... greetings from tasmania

[markanthonyescalerasr]

Lived in Dayton for several years. Never got to go in the Sutro Tunnel, but have been up the road. Thanks for the tour.

[AbandonedandForgottenPlaces]

“Gly”: Thanks for the tour! I’ve always wanted to get a closer look at that location. Exploring that adit would definitely be a fun adventure if permission was gained.

[worldtraveler]

I'll be looking forward to more video footage of this place in the future!!! 🤠👍

[ginaevlogs]

One of the most thorough videos on the history of the Sutro Tunnel, the grounds, and the town of Sutro. Thank you, Justin. I am lucky enough to live nearby and am taking a tour next week. It’s been a dream of mine for years!

[ElizabethDMadison]

What an incredible place. As a horse person, I especially loved seeing the mule barn in such original condition. It looks like you could practically still use the stalls.

[AUMINER]

always nice to see an upload notification from TVR, thank you for making content :)

[croatiancroissant]

The story of Mr. Sutro is something else. An amazing length of tunnel built to drain the mines and move ore, but the guy sold his shares before everybody realized that the mines had basically stopped producing. THEN he had the grand opening ceremony just for show. He left a millionaire, and everybody else got the shaft(literally).

[milemarker_oscar_mike]

So tempting to squeak past the gate and take a long hard explore inside the tunnel. Very interesting rundown on this location. Thanks ! 👍 👍

[desertrat]

Justin, Thank You for the tour of the Sutro Tunnel area . I was last there in 1958 as a youngster with my family while on vacation . We had initially gone to see Virginia City and then came over to see the Sutro Tunnel . I went on the Tour with my Father while my Mother remained outside with my Sisters who were too young to go on the Tour . There was about a dozen of us on the Tour and we were all told to wear a coat, jacket, or heavy sweater as it would be quite cool inside the Tunnel . They provided everyone with Hard Hats with Electric Cap Lamps, and we all walked approximately a mile back into the Tunnel to a wooden barricade where they were replacing some of the timbers inside the Tunnel . There was a large pipe running the length of the Tunnel above the ''piss ditch'' and you could hear the water flowing through it, and the ''piss ditch'' was also nearly full and flowing to the drain at the Portal . --- In your video of the area outside, I was appalled at how much was missing, removed, or destroyed . The old photo at 12:35 was very similar to how it looked when I was there in 1958, with buildings on both sides of the Portal, but when I was there, there were a string of Ore Cars on the track in front of the Portal . The collapse just inside the Portal at 11:25 was very disheartening that they didn't keep up the maintenance of the Tunnel . --- < Doc > .

[SteveNV]

My Dad took us out there when I was a child of about 5 or 6 which would have been 1965 or 66. I remember the mill and the trestle so it is good to see the old pictures. I didn't know until now it burned in 67. There were some interesting women characters out there my Mom told me not to talk to. Good old Nevada.

[sop]

A similar drainage tunnel was built in the Red Mountain mining district near Ironton, north of Silverton. It addressed the same problem, removing water by gravity instead of pumping it out of the deep mines. Once again, you put up a great video and narration!

[donblassvivar]

I live 20 minutes away from this site. Always wanted to visit it. I have an interest in the Comstock Lode and its history. Glad they are trying to reopen the area.

[sammaloney]

When I was 7, 1972, I lived in Hazen, went to school in Fallon, Oats Park Elementry. During summer school we went on a field trip to the Sutro Tunnel. I remember a tour guide taking us way into the mine, and turned off the lights . It was so dark you couldnt see your hand in front of your face.... Thanks for giving the look around of it now

[silasakron]

The Sutro once led into square set stopes beyond your wildest dreams. Not sure any of that underground is still open today, but the old stories make one want to find out! Even viewing a smidge of what remains there would be fascinating and a privilege.

[Maverick]

This has been a mystery to me for over 30 years, I need to see what is in the tunnel, I need to see how it looks as it goes into the mine as far as it can go, I'd want to see in the Mine. This was like Pancakes for breakfast, but no Syrup. I need Syrup on this Pancake.

[VintageJunker]

Wow! Great Tour! Thank you! I remember reading about the Sutro Tunnel in a book is called Men to match the Mountains" by Irving Stone. It is about the opening of the far west from the Missouri River westward between 1830/40 to 1890. The EV Ore Cars @ 9:11 are very cool to see! Much appreciate the tour. Thanks

[JeannieOnTheMove]

Really great visible history! And I agree about the wild horses! Damn encroachment... Thanks for filming! Hopefully inside in the future!

[TheNorthernTsar]

Yes, the Sutro Tunnel was bored straight as an arrow for 3.88 miles to intersect with the Comstock Lode at depth in distant Virginia City.
However, not all the waste rock from digging was brought forth from the tunnel at it’s entrance(exit)...
Adolf Sutro’s Construction-company utilized 4 separate vertical Mine-shafts in the hills between the mouth and VC to facilitate his tunnel construction as well as remove waste rock & provide ventilation.

[rickbauer]

Great site we visited it back in the late sixties! Thank's for the update! As with you sure want to see inside tunnel!