Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel | Zion River Resort
Virgin, Utah - Today was a driving day. We
didn't have to drive far - 85 miles or so to arrive here, but we did have to
drive through the park and that in itself was an adventure! We didn't leave
Bryce Canyon until 10:30 this morning. (DT ran into a herd of cows on his
run this morning!) Just outside of Bryce Canyon, there was a sheriff and
small group of men just off the highway shoulder. They had surrounded a big
mule deer - with a nice rack. Maybe he had been hit by a car and they were
trying to help? Unsure, but this is the second time in a row that our drive
has started with an injured deer.
Today, our route took us west on Highway 12, south on 89 and then east
through Zion on highway 9. There is a mile-long, incredibly narrow, tunnel
in Zion National Park. The Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel 13 feet tall. Goldie is 12
feet tall. We can only fit through the tunnel if we drive down the middle,
straddling the center line. For a motorhome to drive through the Zion-Mt.
Carmel Tunnel, the rangers have to stop oncoming traffic (from 8 am to 8 pm
only), and for this inconvenience, they charge an extra $10. On busy summer
weekends, the traffic is back-and-forth one-way all day. It was so exciting,
I video-taped the entire mile! I had to use the "night vision" feature on my
video camera for most of the drive, but occasionally there are cut-outs in
the stone with fantastic views. After leaving the tunnel, you drop down
2,000 feet in less than five miles. I taped that too! (As a little
side-note: I can't tell you how many times on this trip we have seen people
video-taping their DRIVE. I thought they were crazy. Well, now I am a mad
woman too, and you know... it wasn't as bumpy to watch as I thought it would
be.) We saw a big pick-up towing a huge fifth-wheel, AND towing a boat
heading up the hill towards the Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel! (Illegal in Oregon.)
We did not stop in the park, but drove directly to Virgin, set-up camp at
the Zion River Resort and drove the BC2 to the huge metropolis of LaVerken
to stock up on food. After last night's non-memorable feast, we will be
eating where we know the food is good - my kitchen!
RV Park:
Zion River Resort