Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel | Zion River Resort

Sunday - 23 June 2002: 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