Zion National Park - Mt. Carmel Tunnels

Thursday, October 19th

My turn for a miserable night with my foot. Up several times changing ice packs. This morning, finally some improvement, I can actually walk on it without grimacing. Cloudy again. The sun is supposed to make an appearance by the afternoon, so we decided to drive through the tunnels to Mt Carmel as our destination today.  We left later than usual hoping for sunshine. Ray did the driving as it is my right foot that is affected which makes it difficult to drive. I need it to get better to do Zion NP with the shuttle service tomorrow.

What a fabulous drive, glad we didn't miss it. The picture below shows the road up to the tunnels (2 of them)

"Hit the ten-mile stretch from the Zion entrance to Mt. Carmel, with switchbacks, slickrock and sweeping views with seasonal waterfalls."

It is amazing to pass several tour buses on this road. ! lol

From Google

From way up here to waaay down there.

Next up the tunnels. The biggest one is 1.1 miles long and the second tunnel is quite short in comparison, only a couple hundred feet. The longest one contains several "windows" cut in to let you see some of the view. These tunnels were started in 1927 when cars were small. They never expected RV's the size we have now. When larger units go through like the tour buses, the tunnel is closed to oncoming traffic until they are through at a cost of $15. Glad we have the car.

The highway features a 5,613-foot (1,711 m) tunnel that follows the profile of the Pine Creek Canyon wall at a consistent distance of 21 feet (6.4 m) from the outside face of the rock to the centerline of the tunnel. The west portal is framed by a masonry facade of cut sandstone, while the east portal is a naturalistically formed hole in the rock, entered directly from a bridge. Construction proceeded using mining techniques rather than traditional tunneling techniques, starting from a stope and working outward to the portals.^[4] The tunnel uses galleries to provide light and ventilation through the canyon wall to the outside air. The galleries also provided a place to dispose of rock generated during construction, which was dumped through the galleries into the canyon. Parking spaces were originally provided at the galleries, but were discontinued due to safety concerns. Some galleries have been repaired and partially closed with concrete due to damage from rockslides. The interior of the tunnel is rock-faced, with concrete reinforcement at selected locations. Work on the tunnel was started in 1927 by the Nevada Construction Company and was completed in 1930 at a cost of $503,000.^[3] At the time of its completion it was the longest non-urban road tunnel in the United States.^[5] The tunnel's restricted dimensions require that vehicles over 11.33 feet (3.45 m) in height or 7.83 feet (2.39 m) in width give advance notice so that two-way traffic can be shut down in the tunnel, allowing oversize vehicles to proceed down the center of the tunnel. Vehicles over 13.08 feet (3.99 m) tall and semi-trailers as well as bicycles and pedestrians are prohibited in the tunnel.^{[6] Wikipedia}

In we go.

As there was no one behind us, we briefly stopped so Ray could take this picture out his window.

First "Window"

Another "Window"

Out we go in the first tunnel.

Into the second tunnel.

The colours on this part of the drive were fabulous.

One of the tunnels windows.

After the drive it was time for lunch in Springdale at the Zion Brew Pub ... great beer, food so so. Freya got to be on the patio with us so that was a great bonus. They even gave her a bowl of water.

We all rested up in the shade for the rest of the afternoon.