State highway 9, which links Zion National Park with St. George, continues eastwards soon after the park entrance up the side of a deep canyon, which eventually becomes too steep for traffic, and passes through the
Zion-Mt Carmel tunnel. This was completed in 1930, part of the 20 mile road to Mt Carmel Junction across very rough but scenic terrain that was considered an almost impossible project at that time. Just before the tunnel, the road passes The Great Arch - a large eroded semi-arch in the red sandstone cliffs.
The Tunnel: The tunnel is too narrow for large vehicles to travel safely in two-way traffic so it is periodically closed in one direction so that oversize vans, RVs etc. can drive through in the middle of the road where the clearance is higher. A fee of $10 per vehicle is charged, which allows for two trips in a 7 day period. The tunnel runs through rock close to the edge of a sheer cliff, and every so often a 'window' in the side gives a brief view of the canyon below.
A Scenic Drive: Beyond the tunnel and alongside the Clear Creek valley are more spectacular cliffs and mountains, still within the park boundary, including many large white rounded domes with intricate criss-cross striations,
such as the famous Checkerboard Mesa. The 15 mile drive to Mt Carmel Junction must be one of the best, most scenic short stretches of road in Utah; narrow and winding, often with sheer rock walls at one side and a steep
drop to the streamway at the other.
Trails: There are several parking areas but only two official trails; one easy and
rewarding path leads to Canyon Overlook from which the Pine Creek fork of Zion Canyon may be seen, stretching into the distance, while the other is the East Rim Trail, a 25 mile
route that crosses mainly flat, forested land before descending to the Virgin River via
Echo Canyon. The southeast of the park also contains
Parunuweap Canyon - formed by the East Fork of the Virgin River,
this is almost as spectacular as the main valley but is trailless and virtually inaccessible. Beyond the park boundaries are more dramatic, remote
canyons such as
Mineral Gulch and Poverty Wash.
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Photography
Photographs - 8 images of the southeast section of Zion
QTVR Panorama - cliffs along UT 9: small |
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