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| Foto:ZION NATIONAL PARK, UT, USA |
VISTORBELITUNG.COM,ZION NATIONAL PARK, UT, USA – For countless visitors to Zion National Park, the journey through the majestic red rock canyons is not complete without traversing one of the park’s most historic and breathtaking features: the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. This mile-long passage, carved directly through solid sandstone mountains, stands as a testament to early 20th-century engineering prowess and provides a crucial gateway through the park’s dramatic terrain.
The tunnel is an integral part of the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway (State Route 9), a scenic road that connects the park's south entrance to its east side, offering direct travel access between Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon National Parks.
Construction on the 1.1-mile (1.8 km) tunnel began in the late 1920s and was dedicated and opened to the public on July 4, 1930. At the time of its completion, it was the longest non-urban road tunnel in the United States.
Carving the tunnel through the massive Navajo sandstone cliffs was a monumental undertaking. Crews worked for three years, using a combination of drilling and blasting techniques to bore the passage. One of the tunnel's most unique characteristics is the presence of several "galleries" or windows—large openings blasted through the cliff face. These windows originally served the dual purpose of providing ventilation and a way for workers to dump excavated rock into the canyon below.
Today, these galleries offer drivers and passengers stunning, fleeting views of the sheer canyon walls and the dramatic landscape of Pine Creek Canyon.
The tunnel’s construction was necessitated by the need for a shorter, safer route through the park’s steep terrain. To reach the tunnel's western portal, the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway features a dramatic series of switchbacks cut directly into the canyon wall, which offer their own exhilarating driving experience and incredible photo opportunities.
However, the tunnel's historic dimensions narrow lanes and tight curves require special safety procedures today.
"Due to the size of modern vehicles, particularly RVs and large buses, the National Park Service must implement traffic control," explained a park official. "For larger vehicles, traffic is converted to one-way operation to allow them to safely cross the center line."
Visitors with oversized vehicles must purchase a tunnel permit and be escorted by a park ranger during specific hours of operation. This system ensures safety and helps preserve the historic structure for future generations.
The Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel is more than just a road; it is a piece of living history and a thrilling component of the Zion National Park experience, connecting visitors not only to the park’s various landscapes but also to the sheer ingenuity of its past builders.
(Source: National Park Service, Historic Records)