Zion National Park Tunnel (NPS photo)
Normally, the park charges a $15 fee to vehicles 7 feet 10 inches wide or wider and/or 11 feet 4 inches tall or taller for park rangers to ensure safe one way travel through the narrow 1 mile long tunnel. Because all traffic will be one way for this portion of the road project, there is no special service being provided and a charge is not justified.
The work will start near the west portal of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel and will consist of reconstructing two historic rock retaining walls. Due to space constraints in the affected area, all vehicle traffic through the tunnel will need to alternate one way with a pilot car to safely transit the work zone. The Canyon Overlook parking lot will be closed for use by the pilot car, but the Canyon Overlook trail will remain open. Additional parking for the trail is located 100 yards east of the closed lot.
The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway is closed to all vehicles 8:00pm to 8:00am Sunday through Thursday nights. The road is open 8:00am to 8:00pm Monday through Thursday and at all times for passenger cars from Friday at 8:00am to Sunday at 8:00pm. Tunnel hours for large vehicles are 8:00am to 8:00pm every day. Prohibitions on semi trucks, combination vehicles over 50 feet long and any vehicle over 13 feet 1 inch tall remain in effect.
Alternate routes for travelers between US Highway 89 and Zion Canyon are Utah SR 59 from Hurricane to Arizona SR 389(1.5 hours—good for large vehicles); Utah SR 14 from Cedar City to Long Valley Junction (2 hours—steep grades/curves); or from I-15 to Utah SR 20 (2 hours—good for large vehicles).
For updated information got to Zion National Park or call (435) 772-3256.
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