Park Rangers stationed at the Zion Tunnel ensure safe passage for all vehicles.

The Zion Tunnel
Construction of the 1.1 mile Zion Mount Carmel Tunnel began in the late 1920's and was completed in 1930. At the time that the tunnel was dedicated, on July 4, 1930, it was the longest tunnel in the United States. The purpose of the Zion Tunnel (and the east entrance road) was to create direct access to Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon from Zion National Park.





The Zion Tunnel Today
Today the tunnel is basically the same as it was upon its completion over seventy years ago. However, because of the softness of the sandstone through which it passes, much reinforcing has been done and concrete ribs now give added support to the the tunnel's entire length. Collapse of a sandstone pillar west of Gallery #3 in 1958 broke the top out of that gallery and flushed tons of debris into the tunnel, causing its closure for several weeks. Because of that collapse, the tunnel is now monitored electronically twenty-four hours a day to warn park officials to the danger of a reoccurrence.

Escorts
Before 1989, due to immense increase in the volume of traffic and in the size of vehicles passing through the tunnel, large vehicles, including tour buses, motorhomes, and trailers, were involved in more and more accidents and near misses in the tunnel.

A study by the Federal Highway Administration, in early 1989, found that large vehicles could not negotiate the curves of the tunnel without crossing the center line. To insure safety, the National Park Service began an "escort" service in the spring of that year.

Rangers posted at either end of the tunnel during the busy season convert two-way tunnel traffic down to one-way for larger vehicles, insuring safe passage. This service, for which a $15 dollar fee is charged, was provided for over 28,000 oversized vehicles in fiscal year 2006.

During the winter months, drivers of large vehicles must make advance arrangements at the entrance stations for the tunnel escort.

Arranging a Tunnel Escort:
*$15.00 fee per vehicle in addition to the entrance fee.
*Pay this fee at park entrance before proceeding to the tunnel.
*Drive to the tunnel during escort hours (posted seasonally)
*Required for all vehicles and trailers 7'10" (2.4 m) in width and/or 11'4" (3.4 m) in height or larger.
*Fee is good for 2 trips through the tunnel for the same vehicle within 7-day period.
*Beginning January 1, 2007, local sticker residents will be charged the $15.00 tunnel escort fee for all oversized vehicles. An annual tunnel pass will be available to local sticker residents only. The annual tunnel pass will cost $75.00 and will provide unlimited tunnel escorts during a calender year.

Prohibited Vehicles
*Vehicles over 13 feet 1 inch tall, Semi-trucks, vehicles carrying hazardous materials, vehicles weighing more than 50,000 pounds, single vehicles over 40 feet long, combined vehicles over 50 feet long. All Bicycles. Pedestrians.