Zion National Park Tunnel - Montana Owners Club

RKassl · 08-11-2009, 06:10 AM

Has anyone had any experience with the "tunnel" in Zion National Park? Max height they say is 13' 1".

Thanks

Trailer Trash 2 · 08-11-2009, 06:22 AM

When we went there a few years back the rangers stopped all traffic and let vehicles go through the CENTER of the tunnel one direction at a time. if they still do that I cant say , but when you go through have a passinger shine a flashlight on the top of the tunnel you will see all the scars from those that didnt stay in the center of the tunnel or were too tall. but it was a amaising trip through and the enginering that went into the tunnel.

RKassl · 08-11-2009, 06:26 AM

Trailer trash, are you saying that you DID take the Montana through the tunnel?

vickir · 08-11-2009, 06:39 AM

There is a fee for stopping the traffic to let you go down the middle of the tunnel. It used to be $15 ... don't know what it is now.

8.1al · 08-11-2009, 07:13 AM

According to their website vehicles over 7'10" wide or 11'4" tall require an escort. Fee is $15 good for 2 trips in a 7 day period, paid at entrance station. Vehicles over 13'1" high or 50' combined length are prohibited

Trailer Trash 2 · 08-11-2009, 08:59 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by RKassl

Trailer trash, are you saying that you DID take the Montana through the tunnel?

Nope we didnt take the Terry through, I was at a campground just around the corner from there, so I didnt need to, but the truck went through and I did see some Class A's go through in our line to Brice Nat Park.

The Oldguard · 08-11-2009, 10:32 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by RKassl

Trailer trash, are you saying that you DID take the Montana through the tunnel?

We took a 23 foot 1973 wilderness travel trailer through in 1989, and there is no way on god’s green earth I would even try with the “Montana”

Besides it very hard for anyone not to look out the windows in the side of the tunnel as you drive through

sreigle · 08-11-2009, 02:56 PM

I believe our height of 12' 10" is too close to the prohibition height for my comfort. Plus we are over the 50' length limit. Friends told us the rangers actually measured the width of their dually and told them they're an inch too wide and would have to pay for escort through the tunnel. So I bet they have some way to measure height and length, too.

Here's what it says at the national park service site at

http://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisi...mel-tunnel.htm

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.

Trailer Trash 2 · 08-11-2009, 03:45 PM

Oldguard, I do believe I said
" Nope we didnt take the Terry through, I was at a campground just around the corner from there, so I didnt need to, but the truck went through and I did see some Class A's go through in our line to Brice Nat Park."

We had a Terry 5er then, with a front room on the overhang and a rear bedroom. it was taller than the Monty.

TT2

David and Jo-Anna · 08-11-2009, 04:03 PM

When we pulled up to the kiosk upon entering the Springdale entrance to Zion this past May, the ranger looked at the length of our RV (I think they had some marker back on the road leading up to the kiosk showing the max length allowed) and told us we were too long to enter the tunnel. Later on in the campground, I saw travel trailers much shorter than our Montana who also had stickers on their windshield saying they were not allowed to go thru the tunnel. So I suspect the rangers are more than strict in enforcing the 50' length limit. You sure don't want to drive all the way in to the east entrance to the park and then find you have to go back because you are deemed to be too long. Much better to come in thru the Springdale entrance and avoid the tunnel.

But do come--Zion is a terrific park to visit--our favorite!!!

RickW · 08-11-2009, 05:46 PM

We went thru the tunnel in 2007 with a 29' SOB. Because of the Bike Rack on the back they almost did not let us thru.

vickir · 08-12-2009, 04:27 AM

After writing about our time in Zion in one of my Postcards, the now-89-year-old mother of a very dear friend emailed me and told me she grew up in nearby Kanab and, as a child, her family would go to Zion on vacations. Among her many pleasant memories she shared with me was driving through the tunnel and stopping to look out of the "windows" along the way.

This has nothing to do with driving through the tunnel with your Montana, but the thread reminded me of this nice memory ...

dandt · 08-12-2009, 12:28 PM

We were just there in April and Montana was not allowed thru. They just laughed at the pay entrance and said "you were not planning on going thru the tunnel.. " We went around thru Hurricane/Kanab/and up 89 to Bryce

fulltimedreamer · 08-12-2009, 04:59 PM

We went through the tunnel in 2000 with a Ford Explorer Sport and a 19' Starcraft Hybrid. No problems for us but no way our Monty TT can go through there. We did manage to get a few glimpses through the windows in the tunnel.

blarkman · 08-12-2009, 05:36 PM

They did come out and measured the length of the rv with tape measure, as we are 34-11, we also were too long. Our total length, truck and trailer is 53'. So around we went. They were very nice but firm.
bob

birdie · 08-13-2009, 06:08 PM

They turned us around we measured out at 56 feet. We were told it wasnt the tunnel it was the turns. That was in 2007.

markwick · 08-14-2009, 06:32 AM

We went through THE TUNNEL last October - we pulled up with our Monty 3075 and the ranger said we just made it even though I had covers over the vents on the roof. It was a bit hairy as you drive into the tunnel as it looks like you would never make it. Stayed right in the middle of the road with my significant other 'reminding' me if I strayed a foot off course!
Made it through no problem., My measured height is 12' 10" and total length is about 50' - probably had a ranger that was having a good day and allowed us through or else he did'nt like Monties!!

Farmhawk · 08-16-2009, 04:44 PM

We went through the tunnel last February with my 2955RL with out a problem. I paid the $15 additional fee, they instructed me that under no circumstances was to drive past the guard at the tunnel. After we got there we had to wait maybe 5 minutes for the tunnel to clear and drove slow and right down the center of the road. Driving along at 10 MPH my son got some wonderful pictures out of the tunnel windows. We were traveling from east to west, downhill. Overall I am 48' long (shortbed F250) and 12'9" high.

You may also like: