Zion Tunnel - Montana Owners Club

jjackflash · 09-17-2011, 04:19 PM

Has anyone actually pulled a 3400 using a crewcab long bed thru Zion Tunnel?
Their restrictions state "height 13'6 length no longer than 50 ft. our rig is 55 ft'
Our 3400 has a stock A/C on the front!
Thanks for any replies.
Jack

Jolu · 09-17-2011, 04:45 PM

Jack,
We were there in 2010 and have the Park Map & Guide. It states along with other info like "Prohibited Vehicles" Vehicles over 13'1" tall, Combined vehicles over 50' long. That is pretty much us.

Also Vehicles 11'4' in height or 7'10" in width or larger are required to have an escort which cost $15. They told us our Dually would have to have an escort as stated in the Park Map & Guide. There are also other tunnel restrictions.

Joe

Mrs. CountryGuy · 09-17-2011, 05:25 PM

Jack you do not want to do this, in our opinion. It is not just the tunnel, it is the road on the west side, look at it with Google earth. It is full of hairpin turns, not sure you would be able to make the turns, seriously !!

Our $15.00 guided drive through, was NOT guided, but rather controlled traffic.

Drive the tunnel, it has the most spectacular scenery!! Specially that west side, but leave your unit somewhere and only go with truck.

jjackflash · 09-17-2011, 07:41 PM

Thanks Joe and Carol,we've been through the tunnel with the Dually but not with trailer.
We are going from the north into Bryce Canyon and than I was hoping to go from there through the tunnel over to Zion RV resort near the 15. The 15 would take us south to Hesperia,Ca. right off the 15. I guess I'll have to rethink this one!
Thanks again, Jack

pbahlin · 09-18-2011, 02:24 AM

We were 55' and got turned around by park rangers at the tunnel. They have it marked out on the ground and will definitely check it out. Don't try to bluff your way through.

Plan an alternate route while you're still well away from there or you'll be in for a really long detour.

Champ_49 · 09-18-2011, 04:21 AM

Was just there a couple days ago. They wouldn't even let my Ford dually through the tunnel without a $15.00 pass to go through it. Being that we would have had to pay each way to get back to our trailer we elected not go. I wouldn't even want to haul my trailer through the park. Lots of switchbacks as stated with rocks at a very close clearence. And lots of tour buses going both ways. Would be pretty narrow in a lot places to pass them. Just my take on it...

Dave

Mrs. CountryGuy · 09-18-2011, 05:54 AM

The $15.00 fee covers 2 drive thrus, one each way and is good for a number of days, how many, I don't remember. It is not $15.00 each way, unless they have changed since May of this year, and that could very well happen, eh??

jjackflash · 09-18-2011, 06:44 AM

It's 7 days Carol!
Jack

jackandh2o · 09-21-2011, 03:19 AM

Jack, I'm a little late but wanted to chime in anyway. We did this about 10 days ago. I didn't do my homework good enough, our plan was Lake Powell, Zion, Bryce,Capitol Reef and so on. Got to the ranger station on the east side of Zion and rembered the tunnel. Ranger asked how long I was and I really didn't know,she measured us at a little over 50 feet. Her responce was, you're a good driver aren't you?. It was raining that day(as it was every day) and I really didn't want to go back and come in from the 15. I paid the $15.00 and pulled over to the right and kept thinking about it. We had passed a campground about 2 miles earlier and I actually turned around and left the park and was going to stay there. Once we got there and saw the suroundings I said I ain't staying here so turned around again.

I really wanted to stay in Springdale so showed my Golden Age Pass again and we headed for the tunnel. There are a LOT of motorhome rentals in all the parks and huge tour busses so we weren't alone when we went thru the tunnel, stayed in the center , no issues. As Carol stated there are a lot of switchbacks but no one was in a hurry and I followed a tour bus into Springdale. A few days later we went out the same way. I will say uphill is easier than downhill.

Main thing is it wasn't that bad. I think the road to Lake Isabella, Kernville from the west side is a lot scarier, for me anyway. Hope you had a good trip. We are!!

Champ_49 · 09-21-2011, 03:45 AM

Carol: The ranger at the gate told us we were to wide we would need an escort. I said well I have to go through it, then return trip. That would be $30.00 and he just shrugged his shoulders and said you can go in about a 1/2 mile then you will have to turn around. This ranger I believe was having a bad day I guess because he was not informative at all. There was no line behind me and he didn't want to explain a thing. Guess I was cheated out of a good trip. Oh well, we will be back and will check further into it next time.

Dave

Mrs. CountryGuy · 09-21-2011, 06:27 AM

Dave, if you were just a truck or even a dual wheeler truck, you were totally cheated. BAD ranger.

We did it, $15.00 for two trips thru, go down the middle. They did NOT escort us, they just stopped ALL traffic on one end of the tunnel, let us thru, then, started traffic again. Nita and Al did the same thing about a month before we did, basically same methods.

I am so sorry you got a snarly ranger. Can relate, we found his counterpart at West Yellowstone. Was the first and only bad ranger we found the entire trip, and he stuck out like a SORE thumb. All other rangers were helpful, took all the time we wanted or needed to ask questions and get answers that worked for us.

Champ_49 · 09-22-2011, 02:26 AM

Carol yes I was just a dually truck, no trailer involved. Yip, I was cheated and wish I could have made the trip, but if I hadn't been so cheap I would have found out from another that I didn't need another pass. I seen the sign at the entrance giving the dimensions of vehicle. 7' 10" in width. I have not got a tape out and measured the truck but I believe I am within them measurements.

Oh well, another day will come and we will make the trip. Thanks Carol for heads up.

Dave

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