The Great Loop Part 5
After leaving Page, Arizona, we headed northwest towards the east entrance of Zion National Park. If you're planning to enter Zion via the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel from the east, it's important to note that your vehicle must be medium to small in size. Specifically, it should be less than 11 feet 4 inches tall or 7 feet 10 inches wide including mirrors. Additionally, a tunnel permit is required, which you can obtain from the National Park Service website [here](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/the-zion-mount-carmel-tunnel.htm).
Construction of the 1.1 mile Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel began in the late 1920s and was completed in 1930. When it was dedicated on July 4, 1930, it was the longest tunnel of its type in the United States. The Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, along with the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, provides direct access between Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Zion National Parks.
Unfortunately, due to our vehicle size, we were unable to utilize the tunnel to access the west side of Zion. Instead, we turned around and headed to Bryce Canyon National Park. Arriving late, we were fortunate to find open RV parking at Ruby's Inn RV Park and Campground, which is conveniently located at the entrance of Bryce Canyon.
Bryce Canyon itself is truly spectacular. During our visit in March, some hiking trails were closed due to snow, but the roads were impeccably maintained. We were able to drive our RV to all the lookout points. While you can see a small portion of the park from the road, Bryce Canyon offers extensive trails that could occupy weeks of exploration.
Leaving Bryce, we continued north to Highway 70, cutting across to Arches National Park in Utah. Highway 70 offered outstanding views and numerous photo opportunities as we headed east.
Our time at Arches National Park and Moab was brief, but it left a lasting impression. The arches are truly amazing, though many of them require time to explore via hiking trails. It's definitely a place we intend to return to and explore further.
With time running short, Arches was our last national park stop before we began our journey back home to Florida. This trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, though we could have easily spent months exploring the natural wonders we encountered.
