Mount Carmel Junction is a Utah town located 12 miles east of Zion National Park at the junction of U.S. Route 89 and State Route 9 (Utah) in Southwestern Utah.

Mount Carmel Junction is in Kane County, Utah and it is part of Long Valley which includes Mount Carmel, Glendale and Alton. An entrance to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is in the towns of Glendale and Alton.

In 1930, the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel was completed linking Zion Canyon to the spectacular land on the east side of the park. Jack Morrison went to see the remote and untamed area to the east, but the path was not an easy one. Jack had to tie a Cedar tree to the back of his Model-T-Ford to safely drive down the hill. After a short visit, Jack came home to his wife, Fern and said: "I think I know where the road from Zion is going to come down. I'd like to use my Veteran and homestead rights to file on that land." In 1931, the couple homesteaded the area now known as Mount Carmel Junction. The land was harsh and it was riddled with gullies, quicksand, layers of sand and prone to violent flash floods. Jack set to work damming strategic locations so that when the washes flooded, the water would pour down from the mountains carrying vast amounts of silt to aid in filling the holes, gullies and washes and help to build the land. To make ends meet, Jack had to work on the railroad, leaving his wife and four children for long periods of time. Fern, who was known for her baking skills, built a lean-to and sold pies to the truck drivers. In 1940, Jack and Fern built the Thunderbird Restaurant. It was difficult to survive there and they lost two children in the flash floods of the Virgin River. Jack died in 1961, from cancer after spending much of his life working in the coal mines. Fern, though a strong willed and hard working woman continued to build. Before Fern died in 1998, she built the beautiful Best Western Hotel, remodeled her Chevron gas station, Thunderbird Restaurant and Thunderbird Gift Shop. The lodge seen today is what she built in her life time. The land today is lush and manicured with hardly a trace of the days of the past. Today Fern's youngest daughter, Marie and her two grandchildren Ed and Tanya, have purchased the Thunderbird. These three people cherish the legacy that Fern left behind. They, along with their families, continue to operate it today. Small amounts of land were sold off to survive. Across the highway from the Thunderbird on State Route 9 and U.S. Route 89 is a Shell Station owned by by the original land buyers, the Ramsay family, and on U.S. Route 89 is the Golden Hills Motel which has been owned by several different people over the years.

The East Zion Thunderbird Lodge is a classic in the Zion National Park area. It is nestled in a peaceful valley that is generously endowed with mountain views. The hotel is a striking Southwestern beauty. Starting with the high beamed ceiling and unique western decor of the lobby. The hotel features large rooms decorated to match the character of the land. The East Zion Thunderbird Lodge is a perfect balance of history, hospitality and Southwest charm. Each room has been designed for comfort and visual appeal that reflects the history and

Mount Carmel Junction is known as the “Heart of the Parks”. Utah’s most incredible attractions are just a short drive away. Road Tripping on the east side of the Zion National Park is a favorite with many Southern Utah visitors. It’s just a quick 12 miles to Zion National Park, which is host to some of the most incredible trails in the national park system. Next time you drive along the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway, note the side canyons and peaks. Expand your horizons. There are wonderful gems to explore in the park outside of Zion Canyon.

From Mount Carmel Junction take a day trip to other nearby attractions. Drive six miles north to Glendale where an entrance to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is located. Turn on the Bench Road and navigate this rustic and scenic dirt road to its junction with Skutumpah. Along Skutumpah Road get out and enjoy Lick Wash, Willis Creek and Bull Valley Gorge. All three, humble names, but they are magnificent slot canyons. For a long day hike or an overnight backpack combine Bull Valley Gorge with Sheep Creek and Willis Creek to make a slot canyon lover's dream come true. Take the family for a stroll and enjoy the colorful, sculpted walls of Willis Creek which are ideal for photography. Keep driving past the slot canyons to arrive at one of the Staircase Visitor Centers located in town of Cannonville, where you will find that Bryce Canyon is now just a jaunt away. For a faster trip from Mount Carmel Junction, drive 60 miles on the highways to get to Bryce Canyon. Either way you go, head over to hoodoo country, the attractions in this region host unique and fascinating trails. Dixie National Forest’s Red Canyon and Bryce Canyon National Park put on a breathtaking show as hikers wind through mazes of fairyland castles. Load up the ice chest and take the 22 mile drive to Cedar Mountain from Mount Carmel Junction. Get out and stretch your legs on the short and scenic trails like the Cascade Falls Trail and the Bristlecone Pine Trail. For something a little longer, hike one of the three sections of the Virgin River Rim Trail or hike around the Navajo Lake Loop. Then head up State Route 148 to Cedar Breaks. Besides the popular Cedar Breaks trails, adventurous hikers might want to head through the Ashdown Gorge – Rattlesnake Creek Trail which begins just outside the north entrance to Cedar Breaks.

It’s an 85 mile drive from Mount Carmel Junction to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, but it’s worth the drive. The air is brisk and fresh at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and the views are as exhilarating as the clean air. The North Rim offers above the rim backpacking and hiking, as well as the strenuous North Kaibab corridor trail, that drops below the rim and leads to the Colorado River. Bring your 4WD and visit Point Sublime. The name fits! It's the best view in the Grand Canyon next to the overlook at Toroweap. While you have your 4WD warmed up, take the road out to Toroweap. This is the lowest viewpoint in the Grand Canyon, but the 3000' sheer unfenced cliff gives even those with no fear of heights an uneasy feeling when they step out to the edge to see the Colorado River flowing below.

External links

• Zion National Park

Utah