Mt. Carmel Junction sits at the center of two of Utah's most popular drives. Scenic Byway 9 through Zion National Park and Scenic Byway 89 meet at this Gorgeous Resort area. Mt. Carmel Jct. is the true center of Southern Utah's National Parks. Best Western Mount Carmel Junction Utah.
Things to do in Mount Carmel Junction
Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon National Park is the result of a dozen ravines eroded into the east side of a ridge at the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in southwest Utah. This erosion resulted in thousands of bizarre and unique rock formations showcased in a multitude of brilliant colors including pink, white, yellow and red. The Park is named after Ebenezer Bryce, a Mormon farmer who was the first modern-day settler in the region. There are numerous trails for exploring the park which is one of the most popular sight-seeing spots in Utah.
Cedar Breaks National Monument
Just off I-15 near Cedar City Utah, sits Cedar Breaks National Monument. Cedar Breaks contains a steep, bowl-shaped cliff face eroded into the west side of the Markagunt Plateau, forming many beautiful and interesting rock formations. Via the access road, you can also view spectacular limestone formations, extending 2,000 feet down and 3 miles across, all eroded from the Claron Formation of the Pink Cliffs. Some areas of the cliffs are even more colorful than Bryce Canyon.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Witness vast arcs of rust-colored sand as you enter Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. The dunes are a wonderful contrast to the blue skies, juniper and pinion pines, and steep red cliffs, surrounding the park. The park is a wonderful place for camping, photography, off-highway vehicle riding, and playing in the sand. Park facilities include a 22-unit campground, modern restrooms, hot showers, a boardwalk overlook trail and a nature trail. Call 435-874-2408 for more information.
Dixie National Forest
The Dixie National Forest, with headquarters in Cedar City, Utah (near Mount Carmel Junction), stretches for about 170 miles across southern Utah. The largest National Forest in Utah, it straddles the divide between the Great Basin and the Colorado River. The southern rim of the Great Basin, near the Colorado River, provides spectacular scenery. Recreational opportunities on the Forest include camping, hunting, scenic-viewing, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, sledding, skiing, snowmobiling, biking, canoeing, sailing, swimming, and water skiing.
Grand Canyon North Rim
The Grand Canyon is one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World and the North Rim is no exception. The beautiful drive along US 89 and 67 from Kanab UT (close to Mount Carmel Junction) to the Grand Canyon North Rim climbs through the vast and dense Kaibab National Forest. You'll ascend the Kaibab Plateau and find yourself at 9000 feet when you come upon the canyon, one mile deep, 18 miles wide and 277 miles long. Views are so spectacular that words and pictures can not describe them. The North Rim only gets about 10% of the park's traffic, so explore as long as you wish. Roads to the major overlooks are well marked, easy to follow, and reveal different views of the canyon and the surrounding landscape. The North Rim is closed from October to mid-May.
Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
President Clinton designated this 1.7 million acre monument a national monument, the first monument to be administered by the Bureau of Land Management. The principal attractions within the monument are based around tributaries of the two major river systems - the Paria and the Escalante. The western section of the Monument contains most of the Grand Staircase - a beautiful series of colored sandstone cliffs stretching all the way between Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon. The other section runs through the town of Escalante and then through a long canyon towards Lake Powell, with dozens of side-canyons, many of which are quite narrow and fascinating to explore. This region also has numerous natural bridges and arches. Call 435-826-5499 for more information.
Lake Powell
Lake Powell is named after the civil war veteran John Wesley Powell. Lake Powell is the principal attraction of the area. The lake backs up into more than 90 canyons with an overall length of 186 miles. It has an estimated 1,960 miles of shoreline, longer than the whole western coast of the United States.
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Rainbow Bridge is the largest natural bridge in the world. Carved from a fin of red Navajo Sandstone, it is 290 feet tall and 270 feet across. It is considered sacred in Navajo culture as a symbol of deities responsible for creating clouds, rainbows and rain.
Zion National Park
Zion is Utah's oldest National Park with its soaring towers and monoliths offer a quiet grandeur. Zion's lofty formations such as The Great White Throne, The Watchman, Angles Landing and Weeping Rock are some highlights not to be missed. Park visitor centers are open year-round. Located 12 miles from Mount Carmel Junction. Call 435-772-3256 for more information.