Mount Carmel Junction

Mount Carmel Junction, Mount Carmel and the other small towns (Mount Carmel, Orderville, Glendale) form a rural community known as East Zion, which is located in Utah's Canyon Country, near the east entrance to Zion National Park. Mount Carmel is less a destination in its own right and more a convenient stopover between the many national parks in the area.

There's very little to see in the town proper; Mount Carmel acts mainly as a gateway to other attractions, namely Zion National Park and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, with others passing through on their way to Bryce Canyon or the Grand Canyon.

• The towering White Cliffs of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument are visible from the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway and along US 89 north of town.
• Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts, 2200 State St., +1 435 648-2653. For over fifty years, Maynard Dixon painted the life and landscape of the American west. Dixon's home and studio are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

The towering White Cliffs of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument are visible from the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway and along US 89 north of town.

Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts, 2200 State St., +1 435 648-2653. For over fifty years, Maynard Dixon painted the life and landscape of the American west. Dixon's home and studio are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

• Thunderbird Golf Course, Junction of US-89 & SR-9, +1 435 648-2188.
• The Zion Ponderosa Resort and the Zion Mountain Ranch (see below under Sleep) offers lots of recreational activities, like horseback rides, ATV tours, and more.
• Upper Red Cave. (3 mi/4.8 km 4WD or hike, the slot is about 1 mile/1.6km hiking one-way). This is one of the most amazing slot canyon adventures you can do with out a harness and rope and it's right in Mount Carmel.
• Lower Red Cave. (6.3 mi/10.14 km) 4WD or hike, the slot is about 1 mile/1.6 km hiking one-way). Although this canyon has the same name as the upper version, it is a completely different slot canyon joined with the upper by a long sandy wash.
• Red Hollow. (3.2 miles/5.2 km round-trip). A fun family hike into a short, narrows slot. This one is 5 miles up the road from Mount Carmel Junction, in Orderville.
• Spring Hollow. (1.2 miles/1.9 km round trip). This is another wonderful family hike that begins just off UT Highway 9 and leads into a nice slot canyon suitable for kids.
• Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon. (.75 mi/1.2 km to explore the slot, it takes about an hour of four-wheeling in soft sand to get to the slot canyon). This one takes a bit of four-wheeling, but it takes you to an amazing slot canyon that families can hike.
• East Fork of the Virgin River. This one is not for the faint of heart. Hike from Mount Carmel Junction through the amazing slot canyon of Parunuweap. The route ends at Checkerboard Mesa in Zion National Park. Ropes are not needed but this is a tough route. Imagine the Zion Narrows in a pristine and wild setting and you have Parunuweap.

Thunderbird Golf Course, Junction of US-89 & SR-9, +1 435 648-2188.

The Zion Ponderosa Resort and the Zion Mountain Ranch (see below under Sleep) offers lots of recreational activities, like horseback rides, ATV tours, and more.

Upper Red Cave. (3 mi/4.8 km 4WD or hike, the slot is about 1 mile/1.6km hiking one-way). This is one of the most amazing slot canyon adventures you can do with out a harness and rope and it's right in Mount Carmel.

Lower Red Cave. (6.3 mi/10.14 km) 4WD or hike, the slot is about 1 mile/1.6 km hiking one-way). Although this canyon has the same name as the upper version, it is a completely different slot canyon joined with the upper by a long sandy wash.

Red Hollow. (3.2 miles/5.2 km round-trip). A fun family hike into a short, narrows slot. This one is 5 miles up the road from Mount Carmel Junction, in Orderville.

Spring Hollow. (1.2 miles/1.9 km round trip). This is another wonderful family hike that begins just off UT Highway 9 and leads into a nice slot canyon suitable for kids.

Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon. (.75 mi/1.2 km to explore the slot, it takes about an hour of four-wheeling in soft sand to get to the slot canyon). This one takes a bit of four-wheeling, but it takes you to an amazing slot canyon that families can hike.

East Fork of the Virgin River. This one is not for the faint of heart. Hike from Mount Carmel Junction through the amazing slot canyon of Parunuweap. The route ends at Checkerboard Mesa in Zion National Park. Ropes are not needed but this is a tough route. Imagine the Zion Narrows in a pristine and wild setting and you have Parunuweap.

• Apple Hollow Gallery, +1 435 648-3048. In Glendale. Local artists have put together a classy showcase of handmade gifts for sale to the public.
• Thunderbird Gift Shop, +1 435 648-2262. Here you will find high-end handcrafted Indian jewelry, dream catchers, rugs, drums and dolls as well as Utah rocks and fossils.
• White Mountain Gift Shop, +1 435 648-2030. Lots of turquoise and silver Navajo jewelry, replica bow and arrow sets, dream catchers, dolls, pottery, figurines, t-shirts, sweaters, caps, leather hand bags and leather cowboy hats.
• JDC Gift Shop, Orderville, +1 435 648-3200. JDC - "Just Darn Cool" - is a rather charming, quaint shop with local handcrafted gifts.

Apple Hollow Gallery, +1 435 648-3048. In Glendale. Local artists have put together a classy showcase of handmade gifts for sale to the public.

Thunderbird Gift Shop, +1 435 648-2262. Here you will find high-end handcrafted Indian jewelry, dream catchers, rugs, drums and dolls as well as Utah rocks and fossils.

White Mountain Gift Shop, +1 435 648-2030. Lots of turquoise and silver Navajo jewelry, replica bow and arrow sets, dream catchers, dolls, pottery, figurines, t-shirts, sweaters, caps, leather hand bags and leather cowboy hats.

JDC Gift Shop, Orderville, +1 435 648-3200. JDC - "Just Darn Cool" - is a rather charming, quaint shop with local handcrafted gifts.

• Buffalo Grill. 3 miles from Zion's east gate. Buffalo meat is the choice of fare at the Buffalo Grill.
• Buffalo Bistro, +1 435 648-2778. Glendale. It's a one of kind of dining experience. Ron, the owner, will tell you - "It's terrible. but people keep coming back." The atmosphere is laid back for sure, but the food is fantastic. Rattlesnake, rabbit and buffalo give an idea of what's on the menu. Drinks are served, on tap or in the bottle.
• Thunderbird Restaurant, +1 435 648-2262. Charming decor and tasty home style food. A busy restaurant that has a diverse menu and even serves wine and beer. Don't miss their "Ho-Made" pie!
• Broken Arrow Restaurant at the Arrowhead Country Inn. W-Su 5-9PM. Just across the street from Maynard Dixon's home studio and the Bingham Art Gallery. Smell the freshly baked bread, the homemade BBQ sauce, and the slow cooked baby-back ribs. Good dishes include maple glazed salmon, Southwestern chicken cordon blue, and the ribeye steak Sonora. Enjoy the antique furnished dining room, or relax in the sun-room. Try a Mt. Carmel Mudslide dessert - special bread pudding with vanilla bean ice cream, a dollop of fresh whip-cream and a splash of whiskey Carmel sauce.
• Golden Hills Restaurant, +1 435 648-2262. Low prices and a big salad bar make this restaurant stand out.

Buffalo Grill. 3 miles from Zion's east gate. Buffalo meat is the choice of fare at the Buffalo Grill.

Buffalo Bistro, +1 435 648-2778. Glendale. It's a one of kind of dining experience. Ron, the owner, will tell you - "It's terrible. but people keep coming back." The atmosphere is laid back for sure, but the food is fantastic. Rattlesnake, rabbit and buffalo give an idea of what's on the menu. Drinks are served, on tap or in the bottle.

Thunderbird Restaurant, +1 435 648-2262. Charming decor and tasty home style food. A busy restaurant that has a diverse menu and even serves wine and beer. Don't miss their "Ho-Made" pie!

Broken Arrow Restaurant at the Arrowhead Country Inn. W-Su 5-9PM. Just across the street from Maynard Dixon's home studio and the Bingham Art Gallery. Smell the freshly baked bread, the homemade BBQ sauce, and the slow cooked baby-back ribs. Good dishes include maple glazed salmon, Southwestern chicken cordon blue, and the ribeye steak Sonora. Enjoy the antique furnished dining room, or relax in the sun-room. Try a Mt. Carmel Mudslide dessert - special bread pudding with vanilla bean ice cream, a dollop of fresh whip-cream and a splash of whiskey Carmel sauce.

Golden Hills Restaurant, +1 435 648-2262. Low prices and a big salad bar make this restaurant stand out.

The Buffalo Bistro, Thunderbird Restaurant, and Broken Arrow Restaurant (see above under Eat) all serve beer and wine.

• Zion National Park, 12 miles to the west. Utah's most visited national park, with visitors in the millions each year. Zion is a hikers mecca and even those just out for scenic drives will be in awe.
• Bryce Canyon National Park, 60 miles to the northeast. So close to Zion National Park that many that visit it also come to Bryce. Bryce Canyon has jaw dropping beauty.
• The Grand Canyon, 85 miles to the south (North Rim). One of the seven wonders of the world and one of the most visited parks in the USA. The North Rim however only gets a small percentage of the total visitors. This rim is the more spectacular of the rims but its rustic setting keeps visitors to a minimum when compared to the commercial and populated South Rim.
• Cedar Breaks National Monument, 45 miles to the northwest. This is a spectacular monument that rivals Bryce Canyon National Park. It gets less visitors but its beauty certainly does not pale with the other parks.
• Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument 9 miles to the east. Two million acres of wilderness to hike and enjoy. There is nothing commercial about this place, but if you want to hike in beauty and solitude, it's magnificent.
• Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park 11 miles to the south. A great little park of sand dunes located nearby. There is hiking and ATV and 4WD trails. Most people come to the dunes to walk out on the boardwalk and play a bit in the sand.
• Cedar Mountain, 22 miles away in Dixie National Forest.
• Red Canyon, 47 miles away in Dixie National Forest. Red Canyon is by Bryce Canyon and as with Bryce its loaded with unique hoodoos and hiking. Cedar Mountain is a whole different world of hiking, fishing and fun in an aspen and spruce forest. Both are in Dixie National Forest.
• Paria Canyon, 60 miles away. Home to the popular rock formation known as the Wave. A hot spot for photographers and hikers alike.
• Lake Powell, 95 miles to the east. Scenery and water galore.