Belly of the Dragon- Kanab, Utah
Belly of the Dragon is a short hike through a man-made drainage tunnel that looks like you are walking through the ribcage of a dragon. It is located in southern Utah by between Kanab and Orderville.
This hike is the perfect place to let the kids get out of the car and stretch their legs. The tunnel goes under Highway 89 and was carved out to allow water to go under the highway from nearby canyons. Over time the water has carved the red rock in the tunnel to its unique pattern looking like the inside of a dragon’s mouth.
Getting There
Belly of the Dragon is 17 miles north of Kanab and 0.9 miles south of Mount Caramel Junction. After turning off of Highway 89, Elephant Gap Road is a dirt road. Make sure you keep left at the fork in the road.
Cost of Visiting Belly of the Dragon Utah
Free! It does not cost anything to hike to the tunnel and there is no cost for parking.
Parking at Belly of the Dragon
There is a large dirt parking lot at the trailhead. The parking lot is right next to the parking lot.
The Hike to Belly of the Dragon
The hike is more like a short walk. It is 150 feet from the parking lot to the mouth of the tunnel. It requires climbing down a steep cliff/embankment that is 7-8 feet high. We had to help our kiddos get up and down because their reach was not quite big enough to get up on their own and the rock is slick. Once you make it past this little scramble, the rest of the walk is easy.
Belly of the Dragon
The Tunnel
There is a path worn away by all of the water that goes through the middle of the tunnel. The path has a thin layer of sand and some rocks and is fairly level, but our kiddos liked climbing all over the rock ledges along the side. The tunnel is long enough that you need a flashlight to safely walk in the very center where it is the darkest.
The Gulch
After you make it through the tunnel, there is a deep gulch. If you follow the gulch back, you will find a collection of cairns and a vertical rock wall. The trail from the end of the tunnel to the vertical rock wall is 0.38 miles round trip through sand.
What to Pack
You will want to wear sturdy shoes that have a good grip to help with the scramble down to the opening of the tunnel. Bring a flashlight for when the tunnel gets dark.
Trail Safety
Check the weather before going and watch for flash flooding with summer storms.
Is Belly of the Dragon Utah Worth Visiting?
It is definitely worth visiting if you are in the area. It is not worth making a special trip for. There is a lot of graffiti in the tunnel, so be prepared for that.
Recreate Responsibly
Please remember to recreate responsibly so that other people can enjoy it after you. Pack out what you pack in and be respectful to the plants and animals you come in contact with. Leave the rock how you found it and don’t carve anything into it.
Explore Close By
- Moqui Cave: 10.8 miles
- Sand Caves: 11.7 miles
- Best Friends Animal Sanctuary: 13 miles
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes: 15.1 miles
- Zion National Park: 25.2 miles
