Belly of the Dragon

The Belly of the Dragon

(near Kanab) Some hikes take you to beautiful waterfalls. Others into deep forests with mountain views. But this one? This one takes you straight through the belly of a beast.

It gets dark in there

Okay, fine. It's not an actual beast. It’s a tunnel. But not just any tunnel. The Belly of the Dragon near Kanab and Mt. Carmel Junction is a short hike that makes you feel like you're in a dragon's belly. It's a man-made drainage tunnel that was originally built to channel water underneath Highway 89. However, over time, the flowing water eroded the sandstone walls. That created a unique, dragon-like appearance that attracts a lot of visitors. Especially the Instagram crowd.

Timber as brave as any dog out there

I did this hike with Timber in the spring of 2024 while she was still alive. She always loved these adventures. There is one little section where she needed a little lift up a rock, but she had no problem in this section coming back down. She also loved the echoes coming from other hikers and had no fear about heading into the darkness. I'll always have fond memories of her here.

The small section where Timber needed a little lift

The hike isn't very long at all. From the parking lot, through the belly and back, is about a half mile. The trail continues after the tunnel for about another mile, but most people I have seen just do the belly portion. In reality, this barely qualifies as a hike at all. It's more of a quick adventure, but it sure feels epic.

Looking at the entrance from the parking area

You’ll find the Belly of the Dragon just off Highway 89 south of Mt. Carmel Junction and about 17 miles north of Kanab. There are no signs. No official trailhead. No gift shop or t-shirt stand. Just a dirt turnoff, a short scramble down a little drop, and whoa... you’re at the mouth of a rocky tunnel that looks like a scene from a fantasy movie. It's easy to think you might stumble across a wizard or a secret dragon treasure. Instead, we found a lot of carvings into the sandstone wall from people who felt like they had to leave their mark. The tunnel would sure be a lot more beautiful without people doing this.

Lots of people have carved their names into the sandstone

There's a small 4-5 foot drop right at the tunnel's entrance. It's not difficult, but something worth knowing if you have dogs and/or small kids. It's also dark in the tunnel when you're in the middle. You can use your cellphone flashlight and you'll be just fine. Unless you want to test your night vision. The floor is rocky and sandy, but nothing to be worried about.

Timber on the other side of the tunnel

One thing to keep in mind, it's raining or storming, just be a little extra careful. The tunnel is a drainage channel for the canyon above and if it's raining hard, the water will come quick. It makes things very slippery.

Timber and I at the end of the tunnel

The Belly of the Dragon may not be the biggest hike in Utah, but I think it's safe to say it’s one of the most memorable. It’s quick, quirky, and totally unique. And for me, it’ll always be tied to the memory of Timber’s curious nose leading the way into that shadowy sandstone corridor. She’s gone now, but I’m so glad we got to share that little adventure together. LOCATION: Google Map link

The light at the end of the tunnel

Selfie or it doesn't count