The Belly of the Dragon | Mount Carmel

Roadside Attraction The Belly of the Dragon - Mount Carmel Roadside Attraction The Belly of the Dragon

Mount Carmel

Overview

RATING: Easy hike
MAPS: MOUNT CARMEL, UT

Fri

Sunny. High near 59, with temperatures falling to around 53 in the afternoon. East wind around 2 mph.

59 | 26

Sat

Sunny, with a high near 59. Southeast wind around 2 mph.

59 | 24

Sun

Sunny, with a high near 57.

57 | 24

Mon

Sunny, with a high near 48.

48 | 21

Tue

Sunny, with a high near 47.

47 | 12

View Full Weather Details
SEASON: Any
GEAR: Possibly a flashlight. Stand hiking gear if going beyond the tunnel.
WATER: None, bring all you need.

Fri

Sunny. High near 59, with temperatures falling to around 53 in the afternoon. East wind around 2 mph.

59 | 26

Sat

Sunny, with a high near 59. Southeast wind around 2 mph.

59 | 24

Sun

Sunny, with a high near 57.

57 | 24

Mon

Sunny, with a high near 48.

48 | 21

Tue

Sunny, with a high near 47.

47 | 12

View Full Weather Details
The Belly of the Dragon

The Belly of the Dragon

Belly of the Dragon has become quite famous recently from its exposure on the internet. I was very surprised at the number of people visiting when we stopped to check it out. When US-89 was built, west of Zion National Park near Mount Carmel Junction, a tunnel was drilled through the sandstone to allow for drainage under the road. The tunnel has quite a dramatic look, and people started visiting. Thus, the Belly of the Dragon was born!

This is a very short road side attraction. Our 7-year-old enjoyed it. I will admit that I am often a curmudgeon for these sorts of "Instagram attractions", but it was worth the short stop since we were driving by anyway. I wouldn't go very far out of my way to visit, but it is a nice, easy side trip if passing by.

Heading out the end of the Dragon

Heading out the end of the Dragon

Getting There

From Mount Carmel Junction, head south on US-89 for about 1 mile to a good, graded dirt road leaving on the right side of the road at about mile post 90. Follow the good dirt road about 1/3 of a mile to a large parking area on the left. This is the trailhead.

The upstream end of the tunnel

The upstream end of the tunnel

Route

From the trailhead, the trail goes a short distance to the tunnel. Some people bring flashlights to get through the tunnel, though most don't. It is dark in the middle, but reasonable to shuffle through carefully without a flashlight.

On the upstream side of the tunnel, the canyon opens into a canyon. A social trail continues up about another 0.5 miles, but most just turn around after the tunnel.


Maps

Printable Maps:

Trailhead

12S 350480mE 4119669mN

N37° 12' 42" W112° 41' 06"

Belly of the Dragon

12S 350507mE 4119624mN

N37° 12' 40" W112° 41' 05"

Mile 80.9

12S 350571mE 4120144mN

N37° 12' 57" W112° 41' 03"

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