Caves

Belly of the Dragon

Man-made drainage tunnel: a short, quirky walk under Highway 89

At a glance

Elevation: 5,254 ft · Man-made
Drive time: ~60 min from the inn

At a glance

The short version

Belly of the Dragon is ~60 min from Duck Creek Village Inn and fits travelers who want man-made drainage tunnel: a short, quirky walk under highway 89. The Belly of the Dragon is a man-made drainage culvert under Highway 89, about 1 mile south of Mount Carmel Junction (or about 16 miles north of Kanab).

Quick facts

Distance	~60 min
Tier	Tier2
Best for	Man-made drainage tunnel: a short, quirky walk under Highway 89

Good to know

~100 yards through the tunnel; 1–2 minutes to walk
Free; no fee or permit
Optional longer hike: continue up the wash ~4 miles to a slot canyon

The Belly of the Dragon is a man-made drainage culvert under Highway 89, about 1 mile south of Mount Carmel Junction (or about 16 miles north of Kanab). Water flowing through it has eroded the sandstone walls into rippled, cave-like patterns, so it feels like walking through a short tunnel cave. The walk through the tunnel is only about 100 yards and takes a minute or two; it never gets fully dark because light comes from both ends. Getting in requires a small scramble down a concrete wall or slick rock—sturdy shoes and care are recommended.

The walk in

What the last half mile is really like, traced from the mapped footpath. Tap a line for the surface underfoot, or a pin for what you pass.

Park in the BLM lot off Barracks Road, scramble down at the west end, and walk about 120 yards through. Never fully dark. Do not go in during or before rain, because this is a drainage.

Tunnel
Path

0.07 miles one way. About 20 minutes. The green line east of the tunnel is the wash, which people walk on toward a slot canyon; 0.52 miles of it are mapped and it carries on beyond that. Path traced from OpenStreetMap, which tags each stretch’s surface; the measured length matches the land manager’s signed distance.

BLM parking
Dirt lot off Barracks Road near milepost 90, a mile south of Mount Carmel Junction. Free.
West end of the tunnel
The scramble in: down a concrete wall or the slick rock beside it. Awkward rather than hard, but a hand for children helps.
East end
Out into the wash. Rippled sandstone the whole way through, and water cut all of it.

Coordinates37.21109, -112.68416Elevation5,254 ft

Highlights

~100 yards through the tunnel; 1–2 minutes to walk
Free; no fee or permit
Optional longer hike: continue up the wash ~4 miles to a slot canyon
Parking via Barracks Road near mile marker 90

Tips

Do not enter if rain is forecast—flash floods are a serious hazard in this drainage. The scramble in and out can be tricky; younger children may need assistance. Once inside, the path is easy when dry. Dogs allowed.

When to go

Accessible year-round when the road is passable. Avoid during or after rain due to flash flood risk.

When you can actually go
Cave	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Belly of the DragonFine whenever the road is passable, but this is a drainage: stay out during and after rain, which mostly means the July and August monsoon.	January: Open	February: Open	March: Best	April: Best	May: Best	June: Open	July: Depends	August: Depends	September: Open	October: Best	November: Best	December: Open

Best
Open
Depends
Closed

Stay planning

Once this stop is on your list, use Plan Your Days for itinerary ideas or compare our rooms and cabins to match the style of trip you want.

May 2026

Why trust this guide

Cave access, forest roads, and shoulder-season weather can change faster than people expect around Duck Creek. We use guest trip-planning experience here, but always recommend checking the official sources below before you commit to the drive.

Questions: Belly of the Dragon

Cave basics, driving distance, and what to know before you go.

What is Belly of the Dragon?

The Belly of the Dragon is a man-made drainage culvert under Highway 89, about 1 mile south of Mount Carmel Junction (or about 16 miles north of Kanab).