Dragons and Caves

A note from the author

It is high time for an apology to my readers, at least to any who may be left. This is my first blog post since March 29^th! I had vowed this would never happen when I started the blog four years ago. My knee jerk reasoning for this is soaring gas prices and working plenty of overtime in my other job, the one that pays the bills. However, in the realm of everyday reality these are merely excuses. I sincerely apologize for this large gap.

But not all is lost. I took a vacation and hit the road. I am now administering CPR to the blog, beginning right here and now. Read on if you like tunnels and caves.

Into The Belly of the Dragon

Inside the Belly of the Dragon

The time was the 1920’s. The place was Southern Utah, near Kanab. Highway 89 was completed and drainage from the upper canyons were a problem for the new road. A tunnel was dug through solid rock to channel the runoff down to the North Fork River. Over the passing decades, water has had a rather artistic imprint throughout the tunnel, forming what many claim the inside of a dragon’s intestine looks like. Now, I don’t know if dragons exist and I sure as heck don’t know what the inside of a dragon’s intestine looks like. But the tunnel is interesting, enchanting, and menacing all at the same time.

Getting into the tunnel requires a five-foot drop from the trail. That is the only difficult part of the hike. The floor is uneven in parts and requires caution as you navigate the terrain. I tripped on a rock but was able to catch myself before face planting into a jagged edge. Most of the one hundred yard tunnel is illuminated by light from both ends and I only needed my flashlight for one small portion. How much light there may be depends on what part of the day you visit. I was there in mid-afternoon and recommend that time frame.

It is a relatively easy place to find, located between Kanab and Orderville. A maintained dirt road a half mile from Carmel Junction will lead you about a quarter mile to an area to park. The tunnel is visible from there. Obviously, the dry season is the time to go unless you bring scuba gear.

Once you emerge at the back side of the tunnel, you can follow the wash up a few miles into the canyon, where it eventually leads to a slot.

The Belly of the Dragon is by far the most impressive drainage tunnel I have seen.

Backside of Belly of the Dragon

Onward to the Sand Caves

About eleven miles further south on Highway 89 are the Sand Caves. They are visible near the top of a ridgeline to the left of the road. These picturesque openings in the sandstone hills are actually old mines. It was here that they mined for…well, sand of course. But the sand is very fine and soft and was mined in the 1930’s and 40’s to be used in making cast iron. As late as the 1970’s the sand was mined for a component in the production of bullet proof glass.

The hike to the caves is not quite as easy as the hike to the Belly of the Dragon. From the parking area, a trail leads you around the mountain and past the caves above. This trail is under a mile, however, once it borders the sandstone hill to the right, you will have to pick a place to begin climbing. You may see other climbers in various stages of ascension or descension, sometimes on all fours, or just plain stuck. The good news is your shoes should stick fairly well to the sandstone, even on steep angles, as long as you do not step on any loose sand.

After a short climb you will be able to make your way back to the caves. That is when you will find that a little work getting there is well worth it. It is quite spacious inside, with a floor of silky white sand. There are several openings but do not exit through any opening, as several of them are sheer drop-offs from the side of the mountain.

With a little caution and determination this place is just plain fun, in fact I have not had this much cave fun since The Lovelock Cave. See https://outerrealmz.com/lovelock-caves/

There you have it. Two man made marvels that rival that of a geological wonder. Neither site is protected, so there is some graffiti and abuse left by the jackwagons of the world. Please don’t be that person. Respect is often our greatest resource. For more information visit https://visitsouthernutah.com/attractions/belly-of-the-dragon/