Inside the Belly of the Dragon

The Belly of the Dragon hike, in southern Utah, is one of the least known hikes in the area since both Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park are nearby. This short hike takes you through an entrancing tunnel. It is good for all ages and is pet-friendly!

Hike Overview

Length: ~0.5 round trip depending on how far you walk into the tunnel
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 91 feet
Dog Friendly: Yes
Parking: Free
Restrooms: No. The closest restroom is at the gas station which is only about a 5 minute drive
Admission Fee: Free

Directions

We drove to this location right after our last stop at Bryce Canyon National Park (Bryce Point) and it took us about 1.15 hours.

Inside the Belly of the Dragon

When we first arrived, there were a few cars there already so we decided to go to the gas station near there first to use the restroom and also to let people finish the hike.

It was pretty cold when we visited (in January) so make sure to dress warmly. One good thing is that there was no snow or ice on the ground.

After you park, its only a few minutes walk before you get to the entrance of the tunnel. There is a slight drop down so be careful when you climb down the ledge.

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From here, you can walk further in the tunnel if you want to. If you do this, you’ll need to bring some light. We had our headlamps with us but found that we didn’t really use them that much.

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The walkway is also pretty narrow so if there are other people there as well, you’ll need to make room for them to pass you. Some people were wearing face masks while others were not so just be aware of that for your own safety.

You can also climb on some of the rocks for a better view but I found it was hard to get down afterwards haha.

Overall, the Belly of the Dragon hike was a relaxing, fun, and short hike. I liked that it was not crowded at all and you can go at your own pace pretty much.

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