Hurricane Canal

Hurricane Canal is an irrigation system that carries water through the Virgin River Canyon in southwestern Utah. The structure includes tunnels carved into rock and metal flumes that direct water across the desert terrain.

Settlers started hand-digging this canal in 1891 to divert water from the Virgin River. The project took roughly a decade to complete and allowed the Hurricane community to turn the surrounding desert into farmland.

The canal shaped how the community developed and how people lived with the desert around them. Walking along it today, you can see the marks of their work and understand why water meant everything to life here.

The canal is partly accessible to visitors who want to see the engineering work up close. Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for uneven paths along the route.

Old concrete cisterns still stand along the canal, reminders of times when water was precious in this region. Most of the original tunnels remain intact and can be explored by those walking the path.

Location: Washington County

GPS coordinates: 37.18460,-113.27800

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:27