About China Town Flume Trail
Recommended Users: Hikers. Singletrack trail. 0.3 miles in length. Difficulty: Easy. This short section of trail was once a section of the historic water canal. The tunnels connecting the Canal Trail around the drainage are now too dangerous for use (hence the trail re-route dropping down to the river and back up the other side of the drainage). At the end of the China Town Flume trail, are the remains of the flume that carried the water across the drainage. DO NOT continue past the chainlink fence, which closes the trail on the far side of the flume. And DO NOT enter the tunnels beyond the chainlink fence closure.
How to Get There
Hurricane Hills Trailhead—From Interstate 15 Exit 16, head east on State Route 9 to Hurricane City for 9.5 miles. Turn right on Main Street. Take the first left onto State Route 59 and at 0.75 miles turn left into the trailhead. (To reach the China Town Flume Trail, hike 1.8 miles on the Rim Trail before turning left onto the Canal Trail. Continue 1.3 miles on the Canal Trail. At this point, the Canal Trail turns left and descends down to the Virgin River, while the China Town Flume Trail heads east into the drainage.) Virgin Dam Trailhead—From Interstate 15 Exit 16, head east on State Route 9 to Hurricane City for 9.5 miles. Turn right on Main Street. Take the first left onto State Route 59 and at 3.1 miles turn left on the gravel road (marked by a very large gravel turnout on the shoulder of SR 59). Travel 1.9 miles and turn left. At 0.2 miles turn right. Continue for another 1.3 miles the trailhead. (To reach the China Town Flume Trail, hike 0.17 miles on the Rim Trail before turning right onto the Canal Trail. Continue 2.5 miles on the Canal Trail. At about 2.25 miles, don’t miss the right turn that descends down to the Virgin River. If you miss this turn, a chainlink fence will block the trail. DO NOT continue past the closure fence, but backtrack and find the turn. Follow the trail back up out of the drainage, away from the river. Once at the top, the China Town Flume heads east (left) into the drainage, while the Canal Trail continues on the right.)
Driving directions (Google Maps) →Plan Your Visit to China Town Flume Trail
Heading to China Town Flume Trail? A few things to know before you go:
- Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
- Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
- Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
- Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
- Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for China Town Flume Trail?
No central reservation system listed for China Town Flume Trail. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/257235) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to China Town Flume Trail?
Hurricane Hills Trailhead—From Interstate 15 Exit 16, head east on State Route 9 to Hurricane City for 9.5 miles. Turn right on Main Street. Take the first left onto State Route 59 and at 0.75 miles turn left into the trailhead. (To reach the China Town Flume Trail, hike 1.8 miles on the Rim Trail before turning left onto the Canal Trail. Continue 1.3 miles on the Canal Trail. At this point, the C…
How do I contact China Town Flume Trail?
You can reach the park at phone: 435-688-3200 or email: utsgmail@blm.gov.
References & Official Resources
