Caverns Below Hurricane: The Odd Story Of Skeleton Hole

Lava Tubes Hidden Underground in Southern Utah 

Those who grew up in Hurricane Utah tell stories of a hole in the ground that dropped into underground tunnels formed by ancient lava that flowed and cooled. This is the story of “Skeleton Hole” that was near 600 south between Scholzen Products and the Water Department. 

This was a hole in the ground that went down about ten feet into a lava tube. There were little skeleton bones from animals that had fallen through and died there. This is why it got the name. It was a place kids love to go and explore. 

Local Residents Remember the Tubes 

I talked with Brian Hinton who grew up in Hurricane about what he remembers. He said these lava tubes were extensive. “It went to the northeast towards the Hurricane LaVerkin bridge. That was the longest one I knew about.” 

He describes caverns as big as 50 feet across with dunes of sand where they would light fires. “It was so much cooler in there,” said Hinton. It would be 110 degrees up on top where the sage brush and rattle snakes are, and we’d go down this hole and it would be 70 degrees down there. 

Read More: Tunnel Under Cedar City Wasn’t Built For Humans

Hinton, who is now 61 years old described how when he was in his teens, they blasted and collapsed the tubes for safety reasons. Even the place where the hole was now has an apartment complex over it. “They have apparently filled the holes in,” he said. 

I would imagine there are still sections below Hurricane where these tubes haven’t collapsed or filled in. If I lived near there, I would begin digging down in my backyard to see what is below.