Hiking Zion's Narrows

Zion National Park’s Virgin River has carved a magnificent gorge in the upper reaches of Zion Canyon called “The Narrows.” It offers a 16 mile hike alongside walls that may be only 20 feet wide and soar above you 2000 feet to the top. There are natural springs, sandstone grottos, hanging gardens, and a lot of wading. In fact, over 60% of the hike is wading, walking, and farther upriver, swimming in the river. No trail exists -- the trail IS the river, replete with its swift current, rapids, cold temperature, deep pools, and slippery rocks underfoot. I hiked the lower two miles and found myself up to crotch-deep in water at times.



This waterfall entices a lot of hikers to wade over to it for a photo op...


I spent over 3 hours hiking the Narrows, and of course the light changed often as the sun moved across the sky, creating a variety of lighting effects in the narrow canyon. Notice the glow coming from the bend ahead to the right...



After two miles of slogging, you reach the side canyon creek coming down from Orderville, Utah, and just beyond it is the area dubbed "Wall Street" because it is the narrowest section and must have reminded someone of New York City's Wall Street with its towering structures...




Here's a 4 minute movie of my hike up the Narrows...



When I was here mid-week, a number of folks were hiking the river, but since this was a Sunday, I had a horde of fellow travelers for the first mile, and then fewer as I continued up canyon.

The most common way to hike The Narrows is as I did -- take the free canyon shuttle to its terminus at the Temple of Sinawava, walk the one mile paved Riverside Walk to its end, and enter the river. You can go as far as you wish up the river and return the same way. No permit is required if you simply wade the first 2 miles as I did to the junction with Orderville Canyon or Big Spring just beyond.

Or you can dayhike the entire 16 mile canyon from top to bottom after securing a permit from the backcountry office and hiring a shuttle to transport you to the far end.

Or you can make it a 2 day backpack trip which also requires a permit (which assigns you to a specific campsite) and a shuttle.