The ultimate guide to Zion’s most popular attraction
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If you’re headed to Zion National Park, make sure to put The Narrows at the top of your list of things to do. This beautiful hike takes visitors wading through the Virgin River while they’re surrounded by massive canyon walls. Here’s everything you need to know about hiking The Narrows at Zion!
About The Narrows
Wading through The Narrows is one of the most unique hikes in the country and should definitely be at the top of your bucket list! Hikers are able to walk through the Virgin River, surrounded by canyon walls that are over a thousand feet tall. More information about The Narrows can be found on this NPS page.
Hiking Through The Narrows
There are two options for hiking The Narrows: the bottom-up hike from the Temple of Sinawava or the 16-mile through-hike from Chamberlain’s Ranch. The bottom-up hike is the most popular option and doesn’t require a permit. Hikers are able to go up to ten miles round-trip or turn around once they’ve gone as far as they like. For reference, we were able to hike 5 miles, including the Riverwalk portion, in a little over 3 hours.
How To Get There
The Narrows can be accessed by taking the Zion Canyon shuttle. Take the shuttle to stop nine for the bottom-up hike; the ride will take about 45 minutes. Information about the shuttle stops and route can be found at this link. Once you’re off the shuttle, follow the Riverside Walk for one mile to the entrance of the Virgin River.
What To Wear + Bring
Hiking through The Narrows requires visitors to wade through chest-deep water in some areas and walk over slippery rocks. Because of this, we suggest that you wear fast-wicking clothes that you’re fine with getting dirty. It’s strongly recommended to wear hiking boots with sufficient ankle support. Chaco style shoes are also a popular choice, but won’t provide as much support. We highly recommend bringing hiking poles and a waterproof phone bag on your hike. Hiking shoes and poles can be rented from shops outside of Zion.
Safety
While hiking through The Narrows makes for an exciting day, visitors should also be aware of the dangers and come prepared. Here are some tips for remaining safe:
- Before going, check the weather and climate at this link.
- The Narrows are very susceptible to flash floods, which can occur at any time. Flash flood potential ratings can be found here. The Narrows are closed to visitors when the water flow goes over 150 cubic feet per second. Remain alert to the water flow while hiking and do not go off the path into small canyons.
- Visitors are at risk of cyanotoxin exposure from the water in Zion. Do not drink from the Virgin River. Also, do not attempt to filter water from the river then drink it; there are no known filtration methods that are effective at reducing cyanotoxins.
- Carry at least one gallon of water per person per day.
Best Time To Hike
We recommend starting your hike through The Narrows as early as possible. This will allow you to take in the sunrise reflecting off the canyon walls and to avoid the early afternoon crowds.
Looking for more things to do in Zion? Check out our 2 Day Zion Itinerary!
Check out our TikTok to see what our trip was like!
Disclaimer: All information presented in this post was accurate at the time of our trip. Attractions, availability, circumstances, operating hours, prices, etc. are subject to change and this post may not reflect the most up-to-date information. Readers are advised to do their due diligence in researching the location prior to travel. Hyperlink content may be out-of-date and is not sponsored by or affiliated with Scenic Sites unless otherwise noted.
Visited June 2022 | Posted December 2022
