Are you visiting Zion National Park and looking for an exciting hike that really showcases the spectacular nature of the park? Then you should get your backpack on, pack plenty of water, and find a pair of boots you don’t mind getting wet and head on up into the Zion Canyon Narrows.

Where is it?

The Zion Narrows are located at the northern end of the developed portion of Zion National Park. The easiest access is from the Temple of Sinawava shuttle stop, where the riverside trail (which is a paved and easily walked trail) leaves and follows the Virgin River through the wider portion of the canyon.

At the mile mark, the Riverside Trail ends at a small picnic/rest area that has some seats and some great views of the river. This is also at the point where Zion Canyon narrows significantly and the Narrows begin. You can probably tell as you’re hiking up the Riverside Trail that the Canyon is narrowing, but here at the end of the trail, it’s very noticeable, there isn’t even any room for the trail – the river takes up the entire width of the canyon, which at about 30 feet has walls that rise several hundred feet into the air.

Where do I go?

From this point on you’re in the Narrows and the canyon and the river itself continually narrow the further on you go.

There is no marked trail – however you’d be hard pressed to get lost – the river and the canyon vary from about 30 feet wide to about 15 wide in a Canyon that has walls that rise in sheer cliffs several hundred feet. The only way to go is up the river or down the river.

The entire Zion Narrows section is almost 16 miles and requires a very full day to make it through – starting from either the top at a local ranch that provides access – or you can break it up into a two day trip with a stop at one of the marked campsites further up where the Canyon is slightly wider and provides a camping spot. If you are planning on hiking the entire Narrows and/or camping, you do need to get a backcountry permit from the rangers at the Zion National Park visitor’s center.

If you are just planning on a day hike of a few miles, the easiest way is to use the Riverside Walk and follow the river up the Narrows until you need to turn around to make it back out.

Approximately a mile from the end of the Riverside Trail, you’ll come to the first side canyon, Orderville Canyon, which has a significantly smaller stream than the Virgin River in the main Canyon. Also at this point the Narrows truly become narrow, with the Virgin River running through a canyon about 15 feet to 20 feet wide with sheer rock cliffs climbing above you.

To go up Orderville Canyon for any length, you’ll need to get a backcountry permit and to continue on up the Narrows beyond Big Springs, which is about another mile or so past Orderville Canyon on the Virgin River you’ll also need a backcountry permit.

How is the hike?

Hiking in a river can be very tough. Most of the riverbed is composed of small to mid-size rocks that make getting a steady footing tough. Some of the riverbed is made of sand, which is very easy to walk on – and makes for great breaks between the rocky section. The river current is also fast and in some places, the water can be quite deep, making it hard to make your way in places.

A walking stick is a necessity to keep your balance as you navigate the rocks (and of course, I didn’t have one!) and a pair of sturdy boots is helpful. I wore hiking sandals, which while they gripped the rocks fine, didn’t provide much ankle support or protection when you did slip – I found myself with a few bruises on my ankles when all was said and done. My father on the other hand wore regular hiking boots that he had brought along for the sole purpose of wearing in the river and he had a lot easier time at it – though they did fill with sand by the time we got finished, which made walking out the Riverside Trail difficult.

You might think that it would be easy to hike the mile up to Orderville Canyon and that it won’t take you very long – but you’d be wrong. Because you’re hiking in a river, you’re on unsure footing and you’re fighting the river current – that mile takes about 2 hours to traverse and as the river narrows, deepens and the current picks up above the Orderville Canyon junction, the going is even slower. Don’t plan on going faster than about a ½ a mile an hour when you’re thinking out your trip for the way up. Even on the way down – you are going slower than you would on a normal trail – it took us about an hour to get from Orderville Canyon to the end of the Riverside Trail.

You should expect to get wet on this hike – the water depth varies depending on the time of the year – but expect water up to at least you’re waist in places – and if you fall, you’ll be in the water completely. Wear clothes that dry quickly because there’s nothing worse than having to hike completely soaked (diaper rash anyone?). The water can also be chilly – especially in the spring – in the summertime the temperature averages around 70 degrees or so (which, when you compare it to a 90 to 100 degree air temperature, seems really cold!).

Scenery?

Oh my god – you can’t get much better than this! For anyone who’s been to Zion you know there’s plenty of amazing red and white rock walls in the main portion of the Canyon – well in the Narrows it’s only more spectacular because these amazing rock walls are literally right on top of you.

While you’re hiking up the river you can look straight up and you see the top of the Canyon hundreds of feet above you. In places the walls of the Canyon are polished smooth from the action of water and rocks over the years and the colors of these rocks are simply amazing – changing from red to white to gray and black depending upon the rocks you’re near and the angle of the sun.

Because the Canyon is so deep and narrow, there are places where even at noon, the sun doesn’t seem to reach – but as you turn a corner, you see a sunbeam shining down and it’s simply awe inspiring.

Warnings

You are in the desert canyon country here and flash floods are a real danger. You might not even hear the thunderstorm or the rain – it could be that far away – but suddenly be faced with a wall of water – and in a canyon this narrow – there’s really nowhere to run. People have been killed in flash floods in these narrows, so it’s best to exercise extreme caution.

Always check in at the Visitor’s Center, even if you don’t need a backcountry permit. Information on the flash flood danger and current weather is available, and you can get advice from the rangers there.

It’s also hot in Zion Canyon – we were there in early August and it was about 98 degrees. The Narrows are slightly cooler because they don’t get as much sun, but it was still in the 90’s and you need to be constantly drinking water to stay hydrated. The water in the Virgin River isn’t safe to drink, so you’ll need to carry that water.

Crowds

The Riverside Trail and the first ½ mile of so of the Narrows can be very busy, especially on weekends. Crowds tend to thin out above the ½ mile mark, as only serious hikers with good equipment generally make it past this point. Expect to see others on your trip and realize that this is one of the most popular National Parks and one of the most popular hikes in this park.

Experiences

I had been to Zion several times before I made the trip with my Father for the express purpose of hiking the Narrows. Each time I had been blown away by the scenery and just loved the park.

However the Narrows adds an entirely new dimension to the park. Instead of just trying to take in the massive and overwhelming scenery in the main portion of Zion Valley, in the Narrows – you are one on one with the Canyon. It’s narrow, it’s ever changing and it’s awe inspiring in a way that the main portion of the Canyon isn’t. It’s small enough that you can take you’re time and really explore, while at the same time being so large that you’re simply amazed that something like this could be formed.

We hiked to about a ½ a mile north of the Orderville Canyon junction and we also went up Orderville Canyon slightly. I’d say the best portion of the walk is from about a ¼ of a mile south of the Orderville Junction to about a ¼ of a mile north of it. Here the Canyon seems to be at its most narrowest and the river its deepest. You’ll be pushing through water that’s up to your waist and in places, up to your chest.

With every step there’s a new view and as the day goes on, the changing light in the Narrows makes everything change. It was amazing – and I suggest that for anyone physically able to do so, if they get a chance to hike into the Narrows, that they do so.

If you want to see some pictures from the trip - you can check them out on my site at http://www.jeffandmoe.net/outdoors/ZionNarrows.html

Getting There

The Narrows is located in Zion National Park – which is open year round, but the roads are not maintained in the wintertime. The park is located on Route 9 – which leaves Interstate 15 near St. George, Utah. The park itself is located in Springdale, Utah, about an hour from the highway. Zion is about 3 hours from Las Vegas and is a long daytrip (that’s how we did it this time).

During most of the season the park roads are closed to private cars, so you’ll need to park at the Visitor’s center and take the shuttle to the Temple of Sinawava in order to get to the Riverside Trail and begin your journey into the Narrows.

For more information…

Zion National Park has a website at: http://www.nps.gov/zion/

For specific information on the Narrows, the Park has a backcountry website and a specific Narrows page at: http://www.nps.gov/zion/ZionNarrows.htm

Final Thoughts

The Zion Canyon Narrows are a one of a kind experience. Anyone who can physically make this hike should if they get a chance. There’s really no other place where such an amazing natural wonder is this easily accessible and so amazing to behold.

Expect to get wet, watch out for flash floods, and take your time to make your way into the Narrows for an experience you’re not soon to forget!


Other Southwestern US Destinations
Walnut Canyon National Monument (AZ) / Wupatki National Monument (AZ) / Meteor Crater (AZ) / Zion National Park / Sunset Crater (AZ) / Red Rock Canyon (NV) / Quail Creek State Park (UT) / Snow Creek Canyon State Park (UT) / Hoover Dam

Travel Magazines
Travel & Leisure Magazine / Budget Travel / National Geographic Adventure / Outside Magazine / National Geographic Traveler

Recommended: Yes

Best Time to Travel Here: Jun - Aug