If you want solidarity, The Narrows may not be the best option for you. But if you're looking for an epic hike through one of the most amazing slot canyons in the United States, you'll want to add this to your list.
The Narrows is a regular on "Top Hikes in the United States" lists -- and for good reason. It's relatively accessible, and unique in that it features the beautiful Virgin River and miles of beautiful, 200 foot tall canyon walls that were carved out by the river over the centuries. It's a hike unlike any other, and for that reason it has become a popular destination for both serious and recreational hikers.
But be forewarned, the popularity of this hike can cause it to be a little crowded, particularly in the early stages of the hike, so be prepared to deal with more people than you're probably used to and enjoy the beauty. Zion National Park is the 6th most-visited National Park in the US, and The Narrows is one of the more popular hikes there -- so if you go during the busy season, crowds are inevitable. In spite of this, we definitely enjoyed the hike.
One very important note on hiking The Narrows, or any other slot canyon: Please be VERY AWARE of the weather. Water in the slot canyons of Utah can rise VERY quickly if there is rain upstream. And in most slot canyons, it would be impossible without special equipment to get higher than the high-water mark. And because cell service is virtually non-existent, if it's raining upstream, it would be impossible for anyone to get word to you before it's too late. The week prior to our visit (in late September of last year), six canyoneers were killed in a different slot canyon in Zion due to a flash flood in the canyon they were exploring. So before going into the canyon, please check the weather forecast and the rangers station for current conditions to be sure hiking there is safe.
Now that you're properly frightened, let me also note that when the weather is good, this is a pretty safe hike. There are two hikes into The Narrows: Top Down and Bottom Up. The Top Down hike requires overnight camping and a special permit -- so is far less popular. The Bottom-Up hike is more accessible, and more crowded. This blog post covers the Bottom Up.
The trail begins from the Temple of Sinawava shuttle bus stop -- which is the last shuttle stop in Zion Canyon. Unless you are visiting in the off-season, the shuttle will be your only transportation to this point as general automobile traffic is not permitted in Zion Canyon. We found the shuttles to be fantastic and efficient and made the trip in Zion more enjoyable.
From the shuttle stop, the trail begins along the Riverside Walk Trail. The Riverside Walk Trail is an easy, but beautiful stroll through the canyon, by the river (Pictured directly above). Even if you aren't up for hiking the Narrows, the River Walk Trail is a great hike for all ages and skill levels and offers a taste of the beauty that exists inside The Narrows.
At 1.1 miles, the Riverside Walk Trail ends at the River. This is the start of the hike into The Narrows. You can see that even though we attempted to get an early start on the hike to avoid the biggest of the crowds, there still are plenty of people at the start of the hike. From this point, the "trail" simply follows the Virgin River upstream into the narrow canyon.
Expect that your feet will get wet (we'll talk about supplies in a bit), but the scenery here is first class all the way. The past will zig zag across the water, onto dry sides along the river, and back into the river the entire way.
The Narrows trail, from the bottom -up is about 4 miles one way (8 miles round trip). The further you hike into the Narrows, the fewer people that will be there. There are no wrong turns (because you just follow the river and can't turn). And the great thing about hiking out and back is that you don't have to commit to the entire trip, you can just hike out as far as you want (whether that is 1/2 mile or all 4 miles) and come back when you're done. It makes for an enjoyable day regardless of your age, skill level, and how much time you have.
A little ways into the hike, we came across a small waterfall that came in from another drainage -- which was pretty cool. One our return trip, there was a small group of people repelling down from this drainage.
The Narrows continues back into the Canyon. Because of the high canyon walls, and bright sunlight, that the shadows in The Narrows could be very harsh -- making photography a challenge.
I really can't say enough great things about the hike -- the water, the canyon walls, it was just simply amazing.
With new surprises around virtually every corner.
So, let's take a minute to talk about supplies -- as this was my biggest question before heading out on this hike and was difficult to find answers.
The water temperature tends to run about 55 degrees during much of the summer and fall. This sounds really cold -- but I didn't think it felt as cold as would have thought. I think that a person wearing a comfortable pair of water shoes with a protected toe (such as Keen water shoes, or trail shoes) should be fine.
That said, there are several companies that will rent equipment. We stopped in at Zion Adventure Company at rented the basic package for $20 apiece for the day. The basic package included a pair of canyoneer shoes, neoprene socks (to keep your feet warm) and a walking stick.
While both Michelle and I's feet became really uncomfortable late in the day in the shoes (her shoes didn't seem to fit quite right for an 8 mile hike and the insole in mine became dislodged and caused problems) I will say that the good traction of the shoes, the warmth of the socks and the balance provided by the walking stick were worth the small purchase for a once-in-a-lifetime type of trip.
Beyond that, you'll need to pack food, water anything else you'll need for the day. And try to have everything as waterproof as possible, because for the entire hike you'll be a slip away from being completely wet. But being able to simply take in the day, and the surroundings is an amazing experience.
And while the water on our trip was generally ankle -calf deep, there were places that got deeper and up above the knee.
More photos at the bottom of the post, but trail notes:
Distance: 9 miles roundtrip (can be made shorter to fit personal preference).
Difficulty: Strenuous - -could be easier depending on how far you travel, but hiking through water for 8 miles on a lot of slick rocks takes a lot of energy.
Kid-friendly: Going a short distance with kids would be ok
Footwear: Rented Canyoneer shoes would be preferred, I also recommend a walking stick
Rating: 5 Stars out of 5.
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