The Zion Narrows hike is easily one of the most iconic and popular hikes in the U.S.  It is also to this day one of the most unique hikes that I have ever done. Fun side story: one year for Christmas I was given a desk calendar called “1000 Places to See Before You Die.”  I would tear off each page to reveal a new place as my work day began.  One day, the place just so happened to be The Narrows. I swiftly took a photo of the calendar and sent it to my then boyfriend, now husband, and asked if we could one day visit this place. In true Lindsey and Jon fashion, within days of sending that photo our trip to Utah was booked and the planning began! In this post, I’ll be sharing everything you need to know about The Narrows for a successful hike.  

Zion Narrows: Everything You Need to Know To Hike This Epic Slot Canyon

What is The Narrows?

The Narrows is the narrowest part of the Zion Canyon alongside the Virgin River in Zion National Park.  The “trail” is basically the Virgin River itself.  The hike in its entirety is 16 miles long from the top-down.  This hike is an adventurous one that is suitable for any level of hiker.  We saw many families with small children enjoying this hike. The water is typically fairly shallow for the majority of the hike and for the most part you will be ankle deep.  We only encountered a few places after several miles that got much much deeper and required us to hold our backpacks overhead to traverse. The water levels will vary depending on the time of year and the river’s flow so make sure you are prepared with the proper gear. 

Options for hiking Zion Narrows

Bottom-Up Hike

The first and most popular choice is the bottom-up hike. This is an out-and-back option allowing hikers to turn back at any point. This hike begins at the Riverside Walk and you can hike anywhere from 2-10 miles up to Big Springs.  That’s honestly what makes this option so great.  No matter what level of hiker or comfort level you have, you can truly enjoy this hike.  Depending on how far out and back you go, I would suggest allotting anywhere from 4-8 hours for this hike. It’s good to remember, though, that whatever you hike out, you have to hike back. This option does not require a permit.  

Pro Tip: There are no restrooms in The Narrows so I would highly suggest using the facilities located at the Temple of Sinawava. 

Top-Down Hike

The next option is referred to as the top-down hike. This is a 16 mile point-to-point hike that begins at Chamberlain’s Ranch and ends at the Temple of Sinawava. Keep in mind that a permit is required for this option.

Getting to The Narrows

From February through November you will have to park your car at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and catch the free shuttle to the Temple of Sinawava. This is the very last stop on the shuttle.  

Pro Tip: We find that staying right in Springdale on Zion- Mount Carmel Highway is the most convenient. We highly recommend the Desert Pearl Inn.  It is located less than one mile from the Zion National Park Visitor Center making it a breeze to get up early and catch the first shuttle to The Narrows. There is a  Shuttle that actually services the Springdale area and the Desert Pearl Inn has a shuttle stop right out front in case you don’t feel like walking to the visitor center. 

(Views of Zion National Park from the Desert Pearl Inn)

When is the best time to visit Zion Narrows?

Summer

Summer is the ideal time to visit The Narrows. The temperatures are at their warmest and the days are long. The park shuttles also run until about 9 pm giving you maximum time to enjoy this epic adventure.  Flash flooding is possible in the summertime so it’s important to keep a somewhat flexible itinerary and to check the conditions and weather reports daily.  If there is a flash flood warning, the National Park Service will close the trail completely. Summer is technically thunderstorm season in the southwest, making it a little risky to embark on this particular hike.  Storms typically happen in late afternoon so I would suggest starting this hike early and planning to be out of the canyon by late afternoon to be safe.  It’s also worth mentioning that summer is obviously the most popular season for National Parks in general so it could get crowded. 

We did this hike over Labor Day weekend and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect.  The air temperatures were still very hot that time of year making the chilly water extra refreshing. There were a lot of people, but not so many that we felt we couldn’t enjoy the hike.  

Pro Tip: If you’re traveling to Zion National Park in the summer or early fall or especially over a holiday weekend, I strongly suggest catching the first shuttle of the morning.  Upon leaving later in the afternoon each day, there were lines of people just waiting to enter the park. 

Fall

Fall is another great season for hiking The Narrows. It’s a little less crowded and the weather is usually still pretty warm. Water levels are usually at their lowest this time of year making it the easiest time of year for hiking through the Virgin River. 

Winter

Winter hiking in The Narrows is possible (this hike is actually technically open year round) but very cold. This is a great time to visit to avoid crowds altogether. Be prepared for limited daylight and very cold temperatures if you venture out on this hike in the winter.  

Spring

Spring can be a challenging time to attempt to hike The Narrows. Depending on the weather in that particular year, The Narrows can be closed for several months in the spring because of high flow rates from the snowmelt in the area.  

What to bring/pack for the Zion Narrows hike?

Below is the list of the basics that I recommend you take with you when trekking out on The Narrows hike.This list could change based on the time of year that you choose to do this hike.  We went over Labor Day weekend and below is what we took with us.  

• Thick hiking stick 
• Canyoneering Shoes
• Neoprene Socks
• Quick drying shorts/pants
• Quick drying shirts and sweatshirt – LINK patagonia capilene
• Waterproof bag – LINK sea to summit bag
• Food/Snacks
• Water – LINK hydroflask
• Go Pro – LINK go pro
• Trail Map in a ziploc bag
• Sunscreen – LINK Babo 
• Waterproof phone case – LINK amazon  MPOW

Some will tell you that in the summer months, renting canyoneering shoes and neoprene socks aren’t necessary but I highly recommend it regardless of what time of year you choose to do this hike for a few reasons.  Number one, even if you do have a great pair of shoes that you like, hiking through water typically causes swelling of the feet and can ruin your own shoes. If you’re planning to do a multi day trip here, you may need those shoes again before they completely dry out.  Secondly,  when you rent through local outfitters, they are experts and will guide you on proper shoe size to account for such possible swelling.  For great rentals in Springdale, I recommend Zion Outfitter. They have rental packages for each season of hiking and will make sure that you not only have the proper gear but are properly educated on the time of year and potential risks with the current weather. 

Other Things to know before you head to the Zion Narrows.

1. Knowing the water levels and the flash flood threat is CRUCIAL before you ever begin a hike in the Virgin River. Pay attention to the height and flow rate as you hike. 
2. Zion National Park is the fourth most visited National Park in the United States so keep that in mind as you plan which season and what activities you hope to accomplish while visiting.
3. It is not recommended to drink the water in The Narrows at this point in time.  
4. This hike is flat but tiring.  Remember that you’re hiking in a river and it does have a current that you work against the entire way out.  It’s key to remember that whatever you hike out, you have to save some energy for the return trip.  The good news is that returning you are hiking with the current so it’s typically a little shorter in time. 
5. I suggest hiking at least 2 hours in if you can. This is the narrowest part of the canyon known as “Wall Street.” This is also the part of the trail that most tourists turn around, so if you can go beyond this point, you will begin to enjoy some solitude on the trail.
6. Lastly, take your time to enjoy your hike and make sure you don’t forget to look up and enjoy the views of the sweeping canyon walls!

Add the Zion Narrows hike to your bucket list.

I hope that this post has been equal parts inspiring and informational.  If you have any additional tips on hiking the Narrows please feel free to share in the comments!