Zion National Park- Hiking the Narrows
March 23, 2022
I spent a day at Zion National Park and it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. My first stop of the day was to hike the Narrows- it was the thing I wanted to do the most when I was there, so I made it a priority. Below are some of my experiences and tips for hiking the Narrows.
You can rent hiking sticks and waterproof shoes at various places in the town of Springdale, as well as right outside of the front gate of Zion National Park. There’s also a strong chance you’ll actually have to park your car in Springdale and take the shuttle bus to the entrance of Zion National Park, so there should be several opportunities for getting this equipment if you’d like it. I found some water shoes before I left for my trip and they worked great. I didn’t get a hiking stick and managed to somehow not fall in, but it definitely would have been helpful to have, as a lot of the rocks were slippery.
Most people hiking the Narrows use the ZNP shuttle service and get off at the Temple of Sinawava shuttle stop. This is the most popular activity in the park so more than likely there will be a lot of people around. I hiked from the Temple of Sinawava to an area called Wall Street and then went back the way I came. My overall journey took probably close to 3.5- 4 hours, but I was definitely taking my time to soak it all in. I went in June and luckily the water wasn’t too cold- it actually felt good with the summer heat. But be sure dress properly if the weather is cold and check the weather forecast. It can flood inside of the Narrows so be safe!
The beginning of the hike is very crowded, as everyone has made a point to see the Narrows. However, the further in you hike, the smaller the crowds, so if you have the energy, keep going! The day I went, the water was up to my chest in some areas, so keep that in mind if you have a backpack or other items to carry. There are some trails that go around the Virgin River, so you don’t have to walk in the river 100% of the time, which makes it a bit easier for kids.
If you have the chance, I highly recommend hiking at least to Wall Street. You’ll know you’re there because the walls of the river can get as close as 20 feet wide. It’s worth it for the views alone.
You can also do longer hikes or even overnight backpacking trips down the river, but a majority of the visitors do the hike that I experienced. Be sure you check the bus shuttle schedule and you make it back down the river in time to get on the bus- you do not want to have to walk back to your car from the Narrows…that would be an extremely long walk. But overall, have fun- it’s an experience that I know I’ll never forget.
