Overview

Hype:

Hiking The Narrows is arguably the quintessential Zion experience. The Narrows can be hiked either as a top-down through-hike from Chamberlain Ranch to the Temple of Sinawava, or as an up-and-back bottom-up hike from the Temple of Sinawava. Hiking is done largely in the river as, for a third of the route, the river runs canyon wall to canyon wall. Water levels change from season to season; most hikers will wade at least waist-deep and many will swim a few short sections.

Canyon Rating: 1C1

Time: 1-2 days

Length: 15.5 miles one way

Longest Rappel: N/A

Gear: Bring a dry bag for anything you don’t want wet. Sturdy shoes and neoprene socks are recommended as you will be walking in water most of the time.

Fees: Entrance fee, optional backcountry reservation fee, permit

Recommended Ages:

	0-3
	4-11
	12-19
	20-49
	50-69
	70+

Recommended Months to Visit:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Permits: Required. Make a reservation online

Links: Zion Canyoneering Permits

Getting There

Navigate to 37.385247, -112.838740.

Maps

Closest City or Region: Zion National Park, Utah

Coordinates: 37.385288, -112.838676

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June 11, 2008 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Trip Members

Jeremy Dye, Tara Dye,

Story

Tara and I did the narrows on our honeymoon, and it was awesome. We took a Zion Adventures shuttle on Thursday morning, June 11, 2008.

For the first several miles, the hike is very easy, and you stay completely dry. After about 3 miles, the steam banks start rising on either side of the river to form short canyon walls. From this point, we started having to cross the stream and walk in the stream for portions.

After about 6 or 7 miles, we came to a 12-foot waterfall.

The instructions we were following said that there is an easy trail to the left of the waterfall. Well, I took that to mean to the left looking upstream (north of the river). I did get past the waterfall eventually, but it wasn't easy. I had to rock climb a small cliff (with my pack on, mind you) then climb down a tree. I got to the bottom of the waterfall, took a picture of Tara standing at the top, then I started to go back up to help her get down. We couldn't hear each other, obviously, but she motioned to the south and disappeared. About 2 minutes later, she was by my side.

We camped that night in campground 6. We were some of the slowest hikers, so we didn't see very many people that night.

Friday morning, we packed up and continued the hike.

After Deep Creek joined the Virgin River at about 8 miles in, the river got a lot deeper. At a couple points, we waded through water up to our waists.

We finished the hike and arrived at the Temple of Sinawava bus stop at around 9:00pm, just in time to catch the last bus out of the park. When I got on the bus and took off my backpack, one of the shoulder straps broke. Boy am I glad it held out until then.

Pictures