I’ve always wanted to hike The Narrows in Zion National Park in southern Utah. For one reason or another, it wasn’t until this summer I was able to make it happen. My wife and I experienced it a couple of weekends ago and learned a few valuable things to help others maximize their trek up The Narrows.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Zion National Park is open. Face coverings or masks are required at all national parks. To access the Narrows (or other hikes along the Scenic Drive), you will need to book shuttle tickets in advance. The shuttles are running most weekends, and will start daily service mid-March. When the shuttles are running, the scenic drive is closed to cars.

I will point out, there is a difference between The Narrows and The Subway in Zion National Park. While there are general similarities, The Subway requires a permit and is a more strenuous hike on the Left Fork of North Creek.

The Narrows is accessible from within Zion National Park’s Scenic Drive. Check out these other hikes in Zion National Park.

Accessing The Narrows Trailhead

Everyone can access The Narrows in Zion National Park. The bottom-up trail starts at the Temple of Sinewava trailhead and ends at Big Springs. This 10-mile roundtrip hike does NOT require a permit. Hiking it from the top down (starting Chamberlain’s Ranch) does require a permit and is a much more technical, 16-mile hike done over one or two days.

When shuttle busses are running (Usually April to October), you can park in Springdale or at the visitor’s center and catch a ride up the Scenic Drive. That may create some challenges, in that you’d need to carry with you all the supplies you’ll need for your hike (which I’ve listed below).

There are some tour companies in Springdale that provide equipment and transportation up to the trailhead as well.

What to Expect Along the Trail

From the Temple of Sinewava trailhead, follow the Riverside Walk (1 mile long) to it’s end point – at which point the trail becomes the Virgin River. The Riverside Walk is a paved trail that’s relatively flat. It’s an easy hike for people of all ages.

NOTE: Flash floods do happen. Before you venture up The Narrows, check out the weather and current water flow.

When you reach the end of the Riverside Walk trail, there are some benches to allow you to change gear (shoes) to prepare for walking in the river. When you’re ready to go, head down the rock stairs and into the river.

It’s nearly impossible to get lost along this trail. You’re in a narrow canyon (meaning 20-40 feet wide) walking up the river. There are some areas of the trail that are only ankle deep. Others were up to my waist. That said, if you navigate the river well, you can keep the water levels lower. But’s it’s sort of fun to just go for it and see what depths you find – as long as the stuff in your backpack is waterproof.

Hike as far up the trail as you want – at least until you hit Big Spring. Any further than that and you will be required to have a permit. But… Big Spring is about 10 miles up The Narrows, so you’d need to plan on a full day to make that hike. Especially since you’re hiking up a river – meaning it’s a lot slower going than a normal trail.

What to Bring With You

You will get wet. You may get soaked. Knowing that, what should you bring with you so you can best navigate The Narrows and not ruin anything? Here’s a rundown of what I recommend and why.

• Proper shoes: We used traditional water shoes. They worked. But we saw others using heavy duty hiking boots that were waterproof. We occasionally stopped to dump small pebbles out of our shoes. Navigating the rocky river bottom made our feet a little sore near the end of our hike.
• Walking stick: We didn’t realize how beneficial a walking stick would be until we were walking up the river. We held on to each other at times for balance. Other times, we had no way of knowing how deep the water was in certain areas until we were waist deep.
• Waterproof camera: I brought my Olympus Tough TG-5 waterproof camera with me, with attached floaties. If it got wet, no harm done. I also brought my $4,000 Canon 6D and tripod – with the hope that I wouldn’t fall into the water. Lucky for me, I didn’t fall. But if I did bring my Canon with me again, I’d bring a waterproof bag.
• Waterproof pouch for your phone: We had our phones in our backpacks, and it was a little bit of a gamble. If we fell into the water, our phones may not have survived. A waterproof pouch would allow you to carry it with you. Or, just leave your phone in your car. 😉
• Water/Snacks: Depending on how far up The Narrows you plan to hike, you’ll want food and water. Utah can get hot in the summer months, and despite being in a steep canyon walking in water, you still need to stay hydrated.

The Details

Address: 1 Zion Park Blvd., State Route 9, Springdale, UT 84767

Cost: A recreational use pass is required when entering Zion National Park. It’s $35 for a private vehicle and is valid in the park for 7 days. But I would highly recommend buying an annual pass so you can visit all of the national parks throughout the country for free.

Hours: Zion National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. Zion Canyon Visitor Center and Park Store are open year round, but hours vary a little by season. The free shuttle up to the Temple of Sinawava is open March through November (No shuttle is running in 2020 because of COVID-19).

Website: https://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm

Phone: (435) 772-3256

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