Dip your toes in the waters of Zion
The Narrows are home to one of the world’s most famous slot canyon hikes. Carved by the Virgin River between thousand-foot walls of multi-layered sandstone, this colorful trail through the narrowest section of Zion Canyon features a variety of extraordinary sights and ever-shifting terrain.
There are two ways to hike the Narrows: top-down and bottom-up. The first method will take you through the entire canyon on a massive one-day hike (or two-day backpacking trip). The second, more popular method is a mellower out-and-back hike, perfect for a family-friendly summer excursion.
Starting from the sandstone amphitheater called Temple of Sinawava, the paved mile-long Riverside Walk will take you along the lush hanging gardens and weeping walls of the canyon until you reach the Virgin River. Follow the trickling cascades, gravel bars, and shining coats of black desert varnish until the gigantic walls constrict. This is where you enter the river and the wading starts.
No two trips in the Narrows are ever the same
From mid-May through September the water is waist-deep at worst and you can go in without any gear. For the rest of the year, you’ll want to bring waders or a dry suit (which you can rent in town). The ground consists of sand, debris, and rocks carried endlessly by the river. My favorite thing about the Narrows is how entire sections become deeper or shallower over time, rocks and sand bars constantly move to new spots. Everytime you enter, it’s a new place.
The bottom-up hike will take you as far as Big Springs without a permit. You can also add a side-trip to Orderville Canyon to make it a 12-mile round trip. The ending point is not that important because the Narrows are all about the journey—and what a journey it is!