As two avid hikers who have hiked all around the world, hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park has been one of our favorite experiences hiking in the US!
Hiking the Narrows: what you need to know
- Leave No Trace: As always, respect the environment by following the LNT principles, especially packing out everything you pack in!
- Consider risk of flash floods: Flash floods are always a risk here so be sure to check weather and do not attempt this hike with a chance of rain. Know the warning signs of flash floods.
- Bring proper gear: A walking stick and boots with traction are recommended due to the uneven rocks and water current. In the fall or winter, we recommend dry pants and neoprene socks! We rented ours from Zion Outfitter. You will want to avoid cotton and wear waterproof clothing.
- Avoid crowds: This hike is extremely popular and gets very crowded so go early to avoid crowds. The crowds thin out the farther you hike into the canyon.
Where are the Narrows located?
The Narrows hike is part of Zion National Park located in Southwest Utah. The closet major airport is Harry Reid International Airport (formerly McCarran) in Las Vegas, Nevada which is about 2.5 hours southwest. There is also the St. George Utah Regional Airport which is about an hour from the park.
The trailhead is located at the end of the scenic canyon drive. This road is usually closed to vehicles, so after entering Zion’s southern entrance, you can park at the visitor center and take the Zion Canyon Shuttle to the last stop, the Temple of Sinawava.
Where to stay when visiting at Zion National Park
Springdale, Utah is the closest town to Zion National Park. It’s actually within walking distance from the park entrance, however, it’s also a small town and books up quickly. St. George, Utah is a fantastic option that is within an hour drive, but also closer to some of the other attractions in the area.
How difficult is hiking the Narrows?
The Zion Narrows can be hiked from top-down or bottom-up.
Hiking the Narrows Top Down
This route is a 15 miles technical canyoneering route, meant for experienced hikers only and requires a permit through the park website.
Hiking the Narrows Bottom Up
This route is accessible to casual day hikers and families and does not require a permit.
The full hike is about 10 miles round trip, but the beauty of this Narrows route is that you can hike as little or as far as you choose. If you don’t want to do the whole thing, we recommend turning around once you get to floating rock. The water can get deeper after that point, and you’ve already seen a lot of what the Narrows has to offer.
Hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park summary
If you want to experience wading through a river in a slot canyon with thousand foot walls, you need to do this hike! This hike is magical and definitely popular for a reason. We’ve done it twice now and it’s one if the most unique hikes we’ve ever done.
Is the Narrows on your bucket list?
Comments (2)
Willsays:
November 26, 2022 at 10:34 amExcellent notes and info, what do you think the best time of year to go is? We did the top down and it was a life changer!
adventuringeyessays:
November 26, 2022 at 10:56 amThanks! We’ve done it in the summer which was nice because of the warm weather, but we thought the weather was perfect in November with the proper gear and it was a lot less crowded than the summer.