Narrows

The Narrows is Zion National Park's most distinctive hiking experience — a wade through the Virgin River inside a towering slot canyon in southern Utah where walls rise up to 300 metres above and the canyon width narrows to as little as 6 metres at the tightest points. Unlike conventional trails, the Narrows has no marked path; hikers walk directly in the river and navigate the route by following the canyon upstream. The most popular approach begins at the Temple of Sinawava, the final stop on the Zion Canyon Shuttle (Route 1), and follows the 1.6-kilometre paved Riverside Walk to the point where the canyon closes in and wading begins. From this entry point, hikers wade upstream as far as conditions and stamina permit, with Orderville Canyon at approximately 3.5 kilometres serving as a natural turnaround point for most day visitors; more experienced parties continue to Big Spring at approximately 7.5 kilometres from the shuttle stop. No permit is required for the bottom-up day hike. A permit issued through recreation.gov is required for the top-down through-hike starting at Chamberlain's Ranch on the canyon rim. Rental gear including neoprene socks, waterproof canyoneering boots, and walking sticks is available from several outfitters in the town of Springdale at the park entrance; rental gear is strongly recommended as the river bottom consists of slick river rock, loose boulders, and variable depth ranging from ankle-deep to thigh-high. The canyon walls are layered Navajo Sandstone streaked with desert varnish and stained by springs. Hanging gardens of maidenhair fern, columbine, and monkey flower cling to the walls where springs emerge at regular intervals. The slot canyon is shaded for most of the day, keeping summer temperatures inside noticeably cooler than the surrounding desert plateau. Flash flooding from storms anywhere in the watershed above represents the primary safety hazard; the park issues daily water level readings and flash flood advisories that must be reviewed before entry.