The Narrows hike is a must-do for anyone who visits Zion National Park. The stunning views are hard to beat, and you’ll never forget the overwhelming feeling of being surrounded by such incredible rock walls on your walk through this beautiful multi colored terrain!
Hiking the Narrows is an unforgettable experience for any hiker. The stunning geological formations and remote nature of this trail make it a popular destination with experienced backcountry enthusiasts, as well as those just starting out in their adventure travels across America’s National Parks system. The isolated river corridor offers endless opportunities to explore both near-by scenery or take longer hikes that will bring you into unfamiliar territory where not many have been before.
What is The Narrows?
The Narrows is a 15-mile stretch where the North Fork of the Virgin River carved its way through rock, creating one long narrow slot canyon. Most of The Narrows is located in Zion National Park, but the first section (if hiking from top-down) begins on private property northeast of the park.
If you wanted to do the entire trail, you’re looking at 16 miles of various obstacles that will amaze you, test your limits, but will give you a better appreciation of the true beauty of the American Southwest!
Important Information
- Zion National Park entrance fees will apply, visit the NPS website to see prices.
- Flow Rates – Flow rate is how fast the water is flowing. The higher the flow rate, the more difficult your hike will be. Anything below 50 cfs is considered to be easy. Over 70 cfs will be much more difficult. To view the current flow rates, visit the USGS website.
- Permit required if going past Big Springs or doing hike from top-down. Permit fees listed below in “Hiking The Narrows from the top-down”.
Options for hiking The Narrows
The Narrows offers both the 5 mile (round trip) bottom-up hike from the Temple of Sinawava to Big Springs and the 16-mile top-down hike from Chamberlain’s Ranch back to the Temple of Sinawava.
From the bottom-up
Starting the trail from the bottom-up is the most popular and easiest option. This option starts from the Riverside Walk or Temple of Sinawava, simply hiking upriver for a several miles enjoying the awesome scenery The Narrows has to offer, then returning back the way you came. You can hike all the way to Big Springs with this option, but no further as that would require you to get a permit. No permit is needed to hike from the bottom-up.
From the top-down
Hiking The Narrows from the top-down is a 16 mile (point-to-point) hike which starts at Chamberlain Ranch ending at the Temple of Sinawava. Conquering this trail from this option is no easy feat, some hikers do this as a day hike or a two-day backpacking trip. I’d recommend most people to make it a two-day backpacking trip as it takes most people 10-13 hours to complete. Hiking from the top-down will also require a permit. If you plan to camp out for your two-day trip, you will also be able to reserve your campsite at the same time you reserve your permit.
Hiking The Narrows from the bottom-up
Starting at the Temple of Sinawava (last stop on the Zion Canyon shuttle bus system), hike up the Riverside Walk until it ends about 1 mile in. Many visitors only go up to this part of the hike, which technically isn’t part of The Narrows hike. The Narrows portion begins once you reach the end of the concrete oath at the rocky beach.
For the majority of your hike you will be walking in knee to waist deep, winding through the slot canyon alternating between sections of sand, loose rocks, and boulders.
Mystery Falls
About .5 miles from the Temple of Sinawava, you will reach Mystery Falls. This beautiful section of the trail is where you can see water flowing down the sandstone from the canyon above. Many families with small children will end their hike here as keeping your balance on the loose rocks isn’t always easy when going upstream.
Orderville Canyon / Wall Street
The next main section of The Narrows is Orderville Canyon and Wall Street. This section is about 1 mile from Mystery Falls. Here you will start to notice the canyon walls get closer together but still so much beauty to take in! To get to Orderville Canyon, you will take a slight diversion on the right (east) side of the river about 1 mile round trip which leads a slightly darker path to a small waterfall. Simply come back the way you came to continue in The Narrows.
Big Springs
After leaving Wall Street, keep going for about another 2 miles up the river until you get to Big Springs. Here you will be able to see a magical set of springs and waterfalls that come right out of the canyon wall. This is the furthest hikers can go without a permit, so this a mandatory turn-around spot for all hikers without a permit.
Hiking The Narrows from the top-down
In order to hike The Narrows from top-down, you will need to have a permit. You can make your reservations up to 3 months in advance on the National Park Service website. Permits are available on the fifth day of every month at 10:00 am MST. You will also be able to reserve your campsite if you plan on doing a two-day backpacking trip.
Permit Costs:
- $5.00 Non-refundable fee for online calendar reservations
- $15.00 – 1-2 people
- $20.00 – 3-7 people
- $25.00 – 8-12 people
Since hiking from the top-down is a 16 mile beast of a hike, I will break it down as an overview for certain milage distances.
Miles 0 – 3
The hike will start at Chamberlain’s Ranch. Follow the signs from the parking and shuttle drop-off for The Narrows. These first 3 miles are easy, mostly gravel road.
Miles 3 – 9
This is the top portion of the hike. Go west from Chamberlain’s Ranch until you get to Deep Creek. The canyon starts relatively low and gradually increases in height the further you go into the canyon.
Miles 9 – 11
From here you will head south towards Zion National Park. In this portion of the hike you will see many campsites along the river. You’ll notice that canyon walls are much higher here.
Miles 11 – 13.5
This area is possibly the most beautiful portion of The Narrows. Around mile 11 you will pass Big Springs and come into contact with hikers who started from the bottom-up. The water will be much higher in this stretch of the hike, so expect to slow down here to move pass the many obstacles. You’ll also hike through the iconic Wall Street portion of The Narrows, the walls are probably highest here and also quite narrow.
Miles 13.5 – 15
Around mile 13.5, you’ll get out of Wall Street and Orderville Canyon will join The Narrows. From here the rest of the hike will be relatively easy and the canyon will be a lot more wider.
Miles 15 – 16
By mile 15 you should be out of the water walking on the paved Riverside Walk back to the Temple of Sinawava and the Zion Canyon shuttle bus.
When to hike The Narrows
Spring:
The Narrows is usually closed from mid-March to mid-May as flow rates will be much higher from the snowmelt and springs. However, this can vary depending on weather conditions. *Permits will not be issued if flow rate is over 150 cfs.*
Summer:
Hiking The Narrows in the summer is a great time! The air and water temperatures are warm, days are longer, and the shuttle service runs later as well. This is also the most crowded time of the year for Zion National Park, not just The Narrows. Also, getting a permit in the summer can also be harder get.
Fall:
Fall is possibly my favorite time to hike The Narrows and visit the park. Crowds are thin, leaves are changing colors, and the weather is just perfect. Downside of hiking in the fall is that you lose daylight faster and the shuttle service also gets cut shorter.
Winter:
It’s possible to hike The Narrows from the bottom-up, but expect it to be cold! Also, the shuttle doesn’t run during the winter months, and the road to Chamberlain’s Ranch might be closed due to snow.
What to bring for The Narrows hike
What you bring to hike The Narrows can vary depending on the season and the direction you choose to do this hike. Below is what I recommend for both instances:
- Walking stick, dry suit/pants, neoprene socks, and special boots (rented from Zion Adventure Company)
- Food: I usually bring sandwiches, protein bars, and some snacks.
- Water: LOTS of water!
- Water filter
- Dry bag
- First aid kit
- Hand warmers
- GPS/map
- Headlamp/flashlight
- Extra change of dry clothes, towel
- Camera and camera gear
- Waterproof case for your phone
- Permit (if applicable)
Hiking The Narrows in Zion National Park is an unforgettable experience. Walking in the Virgin River through the beautiful slot canyons is something everyone should get to do at least once. This is definitely one of the hikes worth the extra effort to get to. You will undoubtedly feel accomplished and excited no matter how far you go on the trail. I for one have been to The Narrows over 8 times, and the feeling of being there never gets old!
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