Rivaling Angels Landing in popularity, The Narrows is perhaps Zion National Park’s most unique hiking trail. This incredible trail has hikers trekking up or downstream through the Virgin River, with stunning, towering cliff faces rising sharply on either side.
Depending on the time of year that you visit and the hike that you choose, hiking The Narrows can mean cooling off with an easy walk through shallow water, or it can be a challenging adventure through waist-deep water, requiring special gear as the water temperature drops.
The time of year that you choose to visit isn’t the only thing that can impact your hike. While hiking the full trail requires the right gear, planning, and permits, hiking just a short section can be easy enough for families and inexperienced hikers.
If you’re thinking about taking on this special trail during your next stay at Zion hotels, keep reading. We’re breaking down what you need to know to plan your hike.
Choosing Your Hike
If you’re dreaming of hiking The Narrows, you have one big decision to make before you even arrive at your choice of Zion hotels; which direction will you hike?
Bottom-Up Hike
The most common option is the Bottom-Up Hike. This means that you’ll travel through Zion’s Lower Canyon to the Temple of Sinawava. After hiking one mile along Riverside Walk, you’ll enter the Virgin River and begin hiking upstream.
This option is popular for a number of reasons. The biggest is that this option allows you to fully customize your hike. If you’re visiting with young kids, you could hike just a short distance upstream before turning around to hike back. You could also opt to hike for an hour before turning around to head back.
If you’re hiking from the Bottom-Up, you can hike as far upstream as Big Spring. If you choose this option, you’ll be hiking 9.4 miles round trip. Plan for this hike to take a full day.
You won’t need a permit to hike to Big Springs and back or any shorter distances in a Bottom-Up hike. If you’re planning to just hike a short distance before turning around, you likely won’t need any additional gear beyond your regular hiking clothes. However, keep in mind that you’ll spend about 60 percent of your hike in the water.
When the water and air temperature is cold, this can make for an uncomfortable or even dangerous hike. Check weather conditions ahead of your trip, and make sure that you’re prepared for those conditions before you hit the trail.
Top-Down Hike
While most park visitors opt for the Bottom-Up Hike, those looking for an extra special adventure during their stay in Zion hotels might prefer the Top-Down Hike. This is perhaps the most challenging hike in Zion National Park.
This through-hike is 16 miles total, with around 1,300 feet of elevation change. It can take hikers anywhere from 10 to 14 hours total to hike. For this reason, some hikers choose to split the hike into two days, staying overnight on the trail in the middle.
To complete the Top-Down Hike, you’ll need to travel to Chamberlain’s Ranch. This is around an hour’s drive from Flanigan’s Resort. Hikers need to arrange their own transportation to the starting point. From there, you’ll hike downstream, with the trail ending at the Temple of Sinawava. You can then travel back to Zion hotels by way of the Zion Canyon Shuttle.
You’ll spend about 80 percent of this hike walking, wading, or even swimming in the river. The water is often cold, even during the summer. This, in addition to the length of the trail, means that hikers hoping to take on a through-hike should have the proper training and gear. You’ll also need to obtain a Wilderness Permit for this hike.
Getting to The Narrows
If you’ve ever taken a drive or rode the shuttle into Zion’s Lower Canyon, you know that it gets progressively more narrow the deeper that you go. Traffic through the Lower Canyon ends at the Temple of Sinawava, located at Shuttle Stop #9.
The Temple of Sinawava is a natural amphitheater that has been carved over thousands of years by the Virgin River. Also at this shuttle stop is the Riverside Walk. This paved trail is two miles round trip and follows the Virgin River into the Canyon. At the turnaround point, you’ll find a few steps down to the banks of the River; this is also the start of The Narrows.
For most of the year, you can get to The Narrows for your Bottom-Up Hike by riding the Zion Canyon Shuttle to Stop #9. But if you’re visiting during the winter when the shuttles aren’t in operation, there is a small parking lot available at the trailhead for Riverside Walk.
Planning Your Zion National Park Adventure
Hiking either trail option through The Narrows is a great way to experience this unique section of Zion National Park.
The Narrows does close occasionally throughout the year when water levels in the Virgin River rise. This is common in the spring when the snow melting in the mountains causes the river to flood. This may occur in April or May, or even into the early summer months following a year of heavy snow in higher elevations.
During the desert monsoon season, which runs from July to September, sudden rainfall can also cause the trail to close. Check the National Park Service’s website or stop in at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center during your visit to Flanigan’s Resort to find out about any trail closures.
If you’re ready to start planning your own hike through The Narrows, Flanigan’s Resort is a great base camp. Whether you’re doing a through-hike or a Bottom-Up hike, our resort makes it easy to get to and from Zion National Park quickly during your visit. This allows you to hit the trail early, or get back to your resort after a lengthy through-hike.
Book your stay today to start planning your own adventure in The Narrows!