Information sponsored by Zion Rock and Mountain Guides.
Zion Narrows - Zion National Park’s Premiere Hike
Ways to Hike | Permits | Transportation | Leave No Trace | Planning & Prep | Flash Floods | Useful Links
National Geographic’s Adventure Magazine rated hiking the Virgin River Narrows number five on their list of America’s Best 100 Adventures. The Zion Narrows is world class scenery not to be missed. This is a unique hiking experience taking you deep into the Virgin River Narrows among towering sandstone cliffs that soar up to 2000 feet high. As you meander through the river, you will enjoy a spectacular narrow gorge dotted with sandstone grottos, hanging gardens, and jaw dropping views around every corner.
There are three different options for hiking the Virgin River Narrows depending on your skill level, hiking experience, and time.
Option 1 Dayhike from bottom-up: The Easiest
No permit required
Mileage: 6 miles round trip
Time allotted: 1-5 hours
Trailhead: Temple of Sinawava
This is your easiest option time-wise, physically and logistically. Simply catch one of the free shuttle buses that run in the park. You can hike in the Virgin River Narrows as far as you feel comfortable, and then turn around and hike out the same way. Exit the shuttle bus at the Temple of Sinawava. After you hike on the Riverside Walk for one mile, you will then hike in the Virgin River for about two miles to the junction with Orderville Canyon, where the river clenches down to your destination—The Zion Narrows. Initially this hike crosses from river bank to river bank with a few waist deep to chest level pools. After a while you hike entirely in the river as you approach the Orderville Junction and the Narrows beyond. For the more hardy and adventurous, continue upstream to beautiful Big Springs. This is about 10 mile round trip and takes about 7-8 hours. Be prepared to swim!
Option 2 Dayhike from top-down: A Challenge
Permit required
Mileage: 16 miles one way
Time allotted: 10 to 12 hours
Trailhead: Chamberlain’s Ranch
This option is a 16 mile hiking adventure that will take you through the entire length of the Zion Virgin River Narrows. Be prepared for a long, strenuous day of hiking that has been described as “hiking on slippery bowling balls” in the upper section of the river. You will encounter water depths that range from ankle slapping to full swims. This is a rewarding day of non-stop amazing scenery from start to finish. You will enjoy the excitement of being enticed around each bend in the river just to see the next beautiful panorama.
Option 3 Overnight Trip from top-down: Allows you the most time
Permit required
Mileage: 16 miles one way
Time allotted: 2 days
Trailhead Chamberlain’s Ranch
If you are interested in getting the most quality experience in the Virgin River Narrows, this is the best option for you. Since you will be hiking at a more relaxed pace, this option affords you the most time to spend in such a grand place. There are 12 designated campsites within a wide section of the river that require a backcountry permit from Zion National Park. You will be awestruck at the evening beauty of the canyon, as you spend a calm and peaceful night among your very own narrow strip of starry sky. As you make your way to your campsite, you can explore two amazing side canyon, Deep Creek and Kolob Creek. On your second day, you can enjoy stops at Big Springs, Orderville Canyon, and the waterfall out of Mystery Canyon.
Permit Process for Top-Down Options
There are two different ways to obtain a permit for the Zion Narrows top down hike.
- Calendar Reservations- you may make a reservation on the Zion National Park backcountry reservation website. These reservations can be made approximately three months (please see chart below) ahead of the time you would like to do the hike.
- For overnight Narrows reservations please visit Zion National Park ’s backpacking backcountry calendar reservation page.
- For top-down day hike trips through the Narrows please visit the slot canyon daytrips calendar reservation page.
- Walk-up Permits- you can obtain a walk-up permit at the backcountry desk inside the visitor center at the south entrance of Zion National Park . Permits are first available on a first come first serve basis the day before the day you would like to start your trip. For instance, if you want to go on a Saturday, the earliest you can get a permit is Friday morning. See below for the Zion Backcountry Desks seasonal hours of operation.
Backcountry Desk Hours:
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January 1 through April 24 |
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Both backcountry desks, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
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April 25 through May 28 |
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Zion Canyon , 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
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Kolob Canyons, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
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May 29 through September 3 |
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Zion Canyon , 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. |
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Kolob Canyons, 8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. |
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September 4 through October 15 |
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Zion Canyon , 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
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Kolob Canyons, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
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October 16 through Spring 2006 |
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Both backcountry desks, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
- For the Bottom-Up hike all you need to do is catch a free park shuttle to Temple of Sinawava. Here you will find the Riverside Walk, a paved trail that will lead you to the start of the Narrows hike.
- If you plan on doing either of the Top-Down options, it is recommended that you hire a local shuttle service to Chamberlain’s Ranch. They can get you there faster and you don’t have to retrieve your car at the end of your hike. The road to Chamberlain’s Ranch is usually in pretty good shape and is passable with a low clearance vehicle but it is the drive times that will drain you if you plan on shuttling your own cars. It can take nearly three hours to retrieve a car! This time would be much better served eating pizza and drinking cold ones! Zion Rock and Mountain Guides offers a Narrows Shuttle Service for $25.00/person.
As you explore Zion National Park and all wild places, please be mindful of the following principles, so that you can “Leave No Trace.”
Plan Ahead and Prepare- Research regulations, permits, maps, weather (current and typical patterns), and hazards. Make sure you have proper equipment, plenty of food and water, and the skills necessary for your trip. Beresponsible!! Your safety is your responsibility!
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces- Staying on resistant surfaces such as maintained trails, expanses of rock, established campsites, gravel, sand or dry creek beds. When hiking in the backcountry, take special care to not step on cryptobiotic soil crusts. Don’t bust the crust!
Dispose of Waste Properly- Pack it out!! Please do not leave behind unsightly toilet paper.
Leave What You Find- So others can enjoy it too.
Minimize Campfire Impacts- Find out current regulations. No Fires in the Backcountry of Zion National Park.
Respect Wildlife- Admire from afar and keep them wild by not feeding them.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors- Be respectful.
You may hike the Narrows all year round, but during early spring, fall, and winter when the river may be running high and cold, you will need specialized gear that will keep you dry, warm, safe, and happy. Drysuits, wetsuits, neoprene socks, river shoes, and drybags will protect you, and your equipment from the cold elements. Plan ahead for unexpected events by staying prepared—always pack extra food, water, and warm clothing.
Zion Rock and Mountain Guides are committed to your safety. They rent specialized gear that meet the demands of traversing the diverse backcountry conditions encountered in Zion. They also offer instructional courses to help you gain the skills and confidence necessary to become a safe and competent backcountry traveler. Stop in at Zion Rock and Mountain Guides or the Zion Backcountry desk for up to date weather information and route conditions.
FOOTWEAR: You need hiking boots that offer strong ankle support (for all those slippery rocks on the river bottom) and good traction in wet conditions. (Do not attempt this hike in sandals.) So, if you rent only one item for this hike, make it a pair of canyoneering shoes, like the La Sportiva Exum River shoe, without question, the best canyoneering shoe out there. These shoes stick to wet boulders like glue and because they are modeled after La Sportiva’s Exum Ridge approach shoe, they have a real foot platform designed for hiking, which gives excellent ankle support. And when used in combination with a neoprene sock, they keep your feet warm. More than any other piece of gear (with the exception perhaps of hiking poles), canyoneering shoes will greatly enhance your Narrows experience.
HIKING POLES: For maintaining balance and thereby reducing fatigue and possible injury, this piece of equipment also ranks high in the must have/rent category.
WATERPROOF BAGS: Drybags are the best way to protect your valuables. For the ultimate protection, however, consider adding an additional trash bag inside of your drybag. What goes in these bags?... anything you don't want to get wet, like a spare set of clothes, your non-waterproof camera, etc.
DRINKING WATER: Virgin River water is not safe to drink untreated. Either carry all the water you will need with you, or to make your load lighter, bring a water filter (removes bacteria and protozoan cysts like Giardia from contaminated water) or purifier (a purifier also removes viruses). In addition to the Virgin River water, there are spring sources along the way, like Big Springs (treat these sources too!)
CLOTHING: The clothing you choose to bring depends on several factors: time of year, water conditions, prone to getting cold easily, etc. Although you will probably be hiking in shorts, you should always carry a spare set of warm clothing in case of emergency. And warm clothing means synthetic or wool, not cotton. Fleece, synchilla, capilene, polypropylene - no matter what you call it, all of these synthetic fabrics will keep you warm even when they are wet, therefore helping to prevent hypothermia. If you choose to hike during the colder season off-seasons, seriously consider renting a drysuit.
IMPORTANT MISC ITEMS:
- First aid kit
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat (the hike is exposed near Chamberlain's Ranch)
- Topographic map
- Extra food and water
- Toilet paper (pack it out please)
- Trash bags to pack out garbage
- Camera
This is canyon country.Flash floods are a serious threat in Zion. July, August, and September are considered our "monsoon season" and therefore, flash floods are more likely to occur during this time of year. However, these powerful and potentially fatal floods can happen any time of the year. Your ambivalence and lack of information can kill you. Before you go, be sure you know! Stop by Zion Rock and Mountain Guides or the Zion Backcountry desk to find out the current weather conditions and patterns, flash flood potential, and specific trail information.
All information courtesy of Zion Rock and Mountain Guides.
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