Don’t do that for the Narrows. Check out my KAVU bag review! Of course, you can hike a shorter distance. After that, continuing on … The first mile of the hike is the paved Riverside Walk, which terminates in the Virgin River where it’s time to get your feet wet. Even if you decide not to do the Zion Narrows Day Hike, you should still do the Riverside Walk!! So cold, in fact, that I screamed every time. Waterproof camera – it would take a braver soul than me to take my DSLR out in the Virgin River if the water is any deeper than my ankles. $149.00 per adult. Worth every penny and you won’t have any foot issues. BONUS: you can take pictures underwater with it, which is always entertaining! No, but we recommend them. But it’s a million times more enjoyable with the right gear. I’ve done plenty of hikes before but this would be a bit different.

Take in the views. That is entirely up to you, I just personally don’t feel comfortable hiking in just a bathing suit. This is the last place you can refill your water bottle and use a “real” bathroom for a couple of hours. Next Level Glamping – Take glamping to a whole new level with a stay in these luxury tents under the stars at Zion. You’ll spend the vast majority of the hike wading through the Virgin River over slick, uneven river rocks. We even had to scramble on portions to avoid wading through the deeper waters. Yes!!! Go any farther and you risk getting fined by a park ranger. In most National Parks, they give you a little newspaper or pamphlet when you arrive. Can you hike the narrows in [insert month]? As a seasonal employee at the North Rim of Grand Canyon, I remember when the news broke about this. The appropriate “resource area” field for day-hiking permits is “Virgin Narrows Dayuse Trail From Top.” For backpacking, you’ll have to select a specific “Narrows Site” – 1, 3, 5, 9, or 12.

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If we’d been just a little later, we would have had to wait for the next one. The Top Down Hike is a sixteen mile one or two day hike that starts at Chamberlain’s Ranch and ends at The Temple of Sinawava and is for experienced hikers.

This looks like so much fun! From the trailhead, the easy Riverside Trail follows the bank of the river for about a mile.

This post contains affiliate links. Villa for 12 with Jacuzzi – all the creature comforts (without the creatures) – air-conditioning, wifi, private bathrooms, 5 bedrooms and did I mention a Jacuzzi? The Zion Narrows day hike is one of Zion National Park’s most popular trails for a reason: With the Virgin River underfoot and thousand-foot sandstone walls towering on either side, it’s hard to find a more impressive spot. We ended up buying our hiking poles in the Zion National Park gift shop. If there’s been a lot of snow, the entire month has the potential to get closed out too.

This gorge, with walls a thousand feet tall and the river sometimes just twenty to thirty feet wide, is one of the most popular areas in Zion National Park.

Into The River (37.296803, -112.948238) From Temple of Sinawava, the paved Riverside Walk leads up the canyon for about 1 mile. ), Aaron was so sure he wouldn’t slip that he ignored our own advice and risked carrying his DSLR in his hand all the way through the Narrows. You’ll at least want some neoprene socks, and this is the time of year to start considering additional gear, like dry pants. High clearance is recommended, but not always necessary. My daughter wore a long sleeved shirt during the Riverside Walk and then we threw it in my bag once we actually got into The Narrows. I’d bring my Aquamira and fill up with more water at Big Springs, if necessary. They are our favorite refillable water bottle. My family of four hiked together for about 1.5 miles into The Narrows (so 3 miles round trip plus 2 miles of the Riverside Walk for a total of 5 miles). We will definitely be back to do this hike. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The hike begins at Zion’s Temple of Sinawava shuttle stop. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This site is on a high bank located on a western bend.

The Narrows begin to take shape. Beyond Deep Creek you’ll start to encounter the campsites. Note, there are no facilities (bathrooms, electricity etc). I’ve wanted to visit Zion since I moved to the US four years ago and it’s still languishing on my bucket list! There’s a $5 non-refundable fee to make an online reservation. Pack smart. Eight of the ten miles are spent walking on uneven river rocks, and half of those miles you’ll be walking upstream, so expect to be done for the day afterward. two week road trip through Utah and Arizona, Holiday Gift Guide: Unique North Carolina Gifts for North Carolina Lovers, Must See Durham NC Wall Murals & Street Art, Top 10 Raleigh NC Murals to Visit with your Family.

It may be easy to miss. The Zion Narrows is an out-and-back hike so you can turn around whenever you’ve had enough, but intrepid hikers are only allowed to travel as far as Big Spring, a gorgeous stopping point about five miles upriver.

Max group size: 6 Walk-in permit only, This sunny campsite is located on the left side, immediately after the first stream crossing. Having the right “stuff” makes all the difference!! You’ll begin to see a lot more hikers and know you’re getting close to the end. If you happen to need more water, it’s a great place to replenish your drinking water. You should remain vigilant when hiking the Narrows and especially keep children within sight at all times as the river can be deceptively strong. If you’re doing the hike top-down and need a photo guide, scroll through these photos in reverse. Permit registration is available up to three months prior your hike. It’s waterproof! To get to The Narrows, you will need to get off the shuttle at the Temple of Sinawava which is the last stop on the shuttle and takes about 45 minutes from the Visitor’s Center. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. […].

Sign up to get access to our library of resources, travel photography tips, exclusive giveaways, and inspiration to be a Local Adventurer. NPS reports that advance permits are booked “almost immediately” after they’re released for peak-season dates.