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A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking the Narrows in Zion

Last Updated: February 13, 2023 · Southwest, USA

One of the best activities to do on a trip to Zion National Park is none other than hiking the Narrows.

On this hike, you wade through the shallow Virgin River in between towering red and carbon-colored canyon walls. If you have a love for adventure and the outdoors, hiking in the Narrows in Zion definitely deserves a spot on your bucket list!

Before our trip, I searched tons about the Narrows hike, including when to go, what to wear, how to get there, trail length, etc., and always came up short!

So I decided to write my own guide for hiking the Narrows for beginners. It includes everything you need to know about hiking in the Narrows in Zion so you can head out fully prepared. 🙂

Here’s everything I learned during our trip on how to hike the Zion narrows!

P.S. You need a 2023-2024 America The Beautiful Park Pass to enter Zion National Park and hike the Narrows!

Click here to purchase your pass

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

Table of Contents show
Guide to Hiking the Zion Narrows for Beginners
Getting to the Narrows
When Is the Best Time to Hike the Narrows?
What Should You Wear to Hike the Narrows?
How to Prepare for the Narrows Hike
How to Hike the Zion Narrows Responsibly
Other FAQ About Hiking the Narrows in Zion

Guide to Hiking the Zion Narrows for Beginners

The Narrows hike (bottom-up) is an easy-moderate hike that’s ideal for the adventurous at heart.

It is a great hike for couples, solo travelers, fit elders, and families! We saw many parents with their kids hiking the Narrows without a problem.

The water is fairly shallow for most of the hike. There are only a few places where it gets a little deeper (it reached the top of my thighs and I’m 5’4).

How long does it take to hike the Narrows bottom-up? It really just depends. How much do you want to hike? The Narrows stretches for 16 miles but that’s if you hike top-down.

Most people hike between 2-6 hours on the Narrows hike when starting at the bottom (~6 miles round trip).

Since the Narrows hike is an in-and-out trail, whatever mileage and time you put in hiking in, you have to do out. However, it does take less time to hike out since you’re going with the current.

We hiked in 2 hours, and it took us 1h 15m to hike out. On a separate trip, my dad hiked in 3 hours and it only took 2 to hike back out.

Tip: if you don’t have time to hike the Narrows, you can still get to experience narrow slot canyons on this fun slot canyon + UTV tour by East Zion Adventures.


Note: You should also factor in the time and mileage it takes to reach the Narrows via the Riverside Walk Trail which is 2.2 miles round trip (20-25 minutes each way). Also, it takes 40-45 minutes to get to the Narrows shuttle stop via the shuttle bus from the Zion Visitor’s Center located at the entrance of the park.

To save time getting there, I would recommend staying overnight in Springdale.

The closest hotel to the Visitor’s Center is the scenic Cable Mountain Lodge. You can literally walk out your door and be there.

We stayed overnight in the Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort on the opposite side of the park, so we had to leave extra early to take the shuttle in the morning.

Plan for at least 4-6 hours to hike the Narrows in total (= shuttle time + Riverside Trail to reach the Narrows + time hiking in the Narrows to Wall Street and back).

You could do more, but up to you! Personally, we were satisfied with what we saw.

We hiked for 2 hours and reached the part of the hike where it “narrows” and splits off to the right (seen on the below map as Orderville Canyon).

I’d recommend at least hiking that far in, if not further all the way to Wall Street or continuing for a super long hike all the way to Big Springs.

Many hikers will turn around before reaching the first split at Orderville Canyon.

I’m glad we didn’t because we would’ve missed where the canyon walls get closer and closer together. Plus, the Navajo sandstone coloration is so gorgeous!

Also Read: The Perfect 2 Day Zion National Park Itinerary

Beautiful slot canyon on the Narrows hike in Zion
The beautiful Zion Narrows canyon walls
zion narrows map
Map of Zion Narrows hike (bottom-up) | via Zion Guru
the narrows hiking gear
start of the narrows hike zion
the narrows hike Mystery Falls waterfall

Getting to the Narrows

You can either drive up Zion canyon to reach the Narrows trailhead or take the shuttle bus and stop off at #9 – Temple of Sinawava.

⚠️ Zion National Park is discontinuing the temporary shuttle ticket system for Zion Canyon. Stay up to date here.

Grab your America The Beautiful Park Pass here. It pays for itself if you visit just two National Parks within an entire year. You could use it for visiting both Zion and Bryce Canyon in one trip!

When Is the Best Time to Hike the Narrows?

Start early in the morning to watch as the canyon walls light up with the sunrise.

We started our hike around 9 AM and the river was mostly shaded thanks to the height of the canyon walls.

On your way out, the sun will likely start hitting your head and there will be parts of the canyon that are in full sun by noon.

So bring a hat and sunscreen for your face because even as you trudge through the refreshing river, the sun rays will heat you up!

Beautiful slot canyon on the Narrows hike in Zion
The beautiful Zion Narrows canyon walls

The Narrows can flood at times and is not safe for hiking. Typically there are warning signs when there is risk of flooding, but if you’re not sure or don’t see any signs posted, ask a park ranger at the visitor’s center for updates on trail closures and warnings.

What Should You Wear to Hike the Narrows?

When hiking the Narrows in Zion, make sure to wear comfortable clothing.

Sporty outfits, running leggings/capris/shorts (I recommend high-waist biking shorts) and breathable shirts, and SPF tank tops are best. You are hiking, after all!

That said, if you head out early, it can feel quite chilly inside the canyon with the water. But once you get going, you’ll heat up.

what to wear for Narrows hike Zion
Navajo sandstone narrows hike Zion

As for shoes, I don’t recommend hiking the Narrows in Chacos or sandals.

You are walking in the water 90% of the time over small and large rocks and it would be easy to stub a toe or slip.

I found it much easier to carefully shuffle my way through the water rather than step over the rocks. It’s less splashy that way and you’ll have better footing.

Many hikers rent neoprene/waterproof hiking boots and socks from one of the stores in town (Zion Guru, Zion Outfitters, etc). It’s not necessary if you’re hiking during the summer months, but if you hike the Narrows during spring or fall when it’s cooler, it’ll probably save your toes from freezing off.

I wore my sustainable Allbirds tree runners and they worked just fine. Any sneaker should do if they’re not too slippery or heavy.

As for accessories – you might find it helpful to take along trekking poles to help navigate over the rocks. The river’s current is stronger in some areas, but nothing too strong to knock you over.

Take a small day backpack that stores your water (it’s recommended to take at least 1 gallon per person), and other items you want to take with you. I took my camera and DJI Osmo Action along as well.

You don’t really need a dry bag for the hike but it might be a good idea if you slip and fall in the water (I had a few close calls!).

Standing in Orderville Canyon -Hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park
the Narrows canyon walls in Zion, Utah

How to Prepare for the Narrows Hike

The Narrows bottom-up hike is fairly accessible for all ages.

That said, you don’t really need to train prior to your trip, but you should be comfortable hiking for several hours with wet feet and legs!

Hiking the Narrows bottom-up is overall easy with hardly zero inclines. You might have to scramble over some rocks, but that’s about it!

How to Hike the Zion Narrows Responsibly

Here are a few tips on how to responsibly hike the Narrows in Zion.

The only bathroom available on the Narrows hike is at the Riverside Walk trailhead, the same as the shuttle stop #9 – Temple of Sinawava.

Please don’t throw trash or mark/carve into the canyon walls and please report anyone who does. 🌿

You’ll probably see some closed-off paths where people have trampled over flora in the past. Don’t ignore those signs and trudge on anyway.

Stick to the marked trails and pack out everything you pack in!

Zion National Park is a beautiful natural wonder and we should do all that we can to conserve and preserve it!

Please be aware of your impact when you’re hiking the Narrows and the other trails in Zion.

With thousands of visitors every day, harmful small actions really add up!

Hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park

Other FAQ About Hiking the Narrows in Zion

  • How difficult is hiking the Narrows? Not very difficult, unless you want to hike the entire trail length for an all-day adventure.
  • How many miles is the Narrows hike? 16 miles total if you hike top-down, but most people just hike in 1-3 miles bottom-up and turn around and come back, considering you have to hike out whatever you hike in.
  • How deep is the water in the Narrows? From the 2-3 hours we hiked, the water doesn’t get very deep on the river crossings. You’ll hike both in the water and on the dry rock bed that skirts part of the canyon walls. There are places that are deeper, above waist level, but you’re not obligated to go through that.
  • Where do you park to hike the Narrows? You can drive your own car into Zion Canyon or take the shuttles. You have to take the shuttle from the visitor’s center (the closest hotel is the beautiful Cable Mountain Lodge).

Finally, the Narrows in Zion National Park has become one of our all-time favorite hikes!

If you are planning a trip here in the future, check out my 2 day Zion itinerary for more travel tips on what to do, where to stay, hike, eat, and more.

Don’t forget your America The Beautiful National Park Pass!

You will LOVE hiking in the Narrows in Zion!

If you have any more questions about hiking the Narrows for beginners, feel free to drop me a question below in the comments or email me.

Save this Narrows hiking guide to Pinterest!

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By: Bri · In: Southwest, USA · Tagged: Adventure

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Comments

  1. Angela says

    September 3, 2023 at 7:16 pm

    Thank you so much for doing this for everyone!! We are going there in September for our honeymoon, where do you suggest getting tickets for the Narrows to hike?

    Reply
  2. Jess H says

    March 21, 2023 at 12:15 am

    Super useful post about the hike! I’ll be heading there in September and you have the most detailed info I’ve found so far. Thanks ☺️

    Reply
    • Bri says

      March 21, 2023 at 7:37 pm

      That’s so wonderful to hear, thank you so much for reading my blog! You’re going to love the Narrows hike!! September is a fantastic time to go, too. 🤗

      Reply
  3. Rich Beck says

    October 21, 2022 at 10:20 am

    We hiked the Narrows last week, middle,of October 2022, BOTH of us are 65. IT WAS GREAT..

    We both used trekking poles with rubber tips. They made it much easier. I wore a warm long sleeve shirt and a wide brimmed hat. The hat was a plus in the sunny areas. On our feet we wore wool socks and Keens water shoes. They had good tread and the cushioned material and toe caps protected our feet from the rocks, the wool socks release heat when wet so we were very comfortable in the 59 degree water. Lots of people had the rented boots and single rented wood poles. I think our set up was better.

    Bring plenty of drinking water. I had a backpack with a large water bladder and finished all of it. I also had a metal bottle full,of water and went through much of it.

    We went though all areas with the water getting no more than mid calf. I’m 6’4”. We saw some little kids in full dry suits seeing how deep they could get…up to their necks…for photos. There were also people who walked in the wrong spots and got waste deep,

    All shapes and ages of people were doing it with everyone having a great time, except for the two guys we saw on the way out close to the start who were going to do it barefoot while carrying their shoes. Do not, I repeat, do not try that, it’s a fools mission.

    Reply
  4. Amy says

    September 11, 2022 at 4:46 pm

    Great article! I’m looking at exploring some national parks with my parents (late 60’s) who are very active walkers and bikers but have never been to a national park or hiking. I worry about slips and falls, and neither knows how to swim. Would they be comfortable with the Narrows or should I look at an alternate hike in Zion with them?

    Reply
    • Bri says

      September 16, 2022 at 12:55 pm

      Hi Amy! The Narrows hike in Zion is great for all ages. As long as your parents feel comfortable wading in angle to sometimes knee-deep water, then they should be alright!

      Reply
  5. Amy Thompson Emerson says

    August 6, 2022 at 9:29 am

    Thank you for all your detailed descriptions especially about equipment needed. I can’t wait to do this hike!!! I do have a question about your comment to not pee in the river. From what I have read, best practice is to actually do that. Have you double-checked that recommendation?

    Reply
    • Bri says

      August 25, 2022 at 8:20 pm

      Hi Amy, I have not… But I’m curious to know where you have read that!

      Reply
  6. Tammy Daniels says

    July 2, 2022 at 2:04 pm

    Great page. We are hiking the Narrows tomorrow and we are planning to use all of your advice! Thank you so much for this blog post.

    Reply
    • Bri says

      July 5, 2022 at 3:17 pm

      Hope you have a great time!!

      Reply
  7. Victor Jones says

    April 21, 2022 at 6:16 pm

    Hello Bri. When the River Walk starts at the river to become the Narrows, is there a resting spot for people to rest or wait for others in their party who wanted to explore in the Narrows?
    Thank you! -Victor

    Reply
    • Bri says

      April 25, 2022 at 12:52 pm

      Hey Victor! Yes, there is a seating area including some benches and seating around the rock wall/stairs right at the “entrance” to the river.

      Reply
  8. Terri says

    June 9, 2021 at 3:25 pm

    Great article. Thank you . We were wondering if we needed to rent shoes and poles and this was very helpful

    I would like to reference your article in one of my upcoming blog posts if you don’t mind

    Reply
    • Bri says

      June 9, 2021 at 4:33 pm

      Hi Terri! Thanks so much for reading and I’m glad you found it useful. Of course, I’d be happy if you referenced me on your RV blog. We can’t wait to get back to traveling in our van. Hope you have happy & safe adventures! x 🚐

      Reply
  9. kathy says

    May 10, 2021 at 1:40 am

    what time of year did you do the hike? I’m planning a trip in the end of May so wondering about the temperature and if I can just wear my allbirds as well, thanks! 🙂

    Reply
    • Bri says

      May 10, 2021 at 10:12 am

      Hi Kathy! We hiked the Narrows in mid-August. The water was cool then as well. I quickly checked the current conditions and the last water temp reading was on 4/30 and recorded 62ºF/16ºC. Hope that helps! 🙂 x

      Reply
  10. Carmon McTigue says

    April 17, 2021 at 3:17 pm

    Is it worth it just to hike the Riverside Walk trail to just put your feet in and get the pic?

    Reply
    • Bri says

      April 17, 2021 at 9:55 pm

      Depends on what pic you’d like to get! The start of the Narrows hike can be seen from my photo of the trailhead with everyone in the water. The canyon walls won’t actually narrow until about 2.5 hours into the hike. Hope that helps! I would say it’s still worth it, though! The Riverside Walk Trail is very scenic. 🙂

      Reply
      • lynne girard says

        September 29, 2021 at 10:32 am

        What a great article, you answered questions I have spent hours trying to find answers to! Thank you, thank you.
        We are thinking of early April but I have heard that the water maybe deep in March and April due to the snow melting. What are your thoughts?

        Reply
        • Bri says

          October 1, 2021 at 4:39 pm

          Hi Lynne! So glad you got your questions answered!! Makes me so happy 🙌 So yes, it’s hard to say — according to the NPS on this page, the river can be closed to visitors during the spring due to high levels of snowmelt. It’s a tricky decision. It would also be cold. I would try to wait until mid-May if possible, and if not, I would risk it anyway! Perhaps go, and if the Narrows hike isn’t open, then there are plenty of other hiking/adventure activities in Zion that are bucket-list-worthy. Hope that helps, 💛

          Reply
  11. Amanda says

    April 8, 2021 at 11:05 pm

    Do you have to get a permit to hike the Narrows or just snag a shuttle ticket??
    Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      April 9, 2021 at 10:03 am

      You only need a Wilderness Permit to hike the Narrows top down. But if you are hiking bottom up, you don’t need a permit. You’d just need a shuttle ticket to get to the drop-off point. Hope that helps!!

      Reply
  12. Jason Gordon says

    April 2, 2021 at 3:32 pm

    Shuttle tickets? Since when do you need tickets to get on the shuttle? Is this new?

    Reply
    • Bri says

      April 5, 2021 at 10:16 am

      Yeah, since the p@andemic begin to help control the crowds on the shuttles! The shuttle route was also closed off to private cars, whereas beforehand it wasn’t.

      Reply
      • Diana Lubeck says

        July 3, 2021 at 7:57 pm

        Hi! Thanks for the information. How long is the shuttle drive from entrance to trailhead drop off? Miles ? Thank you!

        Reply
        • Bri says

          July 5, 2021 at 9:30 am

          Hi Diana! The shuttle drive from the shuttle station/visitor’s center all the way to the last top (Temple of Sinawava) for the Narrows hike takes around 30 minutes. It’s about 6.2 miles from the start of Zion Canyon road or about 8.1 miles from the Zion National Park Visitor’s Center. Hope that helps!! x

          Reply

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The Perfect 2 Day Zion National Park Itinerary

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I’m Bri, an adventurous digital nomad living abroad full-time since 2015. It is my hope to inspire you to live a life of adventure, seek out meaningful experiences, and travel slowly and mindfully!

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Mexico with mummy pt. 1 🌵 Last November, Paul Mexico with mummy pt. 1 🌵 

Last November, Paul and I slow-traveled and lived for 6 months in La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur where we basked in the sunshine, dove with sea lions, and ate our weight in fish tacos 🌮 

(Peep my La Paz blog guides for all the juicy deets)🧃👀 

Some of you may remember La Paz is also where I started my Invisalign treatment earlier this year (update: my bottom teethies are nearly straight!!) so here we are six months later to pick up my second load of trays, but this time I brought mom along for the ride to show her around some of my favorite places😃 

Highlights from La Paz (except for the first)👇

💀 Face painting for Día de Muertos in Oaxaca
🌊 Playa Tecolote, one of the best beaches next to Balandra Bay
💡 When in La Paz
🍕 The BEST Naples pizza + burrata salad @ La Casa Madre 
🦋 New baby tats thanks to @tattooinknm
🌞 Sunset and sunken ships from the hurricane
💻 Snuck in a bit of blogging 
🍻 Beach beers!
♟️ My favorite little park in La Paz with a giant chessboard (Parque Piedras y Pájaros)
✈️ We got a plane to catch! La Paz > Oaxaca 

Being back in La Paz made me super nostalgic 🥲 
Revisiting a place after spending an extended amount of time there is always a strange feeling; you feel at home yet you're still a visitor, a tourist, with much to discover. You see people from the community you started to build, but before you know it you are packing your bag and saying goodbye again. I even had to go pick up some clothes we left in our last apartment 🙈

As bittersweet as it is, I'm so grateful for the "slomad" life. And also very grateful to be able to share some of the places close to my heart with my mom 🇬🇧 

I'm not sure exactly when I'll be in La Paz again (if not for my teeth, lol, which is not a bad place to "have to go back to" for that, right?) but I know that this wasn't my last visit 🥲 

#lapazmexico #bajacaliforniasur #mexico #mommydaughtertrip #golapaz #lapazbcs
Alone but not lonely is my new mantra 💛 I am s Alone but not lonely is my new mantra 💛

I am so proud of and grateful for the version of myself that solo travel has made me to step into... 🤗

10 years ago, even if I had already been living abroad, the thought of eating ALONE in a restaurant or taking myself out alone (not to mention traveling through different countries alone) just baffled me — literally, I didn’t understand what the attraction was to do such things alone! 
But now... OH MY GOODNESS 😱 total transformation. Now I’ve solo traveled abroad in Portugal, Japan, and Nepal and all three were like stepping stones to the next solo adventure 🥾 🧘‍♀️ 🏔️ 🥰 🏯

Please everyone go solo travel, if you can, and if you feel pulled to!! 

It’s such a powerful way to get to know yourself, step outside your comfort zone, and make connections! 

As much as I enjoy traveling with my partner, I just simply wouldn’t have had the same encounters or made the connections that I did on this trip and to think what I would have missed out on 🥲 ❤️

Because traveling alone literally forces you to *go out there* and in doing so, you realize just how capable you were of doing it all along! 🙏

#solotravel #solofemaletraveler #nepal #soloadventure #nepalnow #nepaltravel #nepaltourism
When you stay open and curious, pretty magical thi When you stay open and curious, pretty magical things can unfold 🥹 ✨ 

I’ve been harboring this story unsure as to HOW TO EVEN BEGIN to tell it, but the how is less important than the why. 

And this experience reminded me of my why ☺️ 

I live for this kind of magic in life, or rather, it’s this kind of magic that lights me up and makes me feel most alive — the adrenaline of an adventure and how a story unfolds right in front of me like a movie, one in which I’m not only the producer, director, graphic artist, etc but the screenwriter too. And perhaps most interestingly, the viewer as well. 

I’ve said this before, and recently too, but whenever I travel, I often let “the story” lead the way. And there’s always a story. Whether you think of it as scripting your own play, directing your own film, or authoring your own book, we get to be both the creators and the audience. And I think that’s pretty neat. 

For a long, long time, I’ve often kept those kinds of travel moments locked away in my journal — for my personal reflections only, unsure that they’d mean anything to anyone else. But what I’ve come home to lately, is that these stories are mine to tell and if they matter to me, then, well, that’s all that matters.

So here’s to sharing stories that matter, for the intrinsic value of the story itself, and for the meaningful seeds of inspiration and magic that take root in our hearts 🥰 ✌️ 

#solotravel #trekking #nepal #langtang #travelstories #travelblogger #travelstories #mindfultravel
Did you guess it? You’ve probably heard of trekk Did you guess it? You’ve probably heard of trekking routes in Annapurna, Everest, Manaslu, and Upper/Lower Mustang… but have you ever heard of Langtang? 

Langtang village inside Langtang National Park was tragically wiped out after a devastating landslide (caused by the 2015 earthquakes), but the village is rebuilding and tourism to the region is picking up! 

You will hike through the landslide area as well as the new village on this gorgeous Langtang Valley Trek. 

The trek takes 8 days roundtrip and goes from roughly 1400m up to 4980m, with the last village of Kyanjin Gompa resting at around 3900m. 

It’s one of the most BEAUTIFUL treks to do in Nepal! Plus, you don’t need to journey far to reach the starting point in Syabrubesi which is just 115km north of Kathmandu (however, it still takes around 7 hours by bus to get there!).

Save this to your Nepal adventure bucket list 🔖 and head to my blog for the free detailed guide to the trek! 

#nepal #langtang #trekking #himalayas
Guess where?! 😁 (hint in the 4th clip!) But al Guess where?! 😁 (hint in the 4th clip!) 
But also this shouldn’t come as a surprise! As a nomad, I’ve slow lived and based myself out of Mexico 5-6 times since 2018. 
Each time, going back feels like going home! 💛
And even though I was just there for a short period to show my mom around and celebrate Day of the Dead, I’m happy to be returning for a few months so I can fill back up my cup. 

The majority of 2023 has been a non-stop whirlwind which wasn’t my initial vision for this year, so this next move is about slowing down (even more), writing, and recharging ☀️ 🔋 

If you could move anywhere, where would you go? 

#digitalnomad #mexicotravel #oaxacamexico #slomad #slowtravel #slowliving
La Velada is such a special part of Día de Muerto La Velada is such a special part of Día de Muertos traditions to witness 🧡✨ 

On October 31st, we went to two local cemeteries (Panteón Xoxocotlán and Panteón Atzompa) where families labor away with love by decorating the graves with marigolds, candles, and their dead beloved’s favorite food, drinks, objects... you name it! 💛🪦

You’ll see families laughing, playing music, and drinking while some are embracing or visiting alone, quiet in their remembrance. Meanwhile, you can find typical street food outside the cemetery gates and bands/concerts and mariachis playing loudly in the background 🎺 

It’s festive, sentimental, and magical (and more), all in one 🥹❤️

If you have the wonderful opportunity to visit Oaxaca or any of the other places in Mexico where they celebrate next year, please make sure to be respectful! 🫶🏼

In Atzompa, the grave mounds are harder to see and you should take extra care with your steps and how you take photos (if you decide to). We were invited over by a family for mezcal and my friend also got to light candles for her father and share it with their family’s gravesite. 🕯️ It was a very special experience for all of us! Many many thanks and much love to everyone who made it so beautiful 🙏🌼🕯️💜

#diademuertos #dayofthedead #oaxaca #lavelada #atzompa #xoxocotlán #oaxacatravel #mexicotravel #oaxacadejuarez #cempasuchil #diademuertos2023
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