The Zion Narrows
The Mecca of Canyon Hikes
A Complete Guide To Hiking The Narrows
Hiking the Zion Narrows - SELF GUIDED:
Info & Maps to Help Plan Your Adventure
You Can Hike the Narrows on Your Own.
We provide you with the proper gear, maps and in-depth narrows education to help you have an exceptional experience in the Narrows.
Grandfather of desert slot canyons, The Zion Narrows has been rated one of the top ten hikes on Earth, and rightfully so. Leaving the pavement of the popular Riverside Walk, the Virgin River becomes the path, drawing you up into its towering walls and a sinuous path along river banks and knee-deep waters into the narrowest section of Wall Street where 18 million years of river erosion has cut 1500-foot walls into the earth. For many, hiking The Narrows is a life-changing experience. You can hike The Narrows, and we can help you!
Do I need gear to hike the Narrows?
We get this question a lot about the Narrows hike! The short answer is YES. The Narrows gear will help you enjoy your hike and move through the river more efficiently. Time and time again we have customers give the feedback that “There is no question if the gear was needed, it’s a MUST”. During certain times of the year the dry pant/bib/suit package is a needed to protect against the cold water. During warmer months the Footwear Package is essential to a comfortable hike.
Footwear Package
Dry Pant Package
Dry Bib Package
Dry Suit Package
3 Ways to Hike The Narrows
Bottom-Up Zion Narrows Day Hike – Hike in and out from the Temple of Sinawava via the Riverside Walk to Wall Street and back.
Top-Down Zion Narrows Day Hike (One Day) – Hike the entirety of the canyon (17 miles) in one day from Chamberlain’s Ranch. Shuttle and permit required.
Top-Down Zion Narrows Backpacking Trip (Overnight) – A more leisurely way to hike, enjoy, photograph, and explore. Depart from Chamberlain’s Ranch. Shuttle and permit required.
Understanding The Narrows Flow Rate Conditions
The flow rate of the Virgin River is measured by Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS). At certain flow rates your experience will vary (see Narrows Flow Rate Visual below). If The Narrows reach a specific high rate of flow, the river is actually closed by the Zion National Park Service and you will be unable to hike during that time.
At flow rates of 0-150 CFS, the river is open and accessible to Bottom-Up Hikers and considered safe to hike.
At flow rates of 0-120 CFS, the river is open and accessible to Top-Down Hikers and considered safe to hike (with a permit).
Above flow rates of 150 CFS, the river is closed. Learn more about Narrows closure alternative options during high flow.
Narrows Flow Rate Graph
Narrows Flow Rate Visual
Narrows Hiking Maps
Bottom-Up Day Hike
*No Permit needed
Bottom-Up ZION NARROWS Hike Description
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate - Depending upon river volume and desired round-trip mileage.
Duration: 1 – 6 hours round trip
Where: Begin at the Temple of Sinawava and Riverside Walk.
When: Highly dependent upon water levels, but accessible with the right gear in all but Spring run-off and rainy days.
This approach is the most popular; approximately 90% of all Narrows hikers go to see the famous Wall Street section of the canyon, where towering walls are 1500 tall and the river is merely 22 feet wide. Suitable for most hikers, the Narrows Bottom-Up hike can be as much as a 10-mile round-trip or as little as the 2-mile round-trip of the paved Riverside Walk. To see Wall Street, hikers must travel a minimum of 6 miles round-trip, 4 miles of which is in and along the Virgin River. But even a short hike into the river beyond the Riverside Walk is beautiful; for example, a ½-mile to Mystery Falls and back is a nice treat for young kids and less ambitious day hikers.
Top-Down Day Hike or Overnight
*Permit Needed
Top-Down ZION NARROWS Hike Description
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
Duration: 7 – 12 hours of hiking, one-way
Where: Private or hired shuttle to trailhead @ Chamberlain’s Ranch (1.5 hours away from Springdale)
When: Highly dependent upon water levels and road access to Chamberlain’s Ranch. In 2009-2011, the road was not accessible from November through late June. In 2012-2015, the road was accessible nearly every day of the year. 2018-2019 was a heavy snow year which delayed access to Chamberlain's Ranch until early July. There is no reliable way to predict Top-Down access to The Narrows until about a month ahead of your estimated hiking date.
The Upper Narrows, 5 miles into your hike, is a spectacular foreshadowing of things to come. The junction with Deep Creek is a great place to have lunch and relax your feet before continuing to your campsite. (If you are hiking in a single day, this is your half-way point of the hike.) We have found taking your shoes and socks off, rinsing them, letting your feet relax for 15-20 minutes during the thru-hike is extremely rejuvenating. Don’t forget to look around!
Day Two of the Overnight Narrows hike largely consists of the lower section of The Narrows, where you will find more hikers. Take your time enjoying a quiet morning in the canyon, as you'll be sharing the last few miles with many hikers exploring from the bottom-up.
Obtaining Permits:
This 17-mile day hike (or more casual overnight backpacking trip) is a great wilderness adventure and requires advance permits, which you can get from the Wilderness Desk at the Zion National Park Visitor's Center or online. The Park Service limits Overnight Narrows permits to 40 persons per day. This is a highly sought-after event and worth the effort, pre-trip planning and expense. Though not recommended as your first backpacking experience, it is breathtaking to spend the night in the canyon. Plan on using Restop® bags to carry out your poop.
Video: Coyote Peterson’s Take On Hiking The Narrows
