Until you stand in the river at the bottom of canyons that rise vertically above you like a throne, you do not really realize what you are looking at when you look at Zion. Hiking in Narrows is just like that. You do not hike this trail like you usually do by walking on dirt; instead, you are hiking in the river and, yes, you will get wet.
Once you start to hike through Narrows, the first mile or so is a warm-up. You walk on easy, flat ground for the first mile of hiking, but this portion of the trail slowly builds your anticipation for the hike. Then the canyon begins to tighten, it becomes cooler, and just like that, you are at the base of the river.
The river is your trail once you are there. Depending on conditions, sometimes the water may be ankle deep, but it could also be up to your waist or chest. You don’t have a completely predictable route here, which adds a sense of excitement, and there is nothing like using a stick to help you navigate through a strong current or slipping rocks.
The canyon walls are HUGE! In some areas, the walls are nearly 2000 feet tall on both sides. In some sections, there is not even a bit of dry ground—just water and the enormous sandstone walls surrounding you. It seems almost surreal, as if you were walking through something that has been slowly carved out by nature.
If you continue to hike upstream for a couple of hours, you may find places such as Orderville Canyon, where the scenery continues to impress. You will see waterfalls flowing from above, hidden corners, and it will be quiet in ways you will likely not find elsewhere. You may find that you are constantly stopping to look around. You will not be stopping because you are tired, but rather, because you want to keep looking around!
Another thing that makes this location so amazing is the fact that it continues to evolve every single moment. The river beneath your feet is responsible for shaping the canyon over thousands of years, and it’s still doing so at this very instant. You are literally standing on top of an evolving, live geological phenomenon, and when you consider this fact, it just makes your head spin.
You do not need to hike the entire length of the canyon; many visitors only walk in for a couple hours and then turn around when they feel that they have done enough. However, if you have up for a truly epic journey, you can do the complete top-down hike, which is approximately 16 miles long. This type of hike requires a permit, and there is much more preparation required for this type of trek, sometimes requiring you to spend the night at designated campsites along your route.
Timing will impact your experience more than you may think. Summer (especially June) has the warmest temperatures and has historically had the lowest risk of flooding. Any time of year, if you go outside of the summer months, the water is much colder, and you’ll likely want to bring extra gear (e.g., wetsuits) to protect yourself while walking in the cold water.
When it comes to safety during your hike, you must take into consideration the potential for flash floods (a very real possibility). Even if the weather is fine where you are, rain in the mountains can cause a sudden influx of water to flow down the canyon. Therefore, it’s critical to check in with a park ranger prior to starting out.
You will also want to focus on using practical gear while hiking the Narrows: Water shoes or a heavy-duty hiking shoe, fast-drying apparel, waterproof bags, and plenty of drinking (or hydration) water to last the entire duration of your trip will make for a much more enjoyable hike.
Finally, hiking the Narrows will give you an experience of feeling totally isolated in the mountains; you’ll be surrounded by mountains, and cold mountain stream water and hear only the noises made by nature. Although it’s a hard trail to hike, that is the goal!
