Zion National Park: Spectacular Hiking and Scenic Views
Zion National Park is among the nation’s most visited national parks, and its Narrows hike is one of the most difficult and beautiful hikes we’ve ever taken.
Author
lmecoy
We had traveled first to Sedona, then Arches National Park and wound up at Zion National Park, Utah’s “First National Park.” At each location on our road trip, the views and the hikes were increasingly spectacular. And we were thankful that we saved Zion for last because it outshone our other hiking destinations. Red and cream-colored sandstone cliffs rose into a brilliant blue sky. A deep valley carved out of the sandstone by the north fork of the Virgin River serves as the park’s centerpiece. We stayed in Springdale, the gateway to the park, which has a shuttle that will take you into the park. Parking your own vehicle in the park is challenging and private vehicles aren’t allowed in most of the valley floor. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express there, a very nice chain hotel that was convenient and not too pricey. The foliage in Zion’s valley is lush near the stream. The Narrows, as the name suggests, is the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. With walls a thousand feet tall and the river sometimes just 20 to 30 thirty feet wide, The Narrows (which we are treating as singular because it’s a formal name) is one of the most popular areas for hiking in Zion National Park.
We had checked before we ventured into The Narrows about the prospect of a flash flood, which can be deadly in the slot canyon. But it was still a little unnerving to see this sign at the trailhead, indicating that a flash flood was possible. Of course, that’s probably what they say every day — just in case.
The only way to access the trailhead is to take the National Park Service shuttle — which had limited seating — or a private shuttle there. We signed up for the private shuttle at an outfitter just outside the park’s entrance and rented heavy duty, wooden walking sticks, waterproof backpacks and boots from the outfitter. Highly recommend securing all of these items before attempting The Narrows hike. They say hiking The Narrows is like hiking on slippery bowling balls. There is no path, just a riverbed and rocky shoreline.
Because much of the hike is through the Virgin River, the preference is to go during times of the year when the water is warmer and not too deep. They also had waterproof overalls for times when the temperatures are cooler or for people who get cold easily. There are no facilities, food or water along the way, so all must be carried in. There’s also bacteria in the river, so the water is unsafe to drink.
Hikers in The Narrows are dwarfed by the surrounding cliffs. The rocky shoreline gives a view of what is beneath the waters in the river. The water boots and heavy walking sticks we rented provided the ankle support and the upper body support needed to hike over a rocky riverbed. Even with them, my ankles were sore afterward.The narrow slot canyons create beautiful light but can be deadly in a flash flood.We wore jackets with our shorts to stay warm during our May hike.The entrance to The Narrows hike.We had lots of company at every point along The Narrows hike.Wall Street stop on The Narrows hike. This is as far as I went, making my hike about six miles round trip. You can hike much further — a total of 10 miles round trip. There’s also a longer hike that requires a special permit and starts at the other end.
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