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Interview with Lynn Smith on hiking the Narrows in Zion. She has been featured on Experiences You Should Have Podcast many times on her favorite experiences including Milford Sound Drive, Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, Monument Valley, and Arches National Park.
Lynn Smith and her partner did an epic road trip of Arizona and Utah in 2019, and she came on the show to talk about her experiences including hiking the Narrows.
Note, many National Parks have limited park access due to COVID-19 (coronavirus). Please check the Zion National Park Site for more information.
Why should you hike the Narrows in Zion National Park?
Zion National Park is ranked fourth among America’s most visited national parks, ahead of Yellowstone and Yosemite. In the new age of social distancing, road trips and visiting National Parks are a nice way to get out of the city.
Many would agree, this is the slot canyon that all other slot canyons are compared to. You’ll most definitely need to be prepared for this 4+ hour adventure up the North Fork of the Virgin River.
Weather for Zion Narrows Hike
This is no walk in the park. Slot canyons like this one are death-dealers. When a flash flood comes along, there is simply no warning. So, keep a close eye on the weather forecast for Springdale as your chosen day to hike approaches.
On the day, you can either check conditions at the Wilderness Desk at the Zion Visitors Center or look online for various websites that offer current conditions and weather advisories for the area.
When is the Best Time to Hike the Narrows?
The hiking season for the Zion Narrows is typically summer and autumn, but the start of the season is controlled by the spring runoff and water levels. The Zion Narrows is typically closed to hiking between mid-March and late May, depending on how much snow fell on the high country in winter.
We hiked The Narrows from Bottom-Up, in late September, in sunny, dry weather conditions.
Getting to Zion to HIke the Narrows (Bottom UP)
Get to Zion early- park just outside the park in the little parking lot at the Zion Outfitter store. Do your homework and understand where public parking (fee) lots are and the Springdale town shuttle system schedule. This will save you a lot of wasted time in an unnecessary car queue at the main park entry!
The first shuttle from the Visitor Center runs at 6am, but we found the air temps too cold that early. Even though we were there at 8:15am, there was at least a 15 minute line for the next shuttles, so the earlier you go the better!
It took a good 20 minutes to ride the shuttle all the way to the last stop, the Temple of Sinawava, where we got off to hike the Narrows from the Bottom Up.
From the shuttle stop, we followed the paved and wheelchair-friendly Riverside Walk trail for a mile along the North Fork of the Virgin River. Then, it was time to get our feet and legs, and perhaps even more wet, so we were prepared for that cold, rapidly flowing river water.
We saw a few people slip and get soaked, so we were glad to have taken precautions. Hiking poles and layered clothing were absolutely critical. The air temps when we started out that morning were in the low 40s. We were immersed in cold water, in the shade and the breeze most of the morning, and were glad to have on warm upper layers.
The Experience: Hiking the Narrows
Once in that cold water, we continued hiking (trudging carefully over slippery rocks in a current, is more like it) up the river 2.5 miles to the Orderville Canyon and Wall Street, which was simply stunning – where towering walls are 1500 tall and the river is merely 22 feet wide.
You can hike the 17-mile TOP-DOWN (requires permit), but that’s a full day and we didn’t have the time.
By the time we got to Wall Street, we had spent over 2 hours with our legs and feet in that freezing cold water. And the crowds had caught up to us. With the sun directly overhead, we got some great shots of those high, narrow canyon walls surrounding us and lingered in on a sunny, sandy riverbank warming up. Then we turned around to thread our way through the crowds of people mincing through the river and made our way back to the shuttle stop.
To get to Wall Street, we traveled approximately 6 miles round-trip, 4 miles of which was in and along the Virgin River. Total elapsed time was right at 4.5 hours, by the time we got back to the Visitors Center. It sure felt great to get to the car and put on dry socks and hiking boots! By then we were more than ready for lunch!
Tips for Hiking the Narrows
- It’s Slick! Understand, you will be slowly making your way over rounded river rocks that are more like slippery bowling balls. The speed and force of the rushing river increase with depth, and in places can be waist deep on many people. That can easily sweep you off your feet.
- You need at least one hiking stick or preferably two hiking poles if you have them- they will save you from a full-on dunking!
- Invest in rubber boots or waterproof hiking boots or combine the thin neoprene socks and hiking sandals that provide full heel and toe protection.
- A small daypack to carry your layers.
- Waterproof but light windbreaker, water, and snacks.
- Bring a dry bag and a waterproof phone pouch.
What if YOu forget Boots and Neoprene Socks?
However, you can also rent the “warm weather package” for $25.00 per person for the hike, from Zion Outfitter right at the entrance to the park. You’ll get the neoprene socks, the water hiking boots and a wooden stick. If you go this route, make sure to reserve your package for the day you intend to hike! Use the handy online reservation calendar here: https://www.zionoutfitter.com/product/warm-weather-package-copy-3/
https://www.citrusmilo.com/zionguide/zionnarrows.cfm Best hike description and tips!
Hidden Gem: Kolob Canyons
40 miles north of Zion Canyon is the Kolob Canyons section of the park. Pristine and primeval, this wilderness area offers a respite from the mass crowds elsewhere in the park. No buses call here, and lines of vehicles are conspicuously absent.
Show or pay for your Zion park pass at the Visitor Center to access the 5-mile scenic drive.
We leisurely drove the 5 miles, pulling off at various times to ogle the amazing views into several of the Kolob “finger canyons.” The canyons here glowed pink, orange and magenta, even at mid-morning on a partly cloudy day. The scudding clouds overhead created shadows that swept across the landscape, holding us entranced with the play of light.
At the end of the drive, we stood up on a ridge at an overlook known as the “Kolob Canyons Viewpoint”. We viewed amazing panoramic vistas of narrow parallel box canyons cutting into the western edge of the Colorado Plateau, forming majestic peaks and 2,000-foot cliff walls.
Here I could really appreciate the signature “look” of Zion National Park. The pink, salmon, gold, and ruby red shades of sandstone contrasted with the deep green of the vegetation. Those towering cliffs and deep canyons were just stunning in their solemn majesty.
Hikers will find peace and quiet along over 20 miles of hiking trails among the soaring peaks of Navajo sandstone. Hikes lead to landmarks like the Double Arch Alcove in Taylor Creek and the large Kolob Arch.
Kolob Canyons is located at Exit 40 on Interstate 15, 40 miles north of Zion Canyon. Pay your park fee at the Visitor Center (or use the same pass you purchased for the Main Zion Canyon).