Now that I’ve written about my all-time favorite hike, I wanted to share advice on my close second: the Narrows. Also found in Zion National Park, the Narrows may be the most unique hike I’ve ever completed. Because it’s unique, it’s the type of hike that requires some preparation and general knowledge. This post will cover everything you need to know for your first hike through the Narrows!
There are two ways you can hike the Narrows: top down and bottom up. Top down is much more rigorous, requires a permit, and is not the route I took. Due to this, I’ll only be providing recommendations and advice on the bottom up route.
General Tips
- You will get wet!
- Hiking the Narrows involves wading through river water and sometimes even swimming.
- You’ll also be walking over slippery rocks, so it’s important to have the right gear. More on that later!
- Go early and go in off-season
- This is an insanely popular hike and I was floored by how many people I saw. And I went on a weekday in October!
- On the bright side, because we went so early, there were times when we couldn’t see any other hikers at all. We were extremely lucky.
- Rent gear the night before
- In order to grab the first shuttles out to the trailhead, we rented the special shoes and walking stick the night prior to our hike.
- We chose the package that included neoprene socks, specialized hiking boots, and a walking stick. You don’t have to rent this gear, but I really recommend it. Especially if you’ll be using your hiking boots the day after this hike.
- We rented from Zion Outfitter and it was super convenient because they’re right outside of the entrance of the park.
- Stay hydrated, but not overly so
- There are no bathrooms and it is a very crowded trail with no tree cover. You won’t have an option to use the restroom.
- Start preparing for the hike before you even leave for vacation!
How to Get to The Narrows
- Check the likelihood of a flash flood before starting this hike!
- A flash flood within the Narrows could be life-threatening and extremely dangerous. If you haven’t been able to tell yet, I’m a bit of a safety nut. I would not attempt this hike, personally, if the flash flood potential was anything but “Not Expected”.
- Grab a shuttle from the visitor center and ride until Stop #9 Temple of Sinawava
- You will need to hike about 1 mile on a paved trail to get to the entrance of The Narrows
- The bottom up Narrows trail has a maximum length of about 10 miles, however, you can turn around whenever you want and still have an incredible experience! I did about a total of 4-5 miles. GPS gets funky down in slot canyons so I don’t have an exact distance I traveled.
Packing List
- Waterproof phone bag
- You’ll want to have your phone easily available to take pictures, but you’ll also want to ensure it stays dry!
- Snacks, snacks, snacks
- This hike will be slightly more strenuous than you think. Although there’s almost no elevation gain, wading through the river and navigating the slippery rocks will require a lot of energy.
- We packed a full lunch, found a good place to stop and eat, and then turned around.
- Baseball cap/sunglasses
- Once the sun starts to come up, it gets bright on this trail! Don’t forget these two items just because you’re boarding the shuttle before the sun is up.
Should you rent dry pants?
- In Summer
- I didn’t have the pleasure of hiking The Narrows in summer, but I’ve heard it gets quite hot. I wouldn’t recommend renting the dry suit pants in this season.
- In Spring/Fall
- Up to you! I went in October and we didn’t rent the pants. I went back and forth over whether this was a mistake or not.
- Ultimately, I wish I would have worn biker shorts instead of leggings as opposed to wishing I rented the dry pants.
- In Winter
- Personally, I would for sure rent the pants if you’re planning to hike The Narrows in winter. I am a little bit of a weenie and probably wouldn’t hike this trail when it’s colder than 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you’re spending at least 2 days in Zion, I recommend completing both the Narrows and Angel’s Landing. If you have limited time or stamina, however, and can only complete one, look out for a future post where I’ll help you choose between them!
Overall, The Narrows is a magical and easily doable hike. I hope this post provided you with the knowledge you need to hike it comfortably.
Happy Travels!
XOXO, Mackenzie
4 responses to “5 Easy Tips for Navigating the Narrows with Confidence”
As an older person, one thing I would do differently on this hike, is use two poles versus one pole so I could move faster with more stability.
Thanks for sharing this! I love hearing about others’ experience on these hikes.
Thanks for the great information. This is especially good for the novice hiker, like myself.
I’m so glad you found this post helpful!