Sunday, March 22, 2009

Hiking the Zion Narrows

Wading through the Zion Narrows

Are you visiting Zion National Park and looking for an exciting hike that really showcases the spectacular nature of the park? Then you should get your backpack on, pack plenty of water, and find a pair of boots you don’t mind getting wet and head on up into the Zion Canyon Narrows.

The Zion Narrows are located at the northern end of the developed portion of Zion National Park. The easiest access is from the Temple of Sinawava shuttle stop, where the riverside trail (which is a paved and easily walked trail) leaves and follows the Virgin River through the wider portion of the canyon.

At the mile mark, the Riverside Trail ends at a small picnic/rest area that has some seats and some great views of the river. This is also at the point where Zion Canyon narrows significantly and the Narrows begin. You can probably tell as you’re hiking up the Riverside Trail that the Canyon is narrowing, but here at the end of the trail, it’s very noticeable, there isn’t even any room for the trail – the river takes up the entire width of the canyon, which at about 30 feet has walls that rise several hundred feet into the air.

Read my full write-up of my hike up the Zion Narrows in Zion National Park on Epinions

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