So you want to go on vacation and you’ve decided to take up hiking this year! You’re in luck, Zion is one of the most amazing national parks in the country so you’ve picked correctly! The question is, how difficult is Narrows at Zion?
Zion has many famous trails of all difficulties but Narrows is one of the most famous there is. The most famous photos of Narrows at Zion come from the day hike up the Virgin River starting at Temple of Sinawava, the last shuttle stop. Maybe you’re new to hiking or out of shape or just genuiely curious on how difficult is Narrows at Zion National Park is?
I’m here to tell you, that I hiked it as a 300+ pound person who was out of shape until she started working out 2 months before a trip to Utah. Its not hard! Ok, so its not easy.. but if I can do it then you can do it too! There are a few ways to hike the Narrows at Zion, top down or starting from the main park. Most people start from the park as the top down requires a permit and is more a canyoneering experience, that I have not done.
How to Hike the Narrows at Zion
So lets talk about how difficult Narrows at Zion National Park is and what you should expect. You’ll want to first check the national park website and see how they’re shuttling people around the park. Due to covid, when we went, we had to reserve shuttle tickets on the national park website the day before for $1 per person. The tickets allow you do hop on the shuttle for 1 hour. THis is the utmost important thing to do because Narrows is at the end of the shuttle route and I would not recommend trying to walk to the head of the trail from the parking lot at all. We ran into some people who didnt have shuttle tickets and planned this, luckily someone drove them to the top and we saw them on the trail but that is not something you want to attempt here.
Secondly you’ll want to rent the gear from the outfitter. No reservations are required, it was $25 for the day for a pair of boots and walking stick. Unless you have your own walking sticks I HIGHLY recommend this rental. This hike is like walking on bowling balls. The boots are SO helpful. they have great grip. The walking stick was incredibly useful too. You would be surprised the number of people I saw traversing the Narrows at Zion holding onto each other and falling over. I wouldn’t recommend this either.
So you arrived at the park 30 minutes before your shuttle time, grabbed your gear, parked in the lot inside the park gate and hopped on the shuttle, now what? Find a vantage point on the shuttle and enjoy the amazingly scenic drive up to the very last stop. Once you hop off the shuttle you have the last opportunity to get water & use a real bathroom. After leaving this point you’re on your own! (Peeing in the water, yes people do it.)
You have a scenic 1 mile hike alongside the river and then into the riverbed you go. How far you go is totally up to you but this is what I recommend. Give yourself 4-4.5 hours traveling upstream, don’t go on this hike without getting to wallstreet! Its insane and so hard to describe.
Difficulty of Narrows
I’ve never experienced a place like the Narrows at Zion in my entire life. I am writing this after experiencing hikes at many different national parks now too. Take your time and dont feel rushed. No one cares about your pace! Get your shuttle tickets as early as you can, double check what time the outfitter opens. Enjoy a full day. There are even places to swim as you go further in. Just remember that everyone’s hiking at roughly the same pace of about 1 mile per hour. We did 8 miles total in about 6 hours.
I’ve hiked with a lot of people who are much more advanced and more fit then me. This is one of the few hikes I didnt feel like I was dragging behind. Everyone is going at the same pace when hiking Narrows at Zion National Park, everyone is climbing up rocks, over slippery bowling balls, stopping to gaze at the insane views around them. There are people of all shapes & sizes and fitness levels on this trail. Don’t be intimidated by the length of the hike. Get there early and go at your own pace.
Its faster leaving the Narrows at Zion National Park then it is entering since you’re hiking UP a river! Plan to get wet & stay wet the entire time. Bring water & lunch/snacks then enjoy dinner at the pub next to the place you rented your gear. There is a split in the river about 3 miles in, the waterfall is to the right but the really amazing gorgeous wall street area is to the left.
You can only go so far without a permit so once you hit the end just turn around and enjoy your hike back. You earned it. Its so rewarding and not hard at all. I promise you wont regret going on this hike. Please leave the anxiety at home after reading my account on How hard is the Narrows at Zion National Park. You’ve got this!
