Hiking the Narrows –
12 Tips For This Bucket List Hike in Zion National Park
If you plan to hike the Narrows in the summer, here is everything you need to know for a successful hike!
It’s easily one of my favorite hikes I’ve ever done but a little planning and preparation will help you have a successful trek up the canyon.
1. Rent gear from Zion Guru – just outside the park!
For summer, you will really only need the following: hiking shoes, a hiking stick and warm socks. You may also want a dry bag to protect your gear.
You will definitely want a sturdy hiking stick – you can rent them for $9.
2. Get there early! Gear sells out and the hike gets crowded midday.
We chose to wear our own boots and purchase neoprene socks because often during the busy season, gear may sell out before you can get the sizes you need. In the winter, it’s less busy.
But during peak summer season, they don’t guarantee your reservation.
3. We used our own hiking boots but you can rent special boots
Zion Guru has boots available for rent but we found in the summer that our regular hiking boots worked well. You’ll be scrambling over rocks so just wear shoes with ankle support.
I wore this exact pair of hiking boots and had no issues hiking the Narrows in June. Your boots may take a day to dry afterwards so just have shoes packed that you can change into.
4. Take shuttle stop #9 to Temple of Sinawava
For a full year during the pandemic, the shuttles were running at limited capacity using a ticket system. This made for horribly long wait times at the park.
But good news! The shuttles are fully open again and no ticket is required. Just board the shuttle at the visitor’s center and take it to the final stop #9.
5. You’ll walk 1 mile from the shuttle stop to the Gateway of the Narrows
Once you get off the shuttle you will see bathrooms. Fill up your water again and turn left. Then follow the signage (or the crowds!) down the 1 mile walking path to the Gateway of the Narrows.
6. There are no bathrooms, drinkable water or sign markings once you enter the canyon so be prepared
Use the bathroom at the end of shuttle stop #9 before you embark on the 1 mile walk. Because after that, you’ll have no access to a restroom.
Although this hike is shaded and much cooler than other hikes in Zion, still pack plenty of water!
There are no signs in the canyon but it’s almost impossible to get lost. You can pick up some free maps when you rent your gear.
7. The water is not safe to drink & can make you very sick
Pack plenty of water because unfortunately, the canyon water is not safe for drinking due to bacteria in the water. This is why you won’t see dogs hiking the Narrows. There is no way to prevent the dogs from drinking the water that will likely make them very ill.
8. We bought neoprene socks online for $15 that worked great!
Although you can rent socks, we opted to buy neoprene socks ahead of time and they worked great! For nearly the same price as the rental, we decided to invest in a pair.
Shop the link below for the exact socks we bought!
9. In the summer, the river is lower but still deep in parts, you will get wet.
If you’re worried about getting your gear wet, you can rent a dry bag at Zion Guru. I simply carried my regular backpack and held it above my head when we crossed a particularly deep section.
10. The full hike is 9 miles & it gets less crowded a few miles in!
If you go early in the morning or later in the day, you’ll avoid some of the crowds. But the deeper you go into the Narrows, the less people you’ll find. I encourage you to give yourself a full day to hike the Narrows if possible so you can get deeper down the river.
11. On a hot summer day, its much cooler in the canyon making a hot day in Zion more enjoyable.
Zion National Park can be unbearable on hot days. There are frequently excessive heat warnings and many of the other hikes provide limited shade. However in the Narrows, you’ll be able to stay cool between the water and the shade of the rocky cliff sides.
12. In the winter, you can rent full gear to keep warm and dry.
In the winter, you’ll need full boots/socks/pants to stay warm in the cold river which is also much deeper in the winter months.
This trip was in partnership with Bindlestiff Tours,
check them out here.
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