The Narrows is one of the most iconic places in Zion National Park. But not everyone is able to hike it. It is a serious hike that you need to be really prepared for. But, did you know that you can get a taste of the Narrows without having to prepare with wetsuits and water hiking boots? Today’s post is all about how we hiked as a family with our 7 month old baby into the Narrows.
How to Get to the Narrows at Zion National Park:
Getting to the Narrows at Zion National Park is quite easy. First you will park at the main entrance. Then you will go wait in line by the Visitor’s Center for a shuttle. The shuttle will take you up the canyon. It makes many stops, but you will want to get off at shuttle stop 9 for The Temple of Sinawava.
What You Will Do to Hike the Narrows:
To get to the Narrows, you will need to follow the paved Riverside Walk path. This is paved all the way to the river. It is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, but after a point, signs say to turn back if you are in a wheelchair. We saw a lot of people not follow this signage and they seemed to make it just fine to the end of the trail.
At the end of the Riverside Walk you are right on the river that starts the Narrows. Where the Riverside Walk ends, you can enter a shallow section of the river. From there you can walk up the river as far as you feel comfortable. We walked up to the first major bend in the river before turning around.
Be aware that depending on the time of year, the water levels can vary. Some parts of the year the water is a lot deeper than other times so make sure that you and who ever you are hiking with feel comfortable with the depth of the water.
Tips for Hiking the Narrows:
Wear good shoes with good traction on the bottom. The National Parks suggest having closed toed shoes. Ben and I wore our Chacos and were comfortable wearing them in the river because of their good traction. We also weren’t planning on going very far up the river so we knew we would be fine.
Bring hiking sticks if you have them. We don’t have any hiking sticks or poles but they would have been very helpful with keeping your balance, especially if you’re carrying a little one on your back like we were.
Plan for the weather. We hiked earlier in the morning and actually needed to wear our jackets for most of the hike. In the afternoons it is hotter so make sure you have plenty of water and sunscreen.
Go early! The earlier you can get into the Narrows the less crowded it will be. We got there at 9:00 and were leaving around 10:30 or 11:00 which is right when large amounts of people started coming to hike.
Bring plenty of water and snacks. You could spend a short or a long amount of time along the Narrows. So make sure you are prepared with enough water and food. There is a place to fill your water at the bus stop if you need it.
Sum Up:
While hiking the full Narrows isn’t possible for everyone, there is a way for almost everyone to get a taste of what it is like to hike the Narrows. Make sure to get to the Riverside Walk early and be prepared with the correct footwear, clothing, food and drinks.
