Hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park - What to Expect and Tips
Updated July 2024, April 2026
If you are looking for one of the most unforgettable hikes in Zion National Park, The Narrows should be at the top of your list. Here you will discover the most awe-inspiring beauty and a non-traditional hiking trail that takes you directly into the flowing waters of the Virgin River where you get to walk through the iconic slot canyons in Utah. This is a place you will definitely need to add to your bucket list of places to visit while in Utah. We have visited Zion National Park and hiked The Narrows twice since we love it so much.
Whether you are traveling with kids, checking off a bucket list hike, or just looking for a unique hiking experience, The Narrows offers a mix of beauty, challenge, and fun as you make your way through one of the most talked-about hikes in the country. Walking in the water at The Narrows is an unforgettable experience and what is better than walking through cool water after being out in the hot desert for a few days.
Where is The Narrows Located?
The Narrows is located within Zion National Park in Utah. You can take the shuttle bus from the visitor’s center to Temple of Sinawava trailhead. From here you hike a shorter trail to the entrance into The Narrows (water).
Cost: $35 for a vehicle up to 15 people and is good for 7 days to enter Zion National Park. We had a National Park Pass so were able to get in this park for FREE.
Park hours: 24 hours a day every day
Pets are allowed in the park but the only trail they can go on is the Pa’rus trail.
Zion Canyon Visitor Center
Visitor Center hours: 8am to 7pm daily.
At the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, you can find restrooms, water fountain, souvenirs, park map, and trail information from the park staff.
Shuttle Bus at Zion National Park
Shuttle bus hours: 6am to 8:15pm in the summer, 7am to 7:15pm fall, and 7am to 6:15pm in the winter. Hours are subject to change. Check out their website for updates.
No ticket or reservations needed
Shuttle typically runs from March to November
No pets allowed on the shuttle
Bike rack available on the front of the bus. No fat tire or e-bikes allowed
The shuttle bus starts at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and goes to the trailhead of The Narrows. The shuttle will make several stops along the way. You can choose to stay on until you reach The Narrows or get out and explore from any of the stops. The park map will show the stops and there is also a sign in the bus with the locations and stops listed. If you want a ride back to the Visitor Center where you might have parked, you will need to pay attention to the last route of the day out of The Narrows at Temple of Sinawava. Temple of Sinawava is stop #9 and the last stop the shuttle makes before returning to the Visitor Center.
The last shuttle time out varies depending on time of year. Always check the park for current hours. If you miss the last bus, you will have to walk the 9 miles back to Zion Canyon Visitor Center.
There are two shuttle bus routes
Zion Canyon line - this bus runs inside the park
Springdale line - this provides transportation from Springdale to the park
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What is The Narrows Hike?
You will walk through the cool waters of the Virgin River next to the towering sandstone walls on both sides creating a peaceful and serene setting. In some areas, the canyon walls close in to just 20-30 feet wide stretching over 1,000 feet high making it a surreal environment. Typically, this hike is done as an out-and-back route starting at the Temple of Sinawava, which means you can go as far as you want before turning around. This offers you the flexibility to make the hike shorter as needed for beginners or kids.
You will be walking in water on uneven river rocks with flowing water around you, the hike can be more physically challenging than it first appears, but it is such a memorable experience that even my teenagers asked to go back the second time.
The Narrows Quick Facts
The Narrows is a 9.4 miles hike round trip.
You can stop at any point and turn around. The farther you walk, the less crowded it gets.
Hiking from Sinawava to Big Spring is a strenuous all-day 10-mile hike and does not require a permit.
At the trial head you will find restrooms, water bottle refill station, and water rinse off stations for your feet as on your walk back to the shuttle your shoes will get dirty from the red dirt, so this is a good place to rinse them off before heading back to your car.
Typical time for this hike is 3-6 hours
No permit is needed from the Sinawava Trailhead
Difficulty: moderate
How Hard is The Narrows?
Hiking The Narrows is not a steep climb but it can be physically challenging as you navigate walking over the rocks of varying sizes.
It is imperative that you wear good hiking shoes that can get wet. I wear by Teva sandals as I do with almost any hike, but it is recommended that you wear water shoes with ankle support.
Trekking poles are useful in some of the deeper areas and help to keep you balanced as you walk over the rocks.
In some areas the water can be waist deep (on an adult) so if you have small children they might need carried through this point.
The water temperature is cool year-round although it tends to be a little warmer in the summer months.
Flash flooding can happen, see details below
Family Tips for The Narrows
Kids can realistically hike a minimum of 1-2 miles round trip
When the river bends to the left, this is a great place to stop, have a snack and turn around if needed
Make sure kids have really good hiking water shoes. They will fall, their foot may get stuck so be prepared with good hiking shoes
There will be a few spots where the water will be ankle deep up to waist/chest deep. Keep a close eye on the kids and watch the people walking ahead of you for knowledge of the water level changing
Stop often for breaks and snack. Grab my new favorite organic fruit snacks
Most of the hike is shaded due to the canyon walls
Flash flooding at The Narrows
The Narrows is prone to flash flooding and is more prone during the spring months when the snow is melting or due to excessive rain. The Narrows will occasionally close in the spring if water flow is high and there is potential for flash flooding. Check the weather and consult with park rangers if you are traveling during times when flash flooding is more likely.
Flash flooding can happen quickly and can be life threatening
Water can rise suddenly even if storms are far away
Check with park rangers prior to your hike
What to Bring to Hike The Narrows
My then 5-year-old did well hiking The Narrows but there are areas where he needed assistance as you are constantly walking on rocks, but with assistance he did really well overall. Here are a few of our recommendations when hiking The Narrows.
Kids
North Face brimmer hat
Water shoes, wearing socks with his water shoes helps my son’s feet feel more comfortable and helps keep dirt/sand from bothering his feet.
rash guard for comfort
Kids trekking poles - offers your child stability as they walk on the rocks
Adults
I love my Teva Sandals and wear them on almost all hikes. I am wearing them while walking The Narrows as shown below. They have good tread and are comfortable to wear no matter where I am walking. #tevasandals #teva
Trekking poles - definitely needed for stability
Lululemon belt bag - I use my belt bag on every hike to carry my car keys and any other personal items I might need
silicone wedding bands men’s/women’s - I always wear rubber wedding bands when hiking. I do not want to risk falling on a rock and smashing my ring
Microfiber lightweight towel - the perfect compact towel to dry off after your hike
Waterproof dry bag - perfect bag for walking in water as it will keep your items dry when crossing over deeper parts of the water
Another one of my favorite hikes: Hike the Hoodoos along Bryce Canyon National Park’s Unique Landscape
Camping at Zion National Park
There are three campgrounds in Zion National Park. Reservations are recommended from mid-May to November. All campgrounds were full when we arrived in June so get advanced reservations to guarantee a spot.
Watchman campground: Located 1/4 mile from the south entrance near the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.
184 campsites
Reservations are required and can be made up to 6 months in advance
Open 24 hours year-round
Amenities: trash, water, dump, picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets, NO showers. Year-round amenities.
95 Electrical sites are available for $45 a night, non-electric sites are $35 a night.
No generators allowed
South campground: Located 1/2 mile from the south entrance.
CLOSED AS OF APRIL 2026 FOR RENOVATIONS
108 campsites
Reservations are needed and can be made up to 2 weeks in advance
Open 24 hours.
Amenities: picnic table, fire ring, trash, dump, water, flush toilets, NO showers. NO electric.
Sites are $35 a night.
Open May to September if weather allows.
6 primitive campsites available for reservation only.
Amenities: pit toilets and trash. No water.
Sites are $25 a night.
Vehicles longer than 19 feet are not permitted.
Limited cell signal.
It takes approximately 80 minutes to drive to this campground from the south entrance
6 Places to Visit in Utah
Grab this FREE one-page list of places to visit in Utah? Click on the link below for this FREE list.
Another great hike: A Guide to Visiting Horseshoe Bend in Page, Arizona
Free Boondocking locations near Zion National Park
While visiting Zion National Park, we were able to camp for FREE outside of the park. There are no facilities at either of these locations so make sure you use the restroom at the park before you head to your campsite for the night.
Our first campsite is located on North Kolob Terrace Road in Virgin, Utah. This is BLM land and is free for up to 14 days. There was a fire ring and a few trees for shade. It was a very quiet area with only a couple other campers but plenty of space to spread out.
GPS: 37.22033, -113.16161
This spot is located about 22 minutes from the south entrance of Zion National Park.
Find this spot on Campendium
Ariel view of campsite, near a creek
2nd Free Boondocking location near Zion National Park
The summer of 2022 we found another free boondocking spot near Zion National Park. This is located on North Bridge Sheep Road W in Virgin Utah. You will travel down a gravel road and find several camping locations off the main road. There are rock fire pits available.
From this camping spot you can see the Hurricane Cliffs making this view beautiful and this location provided a peaceful place to camp. Other campers are seen in the distance but not close enough to bother us.
GPS: 37.18582, -113.22221
This spot is located about 26 minutes from the entrance of Zion NP.
Check out this related blog post on FREE boondocking locations across the United States
Other Park Activities at Zion National Park
Visiting The Narrows was such an amazing experience and one of our favorite hikes! But there are many other trails and activities to explore within Zion National Park so check them out while you are there.
Bicycling
Backpacking
Ranger-led activities
Rock climbing
River trips
Horseback riding
Stargazing
and more
Another popular hike is the Angel’s Landing. Permits required. 5.4-mile round trip hike.
Check out these hiking related posts
Is Hiking The Narrows Worth It?
Hiking The Narrows in Zion National Park is an experience that stays with you long after you leave which makes this hike totally worth it. Walking through the cool waters of the Virgin River, surrounded by the towering canyon walls, is something you will not see on any other hike. Yes, the hike may be someone challenging for some but that is what makes this hike so rewarding. Whether you take your family on a shorter version of this hike or you go the whole 9.4 miles, every step will be unforgettable.
I am just amazed at all the natural beauty this country has to offer. There are so many natural structures to explore, mountains to climb, and rivers to explore. I just want to see it all! As I browse Pinterest or Instagram, I get so inspired by others and continue to add new places to visit to my bucket list.
What next hike is on your bucket list? Comment below
Enjoy your journey,
Meet the author: Jennifer
I am a girl who loves to travel with my family and enjoys sharing expert family travel advice. I am a content creator and influencer on Instagram with years of travel experience and provide readers with advice, tips, and details on adventurous family travel and tips on saving money while boondocking or traveling across the US. You can usually find me dreaming up our next epic vacation or outside exploring natural landscapes. I am a fearless roadtripper who isn’t afraid to explore new and off the path adventures.
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