This National Park Trail Takes You Through a River Canyon With 1,000-Foot Sandstone Walls

In Zion National Park, where wind and water have created breathtaking landscapes from sandstone, the most unforgettable hike isn’t on a trail at all—it’s in a river. The Narrows, a slot canyon carved by the Virgin River, draws thousands of hikers into its cool, shadowed embrace each year. In some places, towering walls rise to a thousand feet, while the canyon floor narrows to just 20 to 30 feet.

There’s no single way to experience The Narrows. Some wander up the paved, wheelchair-accessible river walk and peer into the iconic canyon, while others hike the rocky river bottom itself, wading up the river. Others commit to the full 16-mile top-down trek, a full-day odyssey through some of the most sublime terrain in the Southwest (note: this journey requires a permit). No matter how you explore The Narrows, the experience is less like a hike and more like a slow immersion into the heart of the canyon.

But with all that wonder and beauty comes risk and some necessary planning. Navigating The Narrows, which is literally a hike up a riverbed, can only be attempted when the water level is low enough and the flow of water is slow and predictable—two factors that fluctuate year to year and day to day based on rainfall and snowmelt. Since it’s a river canyon in a desert, The Narrows can be prone to deadly flash floods. The Narrows always closes when Flash Flood Warnings are issued by the National Weather Service. The likelihood of a flash flood in The Narrows can be monitored here.

Most people hike The Narrows in the summer and early fall when the water level is low and the water is relatively warm. In the winter, the water is extremely cold, and in the spring, the route is often fully closed because melting snow dramatically increases the river flow, making it impossible to walk up safely. (The Narrows are typically closed from mid-April to May, but exact dates change based on that year’s conditions.)

The current river flow can be monitored here. Ideal hiking conditions occur when the river is running at or below 70 cubic feet per second. When the current goes above 70 CFS, walking up the river is challenging, with pools that can be chest-deep. And if the flow surpasses 150 CFS, The Narrows closes.

In general, those hiking the iconic river route should wear close-toed shoes and bring a hiking stick since the river bottom can be slick and uneven. A full list of equipment and clothing recommendations can be found here, and you should read the Narrrows’ full safety and responsibility page before attempting the hike. But all the trouble is more than worth it—it’s one of the most memorable experiences you can have in a national park.