The Virgin River Narrows are something anyone who visits southern Utah MUST experience! I have hiked in the Narrows twice---once, hiking a couple miles upriver & the second, hiking 5 miles to Big Springs. Both times the "hike" was the highlight of our trip. Once the Riverside Walk ends 1 mile from the trailhead at the Temple of Sinawava, visitors must bare the cold water to continue upriver. If you are not willing to get your feet wet, the view from the shore is spectacular. However, to really get a feeling for how amazing a place the Zion Narrows is, you must continue to trudge on. Within 1/2 mile you will come to Mystery Canyon Falls, a seasonal waterfall that runs down the slick sandstone wall on the right (east) side of the canyon. This area is popular with canyoneers seeking to rappel up the wall and enter Mystery Canyon itself. Further upriver is a beautiful alcove, a wonderful resting spot to take in the scenery. The first time we hiked through the Narrows in 2002 this was our turning-around point. Since it requires only 2-3 hours to hike to the alcove and back, this is a good option for those looking for a short walk different from most other hikes provided by the NPS. If you continue past the alcove, the next significant feature you will encounter is the junction with Orderville Canyon. Orderville is a much smaller slot canyon which meets the Virgin River Narrows. It is a popular day hiking destination. Hikers can walk up Orderville Canyon less than a mile to a pretty waterfall where they must then turn around unless possessing proper gear. Past the Orderville junction, hikers will encounter several obstacles early in summer, including boulders, fallen trees, and deeper water which may requiring short periods of swimming. However, the Narrows are at their best for the 2 miles between Orderville Canyon and Big Springs. Here, the canyon walls tower 1,000 feet above the riverbed and stand, in some spots, less than 30 feet apart. The atmosphere in this section of the canyon is nothing less than spectacular...it will touch you! Sunlight rarely touches the river bottom through this section, so it will keep you cool on the hottest of days. After 5 miles of hiking from the Temple of Sinawava, the hiker will arrive at the breathtaking oasis know as Big Springs. While you have passed several small springs along the way, Big Springs is comprised of several waterfalls, some of which are 10-20 feet tall. It is a magnificent spot to relax and contemplate the beauty of nature. The NPS advises visitors to travel no further than Big Springs for a day hike, so we retraced our steps back to the Riverside Walk, making much better time since we did not have to fight the current. I must say that the hike to Big Springs could very well be the best hike I have ever done. Nearby Observation Point is nearly as spectacular, but the uniqueness of this hike makes it my favorite hike in Zion NP.

Although packed on the weekends, still very much worth the trip. We started having only a couple hours to spare, bottom up. Park your car near the visitor center, and take the shuttle up. They run every 5 or 6 min. Everyone along the path had been extremely friendly and helpful. I would definitely get a hiking stick next time. My husband and I didn't bother with them, he came out clean and unscathed, I on the other hand, didn't get out as lucky. There are a couple dips in the water that aren't terribly clear, and fell in up to my neck, I fell on the trail once as well and gashed my knee and bent my ankle a way I didn't think was possible. I'm more flexible then i thought! watch out for the squirrels. they blend in and won't even flinch when you trip over them. I'd stay away from tevas, get a good sturdy pair of hiking boots you aren't afraid to soak. Bring a lunch, plenty of picturesque picnics to be had. Polorized glasses not a bad idea either. First aid kit.. not bad either. When I twisted my ankle, an elderly man with a bad back and a sense of humor, offered to let me borrow his walker on the trail. It was actually like the ferrari of walkers. A bit hard to resist.

Wow! Our family of 4 (inc. 2 teenagers) decided to hike part of the Narrows during our visit to Zion in July 2007. It proved to be the highlight of our trip to Utah! Make sure you have sturdy shoes and a walking stick to help you manage the hike. We would love to go back and hike a little further next time. It was a fantastic experience which I highly recommend to anyone!

We did this hike in July, 2005. It was stifling hot in Springdale, but the combination of the cool (but not uncomfortable) water and the high canyon walls (which keep you out of the direct sunlight) makes this hike the best choice during the very hot days of summer.

We're a family of four - parents in our mid-forties, the kids were 12 and 10 last summer. We rented river shoes/socks and walking sticks ($16/person) at an outfitters in Springdale and received a brief orientation talk about the Narrows, something I would highly recommend.

We started at about 11am, after packing lunch, cameras, wallets, etc. in ziplock bags to keep them dry in our packs. I would highly recommend quick-dry clothing, like running gear or soccer jerseys; definitely no cotton. The walk from The Temple of Shinawava (sp?) to the end of the Riverside Walk was very comfortable in the river shoes, and soon we were in the river. There are always crowds of people at the trailhead, as people wade around in their sandals. As soon as you go 500m or so up the river, however, the crowds thin out, and only those committed and properly equipped groups are left.

After you get used to the feeling of the current on your legs, and how to use the walking stick to get the best balance and leverage, it was a piece of cake. Even the 10-year old had no problems whatsoever. The views of the canyon walls are truly breathtaking. It's unlike anything we've ever done before. I'm sure there are canyons like this elsewhere, but the combination of easy accessibility, safety (there were no threats of flashfloods the day we hiked), and dramatic canyon views are probably unique to Zion. We had lunch at a nice shady spot at a bend in the river, right near a big rock, which overhung the river, and we could see small fish swimming in the calm, shady water under the boulder.

As we kept going, the walls of the canyon go continue to narrow, and by the time we reached the area called "Wall Street", the effect was truly amazing. There's a good picture on the Zion NP website, but even that really doesn't do it justice (it's like trying to take a good picture of the Grand Canyon). As we made our turnaround to go back down river, it was almost a bit sad, that we wouldn't be able to see more of the upper canyon. But that was soon forgotten, when we realized how much fun it was to go downriver. There are spots where the river is deep enough that you just put your feet up and drift with the current. My kids were squealing with delight!

By the time we got back to the Riverside Walk trail, we were both tired and exhilarated at what we'd seen. It was truly one of the most memorable times during our 2-week trip from Vancouver to Arizona & back.