I truly loved hiking the Narrows. I hiked from the bottom-up from the end of the Riverside Walk which is pretty to Orderville Canyon which is 1.5 miles from the end of the riverside walk. Orderville Canyon is a good day-hiking destaination and I think it is the farthest as the rangers want you to go hiking from the bottom-up. Maybe you are allowed to go farther, but I think I read that you are not premited to go past Orderville Canyon. The water was cold, but felt good on the 90 degree day and I quicky got used to it. The water got up to my neck in one short spot near the end of the Riverside Walk, but was knee deep after that. Orderville Canyon is a pretty canyon also, I ventured up in there a short distance from the narrows. The water coming in from Orderville Canyon was clear water unlike the muddy water in the narrows and the water in Orderville Canyon was actually a lot warmer than the narrows was. But, near Orderville Canyon is where the narrows gets the most spectacular and most narrow. You should start early in the day like late morning at the latest which was when I started and definetly try to get up to Orderville Canyon. Although the beginning of the narrows was spectacular, you really have to get up this far to experince it. It was a little faster coming back because we going down stream and didn't have to fight the current as much. I think it is a great hike in the summer because it cools you off and it is a different hiking experince as you have to wade though the stream which I thought was fun, but even those that don't like getting your feet wet, the scenery is definetly worth getting your feet wet. Other than Angel's Landing which is beautiful, I consider this the most spectacular day-hike in Zion.

I hiked the Narrows with a group of friends last summer.....

Going camping, I was just along for the ride. One of the guys suggested doing the Narrows hike, and took care of the details--getting a permit, reserving 2 shuttles, and getting us to the stores to rent 'water' hiking boots, water socks and a walking stick. (I fell in love w/ the shoes...the most comfortable things ever made--everyone agreed..no blisters the entire hike for anyone in our group)...i think the rental was something like $15.00 for the day for everything..including a little orientation as to what to expect/do on the hike.

The day started a little rocky...one of the shuttles didnt show up for half of us---we ended up having to bring an SUV up to the trailhead, and leave it there (not recommended---over an hour drive up bad roads....and the guys who went back up when we returned were exhausted, it was dark and they got lost several times trying to find the right road).

We did it in a day...a fairly good pace, but really, how fast can you go when you're hiking from rock to rock in the water?? I felt like a kid again, and the beauty was breathtaking each minute. It was fun to see what was around the next corner!! My eyes have never seen anything like what the Narrows provided. Confirmed to me that there is a God....and He's an amazing artist!!

We stopped several times for lunch---I went swimming in a 'cold' waterfall...bring layers..we went from 'hot' to 'cold' and back and forth like that all day, depending on sun or shade. The difference from this hike to others I've done (incl. Whitney) is that instead of hiking to a destination, every step of the way 'is' the destination. Its like being 'in' the picture, not looking at it from the top of a mountain. Each sensory receptor is triggered....

I'd recommend starting out early. We tried to get going early, but one guy in our group got car sick on the way up and needed to lay down before we started....between that and the shuttle problem, we were a little late getting going. It just became dark when we got to the bottom...for the last bit we thought we might get stuck in the dark. We had a few headlamps...but it wasnt a place we wanted to be at night.

Highly recommend the hike---most of it is in the water....ankle to waist deep when we went. I think it changed me as a person.

Just now writing my review, but in October 2003, my husband and I visited Zion Natl Park for the first time. We were stunned with the magnificent beauty! We checked in to our perfect lodge (Flanigans) which was right outside the South Entrance of the park. Privately owned with superior service and a homey atmosphere. After getting settled in, we decided to take a little walk around the property and stumbled into this outfitters shop next door. People we getting sized for gear, etc. We were a but bewildered as we didn't know what they were doing. In the end we found out they were getting fitted to hike what they call The Narrows (slot canyons into the Virgin River). We were both a little afraid initially, but after thinking for well, a minute maybe, we said "yea, gotta do that!!" So, we rented neoprine footwear and shoes and a walking stick. The next morning we got up early and caught the shuttle by 8:00 a.m. Our hike started around 9:00 and ended around 2:00. It was THE MOST BEAUTIFUL hike we have ever been on. The water was a chilly 52 degrees, but amazingly the footgear protected us. It was just heavenly. The town outside of the park, Springdale, is very quaint. Simply put, the town is small, population of about 600 year-round and the people are just cool. So mellow and loving life to the max.

Awesome, awesome, awesome place!! GO!!!!!

I had assumed that day-hiking the Narrows would be the highlight of my trip to Zion. As it turns out there were other hikes that were better, especially the Angels Landing trail. Maybe I would have been more impressed if I had through-hiked the Narrows from top to bottom.
Instead I just went in and out from the bottom (no permit required).
This hike is more of a "wade" and I can see how people think it is fun.
However the wading got kind of old for me. The scenery is fantastic but not really any better than the paved Riverside trail which leads to the Narrows.