{"id":3396,"date":"2017-06-14T03:15:24","date_gmt":"2017-06-14T03:15:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/?p=3396"},"modified":"2017-10-17T18:43:05","modified_gmt":"2017-10-17T18:43:05","slug":"hiking-zion-narrows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/index.php\/2017\/06\/14\/hiking-zion-narrows\/","title":{"rendered":"Hiking the Narrows [Zion National Park]"},"content":{"rendered":"

This year\u2019s Memorial Day was one for the books\u2014 We did one of the most unique hikes at Zion National Park<\/a>, the Narrows. This hike, one of the Best American Adventures according to National Geographic<\/a>, has you wading through the Virgin River in a narrow slot canyon that surrounds you with the 1,000-2,000 foot walls towering above at some points. While it is no secret, it\u2019s certainly unique and should be on your adventure bucket list!<\/p>\n

When my friend Rachel suggested going to one of the most visited national parks during Memorial Day, I flat out said no due to the crowds I was imagining, but I am so happy that I reconsidered! This was one of the coolest hikes I\u2019ve ever done.<\/p>\n

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About the Hike<\/h2>\n

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There are a couple different ways to hike the Narrows\u2014 either bottom-up<\/b> or top-bottom<\/b>. The bottom-up option which starts from the shuttle stop at Temple of Sinewava requires no permit, no additional shuttle scheduling, and is the shortest option. We chose to go with this route as we didn\u2019t want to worry about getting a permit. This is also an option that you can choose as far as you want to go during the hike, and you can turn back at any point. We ended up hiking about 3.5 hours in and 2.5 hours back.<\/p>\n

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This hike is almost all in water\u2014 between thigh-deep and waist-deep\u2014 but be prepared to swim if you slip or encounter deeper parts! The route is also walking the river in water you cannot see through at times, on top of slippery, bowling-ball sized rocks. On the day we went, there was a bit of a current to fight (going both ways), so while it\u2019s not cardio-intensive, it takes time and energy to navigate and route-find.<\/p>\n

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The scenery is red rock canyon walls, milky blue-green water, hanging gardens, and occasional weeping rocks. We enjoyed seeing the sun rise high above the canyon throughout the day.<\/p>\n

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May, June, September are usually ideal times to go because the temperatures are more comfortable and the water levels are not too high or fast.<\/p>\n

The best part was \u201cWall Street\u201d which shrinks down to 25-30 feet wide in some areas. It was a truly enchanting experience.<\/p>\n

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Gear<\/h2>\n

Our group had varying levels of gear, but it all depended on personal preference. The most important items were ziplock bags\/dry bags to keep your precious items dry, a walking stick or poles, and sturdy soled shoes that you\u2019re comfortable walking in while wet.<\/p>\n

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I ended up renting the shoes, socks, and a walking stick, and I was very comfortable the entire time. I just wore Nike spandex shorts, a dry fit shirt, and a light sports jacket. Brighton ended up wearing his normal hiking shoes, using my trekking poles, and wearing normal clothes\u2014 and he was also fine.<\/p>\n

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