Zion Narrows in Zion National Park

Zion National Park is home to the well-known trail and gorge, Zion Narrows. Both offer incredible excursions and amazing views, a challenge to reach, but well worth the effort. Most people find the hike rather strenuous, but for those who do attempt this walk, the final destiny is one that should not be missed.

Zion Narrows is located in Zion National Park, a trail and destination that provides some of the park's most breathtaking and renowned adventures. This gorge's beauty is truly unique, and the trail is not for the faint of heart. However, this destination is worth the strain and challenge, rewarding visitors with gardens and watery moss overhangs, set against incredibly colorful rocky cliffs.

The trail takes one through breathtaking scenery to a truly unique and beautiful gorge. The gentles sloping trail leads to sheer colorful cliff walls that are fluted with diagonal rock slides, as well as twisted channels that cut deep into the rock face. Dramatically colorful gardens hang from mossy boulders high above the cliff base. Water trickles down in streams towards the sandy banks below. Large pine trees balance precariously on rocky outcrops, rooted barely to the limited soil that is provided.

The hike to the gorge takes about one day, covering some sixteen miles of track, which at times requires hiking over wet river rocks, through fast moving currents, swimming across streams and generally moving downwards towards the gorge's floor. In all it is estimated to take about thirteen hours, so overnight camping is highly recommended. A return trip should not be done in the dark.

Most hikers follow the route for the first three miles, returning as the terrain gets tough. Hiking beyond that point requires a backcountry permit, and these are limited to a maximum of eighty daily. In fact, at any given time, only forty hikers are allowed to do the entire hike in one go.

The trail is taxing even for the most seasoned hiker. Caution should be taken given sudden weather, river flow changes, and the possibility of flash floods during storms. No permits will be afforded if the weather threatens to be bad or the river is flowing above one hundred and twenty cubic feet/second. In fact, winter hiking is not allowed, but summer hikes can be done once the spring run-offs have subsided.