Hiking the Zion Narrows from Bottom Up (A Complete Guide with 7 Ways to Make it the Perfect Zion Hike)

Is hiking the Zion Narrows on your bucket list? Over the years, the Virgin River has scored and carved a deep and narrow canyon in the Red Rocks of Zion National Park and today this has become one of the most iconic hikes in Zion National Park. The Narrows hike is truly special, and hikers meander up the river stepping in and out of the shallow river. We did this hike in August and will share everything we know about hiking the Narrows bottom up.

If you are looking for a family-friendly hike in Zion, hiking the Narrows with kids is fun and easy for everyone!

Check out more in our Complete Guide to Zion National Park or 3 Amazing Zion National Park 1 Day Itineraries

Quick Overview of Hiking the Zion Narrows

The first thing you should know is that there are 2 ways you can go when hiking the Zion Narrows: the top-down and the bottom-up. We hiked the trail from the bottom up and will describe this hike below. If you are planning to do a Zion Narrows day hike, then hiking it from the bottom up is definitely the easiest.

Hiking the Zion Narrows from the Top Down

If you plan to hike the Zion Narrows from the top down, you will need a permit. Most people do the top-down hike as either an epic day hike or an overnight. Backpacking Zion Narrows is a wonderful 18-mile hike through this beautiful canyon.

Hiking the Zion Narrows from the Bottom Up

When you hike the Narrows trail from the bottom up you can decide how long to make your hike – you can simply turn around any time you want on the hike. In addition, the best part of the hike is near the bottom of the hike, meaning that you will see the narrowest part of the canyon when you hike from the bottom.

Distance: 2.5 miles from Temple of Sinawave to Orderville Canyon and Wall Street. 2 additional miles to Big Spring. (give yourself 4-7 hours to enjoy this hike)

Difficulty: Moderate river hiking

Elevation: very little elevation change.

The hike follows the Virgin River as it meanders up the canyon and you will walk across and through the river many times. It’s important to dress appropriately. You can read below for more details on what to wear on your Zion Narrows hiking trip.

Map of Narrows Trail, Zion

The Narrow’s map below can be used to see some of the main attractions and part of the route of the Zion. You can click on the Narrow’s hike map to zoom in or out to see more.

How to Get to the Zion Narrows Hike

The Zion Narrows hike starts at the Temple of the Sinawava. If you are visiting Zion when the shuttle is in-service, this is the last stop on the shuttle (simply take the shuttle to the very end). From the visitor center, it takes about 40 minutes to get to the Temple of the Sinawava.

From here, take the Riverside Walk Trail for about 1 mile. This is an easy, flat boardwalk that walks along the Virgin River to the start of the Narrows hike. If you don’t want to do the Narrows hike, you can also just do this shorter stretch to the start of the Narrows.

Description of Hiking the Narrows from the Bottom Up

The Zion Narrows starts with an easy hike along the Riverside Walk. This part of the walk is about 1 mile and has a boardwalk. After about one mile, the cliff walls narrow and the boardwalk ends and you are at the start of the Narrows portion of the hike. At this point, you will immediately cross the river and will continue to cross and walk through the river and the more iconic part of your Zion Narrows day hike begins.

We hiked the Zion Narrows in August after some large thunderstorms and the water was running pretty high and murky, but no matter what, you will get your feet and legs wet. The trail proceeds to wind back and forth up the river and you will need to cross back and forth. For the most part, the water was just over our feet or below our knees but there were a few places where the water got above our knees.

There are a few specific sites to see on the hike, but more generally, the cliff walls will narrow and widen until you get to the narrowest part (Wall Street).

A few things to see:

Mystery Falls – 1.5 miles from the start you will see some waterfalls coming off the cliff and may see folks rappeling off the cliff.

Wall Street – mile 2.5 – this is the narrowest section of the canyon

Big Springs – this is the turnaround point for folks hiking from the bottom up and is at about 4.7 miles up the trail.

Best Time to Hike the Narrows in Zion

The Narrow’s hiking conditions change based on the weather. When we hiked the Narrows, there had been a lot of recent rain, and the river was running high and fast. It still wasn’t a problem to hike but make sure you check the weather before you set out for your hike as flash floods are possible.

The best month to hike the Narrows is during the warm months since you will be getting wet. June-Sept are good months for hiking the Narrows. Outside of these months, it will start to get colder but also less crowded. Hiking the narrows in winter is entirely possible, but you will want to rent specialized gear. If you are considering hiking the Narrows in the winter, check out the article here.

What to Wear When Hiking Narrows Zion

When you’re hiking the Narrows, what to wear depends on what season you are hiking. If you are hiking the Zion Narrows during the summer or warm months, you will want to wear layers, but plan to wear something on the bottom that can get wet and dry easily. We wore shorts and t-shirts with an extra layer in our bags. If you wear pants, they will get wet – so jeans are not a good choice.

If you are hiking in the cold weather months, you will want to rent waterproof layers for the bottom as the water combined with the cold can get downright chilly. You can rent dry pants right in town at several locations.

Another common question is what’s the best footwear for hiking the Narrows Zion. A lot of people rent shoes to hike the Narrows. Zion Outfitters right in towns rents shoes and walking poles as well as dry bags. These shoes have a sole that reduces slipping and closed toes to avoid stubbing a toe. In general, this is probably a good idea.

You can also choose to hike the Zion Narrows in your own footwear. We hiked in hiking sandals and sneakers. Both had good traction. Those of us who wore the sandals had to be careful about stubbing our toes. The sneakers did get wet, but that was ok and we were able to dry them quickly after the hike. If I chose to hike the Narrows again, I would probably choose to wear my own footwear.

7 Ways to Make The Zion Narrows an Amazing Hike

Here are 7 additional things you can do to make sure your Zion Narrows Hike is Epic:

1. Start your hike early (expecially in the summer months). It can easily get crowded on the Narrows Hike. We got the shuttle around 7 in the morning and the line was just starting to get big. By the time we turned arouond and started to hike out of the Narrows it was PACKED. You can also avoid late day thunderstorms by going early.
2. Check the weather and flow rate before you go. Like other narrow canyons, the Narrows can had unexpected flash floods. Checking the forecast and river conditions will help you know what to expect on your hike. See the river flow here.
3. Use the bathroom at the trailhead as there are no other options once you are on the hike.
4. Bring a walking stick. If you are renting gear you will have a walking pole. We brought our hiking poles. At first I was skeptical that we would need them, but since the river was muddy it was impossible to see where you were stepping and these poles made a huge difference.
5. Consider a waterproof bag if you plan to carry a phone or other item you don’t want to get wet. We saw a few people unexpectedly go into the water so be ready!
6. Pack food and water. You may be walking in the river, but in the summer it still gets hot and you will need to drink plenty of water.
7. If you are hiking with kids, plan to take your time. Younger kids will likely need a carrier for portions of the hike and older kids will love playing in the water. Since we weren’t in a rush they completely enjoyed their hike without feeling rushed.

Did I miss anything about hiking the Zion Narrows? Leave a comment below.

Looking for more? Check out:

10 Zion Best Hikes