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As many of you know, I took a hiatus from writing, however, I found this article still in my drafts. It was originally written in April of 2022, so you’ll notice that there are still references to the pandemic. Since I’ve not been back since that time, I’m leaving the information as is, because there is still great information in here.
If you have never experienced the Narrows, you should definitely add it to your bucket list. It is an experience unlike any other that I’ve had and definitely one that I plan to do again. Please keep in mind that this excursion can be dangerous, so please use caution! Be sure to plan ahead and know what you’re getting into before you arrive.
What are the Narrows?
The Narrows is a section of slot canyons that go through the Virgin River, within Zion National Park.
Zion Adventures
Be sure to visit Zion Adventures if you plan on hiking the Narrows. They have a variety of gear that you can use on your adventure, from boots, neoprene socks, Gortex pants and body suit!
We arrived just as the store opened at 8am. They allow you to pick up your items the night before, so long as they have them available, but I suggest going in the morning of. They helped us get on our gear and even gotten me a bigger size in pants when my big ole booty wouldn’t fit in.
They were super helpful and got us on our way as quickly and efficiently as possible. I only wish that they had a better idea of what the water is like in the Narrows. Had I known then, I would’ve opted for the full body suit.
If you plan on visiting Zion and would like to do some adventures, whether it’s hiking the Narrows, canyoneering, biking or camping, they’ve got gear for you to rent.
How to get there
At the Visitor Center, you’ll take a shuttle through the park. During peak times, driving on the scenic road is only allowed by shuttles, so this is the only way you’ll be able to get to experience most of the hikes.
As of March 2022, masks are still required to be worn on the shuttles. I didn’t see anyone disobeying the rules either.
You’ll take the shuttle all the way to the last stop, Temple of Sinawava. It’s maybe a 10-15 minute ride from the Visitor Center to the last stop.
Be sure to check with the driver to find out when the last shuttle leaves. You don’t want to get left behind!
The Hike
After getting off the shuttle bus, we stopped to use the restroom. Once you go past this point, there are no more restrooms, so use them while you can!
We then walked the one mile down the boardwalk along the river to the entrance of the Narrows. We had started first thing in the morning and yet there were already quite a few people there.
As we came down to the river, we realized that most people were just taking pictures, maybe dipping their toes in the water.
Kayleigh and I made our way into the river. The water was so cold, even through the pants we could tell.
We started up river, trudging through the water. It was a bit higher than I had expected it be, right around my knees. Between that and the current, it was really slow moving getting anywhere, especially for me who’s a very slow mover anyway lol.
As we were moving, more people starting making their way into the river, so we were no longer alone.
Parts of the river got really deep, at one point coming up to my chest! When we noticed the higher sections, we tried to go around them as best as possible.
At one point, maybe a mile up the river, I slipped on some rocks. I tried to catch myself but ended up falling into the water. The current was so strong that it ended up pulling me back down river. I kept trying to stop myself but couldn’t get my feet down and the water was just so fast! I ended up coming to a halt when the water was a little lower.
I was completely soaked and my back was sore. Kayleigh was worried about hypothermia, since the water was so cold, so we decided it would be smart to turn back around and head back towards the boardwalk.
As we were going, Kayleigh ended up in one of those really deep sections and ended up going almost all the way under! Between the two of us being soaked and cold, we just kept trying to get out the water as quickly as possible.
10 Days Later
After the hike, I was extremely sore! My back and butt hurt so bad, I assumed I must’ve hit them on some rocks. I just kept trying to ignore it, just used to be sore after hikes. It’s part of the adventure!
When the pain wasn’t going away, and in fact, getting worse, I thought I should probably go to the doctor. They did an x-ray and discovered that I had broken my tailbone! No wonder I was in so much pain! I’m guessing that I must’ve hit when I initially fell.
Now I have to wait 8-12 weeks for my tailbone to heal. All that because I just had to hike the river.
Although I was injured during this excursion, it was still incredible and I would still, absolutely, do it again! Zion National Park is incredibly beautiful and I have yet to see anything else like it. I will definitely be back and hope to see you there!!