The Narrows is a famous location for hikers from different parts of the country as well as outsiders. It provides hikers with a great experience of hiking through water. Rivers have always been challenging to confront because water flow is the most life-threatening thing than anything else.
However, if people visit and hike the narrows subway in the right season, then this trip will be worth remembering for them lifelong.
Types of Hikes on The Narrows:-
There primarily exist 2 major types of hikes that hikers can explore according to how long to hike the narrows option they choose. These 2 types are –
- Top-Down Hike:
This hike primarily begins with a high elevation and gets to the bottom as the trail goes along. Throughout the hike, people can experience stunning and worth-capturing sceneries and views. A high mountain summit or plateau is the starting point of this hike which shows mesmerizing views from the beginning itself. A proper and detailed guide of how to hike the narrows is offered to beginners as well as professional hikers for reference and better understanding.
- Bottom-Up Hike:
As the name of the hike suggests, this hike starts from a lower elevation point and keeps going to the higher one. The lower points may be easily accessible to beginners but going ahead with the trail may become difficult.
For this hike, no permit is required and this can be a great outdoor adventure for people undoubtedly.
Best Time to Hike The Narrows:-
The best time to hike the narrows zion would be in the summer season because of the controlled flow of water and also sometimes the negligible presence of water throughout the trail. Weather conditions are also much more controlled in this season than in any other season.
However, to hike the zion national park narrows during summer, people should take all the precautions to not be dehydrated and lose their energy throughout the hike.
Permit Information for Hiking The Narrows:-
The question do you need a permit to hike the narrows has a very absolute and sure-shot answer, Yes. Aspirant hikers can avail of the permits for the required routes as we have seen earlier. The bottom-up hike does not need any permit but the top-down hike surely does.
Usually, permits are needed to have proper data on persons visiting the place. This is to help in knowing if all the people coming for the hike go out safely and no one has faced any kind of accident. A Zion National Park Wilderness permit is required for visiting and fulfilling the narrows hike undoubtedly.
It must be noted that a permit is given only if the Virgin River flows at 120 CFS (cubic feet per second) or less. If it is more than that, a permit is denied. Only 40 permits are issued per day and only 12 campsites are available. Among these 12 campsites, only 2 can have 6 or more people and that is why permits are given very restrictively. Those who wish to visit the place need to abide by these rules and regulations strictly and get their permits approved beforehand to avoid future inconvenience.
Preparation and Gear – The Narrows Hiking Expedition:-
People can receive the backpacking guide of the narrows hike zion from various tourist centers or websites providing these guidebooks. The experienced hikers will advise the first-timers to go well-equipped with close-toe shows and a hiking stick. This stick would be crucial to guide the right depth of the rocks as there exists a lot of variation in the levels of rocks.
Since the high walls of the narrows zion national park with flowing water result in a cool atmosphere, it is recommended to put on appropriate synthetic layers. The guide of experts on what to pack to hike the narrows utah will suggest the aspirants have the following things –
- Extra clothes like gloves, fleece, and hat for warmth,
- More than sufficient water based on personal needs of consumption,
- Water-proof bag to protect your gadgets like cell phone, camera, and food, and
- More food and snack packets than required for a regular hike.
Understanding these requirements and carrying them with you is a part of being completely prepared to hike the narrows and get the best out of your trip.
Safety Tips for Hiking The Narrows:-
Important safety tips for hiking The Narrows are –
- Keep constant weather checks to ensure being alerted in case of sudden flash floods or any emergencies.
- Carry navigation tools, GPS, and offline and downloaded location-tracking applications.
- Take fitness seriously before going on the hike and plan your physical workouts accordingly.
The Narrows – Hiking Duration:-
The duration of hiking on The Narrows depends on the type of hike that people choose. If they choose to go for a top-down hike, then the duration is around 12-16 hours. This means that this will be a whole-day hike if done non-stop and may take more time according to the resting period of people.
For the bottom-down hike, around 4-8 hours are required. This means that people can complete their hike to and fro in one day without resting. If resting is also considered then it will take 1 day to reach the destination and another day to reach back to the starting point.
The Narrows – Hike Map:-
While exploring the narrows hike map, people can come across many places which can be considered the best sections of The Narrows. These sections can be listed in brief as follows –
- 16-mile Through-Hike from Chamberlain’s Ranch:
The hikers choosing this option have to arrange their own transportation to the Chamberlain’s trailhead. Then, the hike could be a 16-mile long preferably overnight so that people can explore the nightlife and can also have overnight camping.
- Bottom-Up Hike from Temple of Sinawava:
Hikers won’t need a permit here. This part of the hike offers you the opportunity to explore the stunning and narrowest parts of the canyon. One can opt to have a hike in the Virgin River for an hour or can go as far as Big Springs for a 10-mile day-long hike.
An aspirant hiker at the narrows utah can make their hike successful through these sections in mostly 3 ways, among which 2 ways strictly need a permit. However, once the permits are approved, people can not only go for early morning hikes but can also explore the world of overnight camping on the campsites throughout this trail. So, this is definitely a not-worth-missing opportunity that people should grab immediately.
Related Trails Just Like The Narrows:-
To know exactly how long does it take to hike the narrows, it is very important to first understand the route properly. In the same way, after completing The Narrows hike, which hikes to undertake next should also be planned. There exist some related trails which people can explore after the narrows.
The first-ranking trail in this list is the Angels Landing trail which is Zion National Park. Also, if people want to understand the narrow road between desires and possibilities and begin their hiking journey, then Angels Landing can be a less intense option than The Narrows. Other similar trails are The West Rim Trail, exploring the Virgin River, etc.
FAQs:-
- What are the precautions to be taken during The Narrows hike?
Since it is a hike through the water, it is essential to have the appropriate gear with a hiker. The base might be slippery and is of uneven depth so walking through must be carefully executed.
- Where is The Narrows located?
The Narrows is part of Zion National Park in Utah, United States. It is situated on the North Fork of the Virgin River and upstream of the main canyon.
- Are The Narrows difficult to conquer?
It is comparatively easy to completely hike the narrows in zion when the weather conditions and water levels are favorable. Other times, the difficulty level of this trail can be from medium to difficult, depending on the physical and mental endurance of hikers.
- When can one hike The Narrows?
The right or best time to hike the narrows is usually in the summer or early fall when the water levels are at their lowest and water is much warmer as compared to the other seasons.
- How deep is the water at The Narrows?
The water levels in the zion national park the narrows vary according to the season and also snowmelt. During monsoon, the water levels are most unpredictable and flash floods also can impact the hike. The usual levels of water are 70 CFS to 150 CFS.
Conclusion:-
While hiking at The Narrows can be fun, it also needs the utmost precautionary planning of the hike. Experienced hikers are well aware of the challenges and risks in such kind of hikers so they choose to carry the right kind of gear to protect themselves from any accident or mishappening. The Narrows gives a memorable experience to first-timers and also laces them with a lot of knowledge about the probabilities of issues that may arise when facing the sudden rise in water level is one of them.
The zion national park the narrows in Utah, United States also lets you explore the Zion National Park with beautiful sightseeing. Knowledge about the quality of water in the narrows also informs the visitors about how to take care of and stay away from toxic cyanobacteria found in the water. Overall, The Narrows is the most desirable place for most hikers who want to explore the depth of nature.
