The Narrows (Bottom-Up)
Instead of a trail, you wade up the Virgin River itself, hemmed in by 1,000-foot sandstone walls that in places narrow to twenty feet across. The bottom-up route needs no permit and no technical skill — just a tolerance for cold water, a stick for balance, and real respect for flash floods.
By The US Hikers editorial team · Last verified August 21, 2026
- Distance
- Up to 9.4 mi RT
- Elevation gain
- 334 ft
- Permit
- Not required
- Best season
- Early summer to early fall (Jun–Oct), once snowmelt eases and water is warmest; watch the monsoon flash-flood window Jul–Sep
Trail overview: bottom-up vs top-down
Almost everyone hikes the Narrows “bottom-up”: take the park shuttle to the Temple of Sinawava, walk the paved Riverside Walk for a mile, then step into the river where the pavement ends. From there you wade upstream as far as you want and return the same way. Reaching Big Spring and back is roughly 9.4 miles; most people go an hour or two in and turn around.
The full “top-down” route is a committing 16-mile one-way canyon through-hike that does require a wilderness permit and a shuttle to Chamberlain’s Ranch. For a first visit, bottom-up gives you the iconic narrow sections — Wall Street especially — without a permit.
Flash floods: the one rule that matters
The Narrows is a slot canyon with no escape from rising water, and people have died here in flash floods. Check the National Weather Service flash-flood potential rating that the park posts each morning before you start, and never enter when it reads “expected” or during or after a storm anywhere upstream — rain miles away can send a wall of muddy water down the canyon on a sunny day.
The park closes the Narrows when the Virgin River flows above 150 cubic feet per second, which is common during spring snowmelt. Always confirm the current status on the official Zion page the day you go.
Gear, water temperature and renting in Springdale
You will be in the river the whole way, so leave the boots and bring closed-toe shoes you don’t mind soaking (or rent canyoneering boots, neoprene socks and a sturdy wooden stick from outfitters in Springdale). The water stays cold even in summer; in spring and fall a drysuit or wetsuit is sensible and widely rented.
Pack water and food in a dry bag, watch your footing on slick submerged rocks, and budget more time than the mileage suggests — wading is slow, deliberate work. Two liters of drinking water per person is a minimum in the heat.
How long is The Narrows hike — distance and time
There is no single length, because you turn around whenever you like. To the start of Wall Street — the narrowest, most photographed stretch — and back is roughly 4 to 6 miles and takes most people 4 to 6 hours. Going all the way to Big Spring, the furthest point allowed without a permit, is about 9.4 miles round trip and a full 8-plus-hour day.
Wading is far slower than walking a normal trail: expect to cover barely a mile an hour against the current on rocky, submerged footing. A good rule is to note your turnaround time on the way up and hold to it, since the return through the same water always takes longer than you expect. Add the paved one-mile Riverside Walk each way between the shuttle stop and the river.
How deep is the water, and checking current conditions
Depth changes constantly with the season and the day’s flow. On a normal summer day much of the bottom-up route is ankle- to knee-deep, with a few thigh- or waist-deep crossings; in Wall Street after rain or during snowmelt it can be chest-deep or impassable. There is no way to know today’s depth from a guide — it tracks the Virgin River’s flow rate (measured in cubic feet per second, cfs).
Before you go, check two official numbers the same morning: the park’s daily flash-flood potential rating and the live Virgin River flow. The Narrows closes automatically when flow exceeds 150 cfs, which is common in spring. The USGS gauge at the Virgin River near Springdale and the NPS Zion “current conditions” page both post the live figure, so confirm it the day of your hike rather than relying on a forecast.
Where the hike starts: trailhead and getting there
The bottom-up Narrows begins at the Temple of Sinawava, the last stop (shuttle stop 9) on the Zion Canyon shuttle. From spring through late fall private cars cannot drive Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, so you ride the free park shuttle from the visitor center — budget about 45 minutes each way including the wait. From the Temple of Sinawava you walk the paved, flat Riverside Walk for one mile to where the pavement ends and the river becomes the route.
There is no separate parking at the trailhead itself; park at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center (arrive early — it fills by mid-morning in season) or use the Springdale town shuttle from your hotel. In winter, when the shuttle stops running, you can drive to the Temple of Sinawava, but cold water makes the hike a drysuit-only outing.
Trail map: the "Lower Narrows" vs Wall Street vs Orderville Canyon
There is no separate, official trail map to download for the bottom-up route because there is no trail — the map is the river itself, and the NPS Narrows page embeds the canyon map you need rather than offering a printable one. Orient yourself by distance from the Temple of Sinawava instead: roughly 1 mile of paved Riverside Walk, then about 1 more mile of wading to Mystery Falls and the mouth of Orderville Canyon (a common turnaround for a shorter visit), 2 miles to Wall Street, and 5 miles to Big Spring.
What most people mean by the "Lower Narrows" is exactly this bottom-up stretch — from the Temple of Sinawava up to Big Spring — as opposed to the "Upper Narrows," the section above Big Spring only reachable on the permitted 16-mile top-down through-hike from Chamberlain's Ranch. If a search result mentions "Lower Narrows," it is describing the same no-permit day hike covered on this page.
Frequently asked questions
How long is The Narrows hike and how long does it take?
It is an out-and-back with no fixed length — you turn around whenever you want. To Wall Street and back is about 4–6 miles (4–6 hours); all the way to Big Spring and back is about 9.4 miles and a full day. Wading is slow, so plan on barely a mile an hour.
Is there a trail map for The Narrows?
Not a conventional printable one — the route is the Virgin River itself, so the NPS shows it as a canyon map rather than a trail line. Use distance from the Temple of Sinawava to navigate: about 1 mile of paved walk, ~2 miles to Wall Street, ~5 miles to Big Spring, the farthest point allowed without a permit.
What is the "Lower Narrows"?
It is another name for the bottom-up day hike described here — the stretch from the Temple of Sinawava up to Big Spring, no permit needed. The "Upper Narrows" is the section above Big Spring, only accessible via the permitted 16-mile top-down through-hike from Chamberlain's Ranch.
How deep is the water in The Narrows right now?
It varies daily with the Virgin River’s flow. A typical summer day is ankle- to knee-deep with occasional waist-deep crossings; after rain or in snowmelt it can be chest-deep or closed. Check the live Virgin River flow (the hike closes above 150 cfs) and the park’s daily flash-flood rating the morning you go.
Where does The Narrows trail start?
At the Temple of Sinawava, the final Zion Canyon shuttle stop. You walk the paved one-mile Riverside Walk from there to the point where the pavement ends and you step into the Virgin River.
Do you need a permit to hike The Narrows?
Not for the bottom-up day hike from the Temple of Sinawava — you can go up to Big Spring and back without one. Only the 16-mile top-down through-hike requires a wilderness permit.
How dangerous is The Narrows?
The main danger is flash flooding, which has been fatal here. Check the park’s daily flash-flood rating and never enter during unsettled weather. Cold water and slick rocks are the other hazards.
What should I wear and bring for The Narrows?
Closed-toe shoes you can soak (or rented canyoneering boots), a walking stick for balance, a dry bag for water and food, and neoprene or a drysuit in cooler months. The river water is cold year-round.
Make it a trip
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Sources
- NPS — The Narrows (Zion)
- NPS — Zion Wilderness Permits (top-down)
- USGS — Virgin River near Springdale, live flow (cfs)
Primary sources only for facts that change (fees, permits, closures): nps.gov, fs.usda.gov and official recreation.gov permit pages. We stamp every guide with a "last verified" date and re-check seasonal figures each year.