Zion Narrows Bottom-Up Day-Hiking Route

The Narrows bottom-up is Zion's best-known day hike: wading up the North Fork of the Virgin River from the end of the paved Riverside Walk at Temple of Sinawava, the last stop on the park's shuttle. There's no wilderness permit required for this version, and you can turn around whenever you've had enough — a round trip to Big Spring runs close to 9 miles for those who go the distance.

Good to know

• Temple of Sinawava is shuttle-only access for most of the year; private vehicles are restricted in the main canyon
• Flash flooding is the single biggest hazard — check the park's flood potential forecast before you go and never enter if rain is possible upstream
• The park closes the Narrows when river flow exceeds 150 cubic feet per second
• Expect cold water and uneven, slick submerged rocks the entire way

Water shoes and a trekking pole make a real difference here. This is a genuinely dangerous hike in the wrong conditions, not just a scenic wade — take the flood risk seriously.