Best time to go? Off season - avoid the crowd and you get clean photo shots. Of course off season means colder water temp, but that's easily taken care of with rented dry pants, neoprene socks and canyoneering shoes. We rented ours from Zion Adventure Co. just outside the park.We hiked 2.5 miles to the end of Wall Street. The hike up to Wall Street is just your garden variety canyon view, but Wall Street is where the money is. So if you don't make it to that point, then you've missed the show.Water level ranges from ankle deep to glute high.
I've twice hiked up the narrows - a couple miles the first time, only a mile or so this time. It is one of my all time favorite hikes. Next visit, I will do the whole thing. I refuse to use the fancy pants or waders, I am there to earn every step and immerse myself in nature, even if it tries to give me frostbite or hypothermia. Ok, really, its safest to use the right gear in the fall, etc.... so next time, I will visit during the summer.
If you decide to hike the Narrows, go to the Zion Adventure Company! For $22 they gave you a neoprene sock, sturdy shoes and a hiking stick for the entire day. Believe me when I say it's worth every penny! The water was cold and we hiked 4 miles in water that at times was thigh high. The sock and shoes saved our feet from cold and rocks, and kept us steady in slippery conditions.The hike itself is breathtaking and a wonderful journey! My only complaint is that there are a lot of people all of the time. I like my hikes in a little more solitude, but it was still an adventure.
The Riverside walk up to the Narrows entrance is very pretty along the river. Most of this hike was in the shade so it's cooler. We were here in mid October so the water was 52 degrees. We only had water sandals so the cold water actually starts to hurt your feet, so we didn't' go very far into the narrows. But still very pretty. We didn't know then but there are places to rent waterproof pants and shoes so next time we can go further in.
You will be best served by studying what it takes to hike The Narrows. Without any planning, you can still enjoy it though. We heard all about the 16-hike downstream through chest deep icy water and that sounded a bit much for our family. When we arrived, we decided to just take a look at the Narrows by walking the Riverside trail. We arrived at the river entry point and it was only knee-deep or less in most areas. The water was brown, because a flash flood had roared through the day before. But even so, it was awesome! We hiked about 2 miles upstream and then back down. The views along the way are amazing as the canyon literally narrows. Steep cliff walls surround you. Every step must be carefully chosen if you do not have a walking stick. My son and I had an absolute blast enjoying this amazing adventure. We met four 80'somethings who we thought were just wading in the water a bit - well, I was shamed when they corrected me that they were on day two and mile 14! (if they can do it, we will return to do it too one day)
Loved this hike or should I say rock/ River walk? Per the reccomendations of other reviewers stopped at Zion adventure company and picked up some water pants and shoes; they were awesome BTW, and went riverwalking through the longest slot in the world! Being February the crowds were way down and we had the canyon to ourselves. What an unusual walk and be warned you will get wet feet to say it mildly. There were a few people that took a chance and wore tennis shoes or sandles and they looked miserable. I am sure they did not go far. If you start early, we started at 9 am, the parking lot will be empty as well as the canyon. Bring lunch and plenty of water and spend the morning hiking up to the springs if you can. bTW Zion adventure gives a military discount!
Being there in April with a younger child we didn't plan on walking up the river. We loved the walk to the end of Narrows Trail and were happy to stop there. It was gorgeous, looked like more of the same upstream, and seeing people going in and out with all the rented pants and gear would have been way too much trouble for the short distance we would have gone.
So I went on this trail last summer and it was a lot of fun but it was hard we did not go to the end of the trail because we where tired and wet. In some places it is very deep where you can't touch the ground but if u don't want to swim threw there are paths to get you past.
The walk to the Narrows was easy to moderate. Saw a lot of wildlife along the way. The squirrels were very tamed and got very close to the people. Saw a few bucks and baby dears right beside the trails just grazing away. A lot of people were taking this trail to see the Narrows which we sadly didn't go see but just the entrance which tempted me to go. I must think the walk back was not fun at all walking back with wet clothes or sandals. It's about a 2 mile walk!
Try to leave early in the morning. We found the little trail and I cannot think of the name of it to be just as and at some points even more beautiful than the narrows. It was an experience we will never forget.If you go in cooler weather I recommend you rent the water pants. The shoes really helped with stability. Last yr my husband and I attempted to go in sneakers and jeans. We made it maybe a mile if that and had to turn back. The water can be a little rough and deep in some spots but it is worth it to go.