The Virgin River Narrows (how far is it? geology of?)
What is the Zion Virgin River Narrows? (Zion National Park)
The Narrows is the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. It is an 18 mile gorge or canyon filled by the Virgin River just upstream from the part of Zion where the roads and trails end. This gorge, with walls a thousand feet tall and the river sometimes just twenty to thirty feet wide, is one of the most popular areas in Zion National Park. You can see the bottom section of the Narrows by hiking along the paved, wheelchair accessible Riverside Walk for one mile from the Temple of Sinawava. If you wish to see more, you will be walking in the Virgin River. Travel upstream in the Virgin River Narrows is allowed for the first 5 miles (until Big Spring) at which point travel is restricted to down canyon, permitted travelers only.
Wall-Street section of the Virgin River Narrows.
How far is the Virgin River Narrows Hike top to bottom?
Most resources out there (including the Park Service brochure) like to say the Virgin River Narrows is a 16 mile hike from top to bottom. It is not! This number is based on old information, back when hikers used to be able to start at the end of the dirt road at Chamberlain Ranch. This is now against the rules, and hikers must start two miles sooner at the toilet facilities and parking lot above Chamberlain Ranch. A sign is posted saying “authorized vehicles only”, which forces hikers to hike the two mile dirt road making the entire hike from parking lot to parking lot 18 miles.
Distances Map of the Virgin River Narrows
download a pdf printable version of the map here.
Interesting Geology Sites in the Virgin River Narrows
coming soon. Why Big Springs exists. What makes all the springs in the wallstreet section. Kolob Creek. Joint Systems.
A hike through The Narrows requires hiking in the Virgin River. You must get your feet wet since there is no trail. Most people choose to start their hike from the Temple of Sinawava via the Riverside Walk and then walk upstream before turning around and hiking back down to the Temple of Sinawava.
Bottom Up Hike From the Temple of Sinawava (no permit required)
Hiking in The Narrows upstream as far as Big Spring does not require a permit. Doing the hike this way allows you to see some of the most spectacular and narrowest parts of the canyon. You can hike in the river for an hour and have a great experience, or you can hike as far as Big Spring, a strenuous, ten-mile round trip, all-day adventure.
Top Down Hike from Chamberlain’s Ranch (permit required)
You can also hike sixteen miles downstream over one or two days, entering the park soon after starting the hike and then exiting at the Temple of Sinawava. Those who choose this option must get a permit and arrange transportation for the one and a half hour ride to start the hike outside the park at Chamberlain’s Ranch.
What about flash floods?
The Narrows are susceptible to flash flooding because much of the surrounding area is bare rock that does not absorb water. During storms, runoff is funneled rapidly into the Narrows. During a flash flood the water level rises almost instantly–within seconds or minutes. Flash floods are common in Zion and hikers have been stranded, injured, and even killed by venturing into narrow, flood prone canyons.
The Virgin River narrows is a deep narrow canyon traversing one geologic unit, the Navajo Sandstone. Much of the canyon fallows joint systems which the river has exploited and deepened. For details on the geologic nature of the Navajo Sandstone, see my educational article on that unit here…
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