The Ultimate Southwest Vacation includes Zion National Park, Utah!
Stay in Mount Carmel Junction, the heart of the parks, and
visit the treasures of the Southwest.
Zion Park 12 miles
Grand Staircase 9 miles
Sand Dunes 11 miles
Dixie Forest 22 miles
Cedar Breaks 45 miles
Red Canyon 47 miles
Coyote Butte 57 miles
Bryce Canyon 60 miles
North Rim 85 miles
Toroweap 90 miles
Plan your Zion National Park Vacation with our Utah Maps and
Information
In these pages you will find insiders information on Zion National
Park lodging, adventures and hikes. This detailed guide includes road maps, park
maps, pictures, trail beta, backpacking, history, fees, geology, flora, fauna,
campgrounds, things for kids to do and even information on Zion's hidden treasures.
Making summer memories in the Utah National Parks and National
Monuments.
Directions to Zion National Park From Salt Lake City: Travel I-15 south, past Beaver.
Exit on Hwy 20. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take U-9 to Zion's east
entrance. From Arizona: Travel 89A through Fredonia, Arizona
and Kanab Utah. Follow US-89 to to Mount Carmel Junction. Take U-9 to the east
park entrance. From Las Vegas: Travel I-15 north. Take exit 16 and
travel through Hurricane. Make a right on U-9 at the second traffic light in
LaVerkin. Continue on U-9 to the south entrance of the park. U-9 through Zion
National Park is always open and is also called the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway.
Chamberlain Ranch Trailhead
Zion Narrows Trailhead
From the east gate of Zion National Park drive 2.4 miles and turn at the junction of the North Fork Road and SR-9. Drive up the North Fork Road (past the Ponderosa Ranch at 5.2 miles) At 5.4 miles the road will turn to dirt. At 11.5 miles the road crosses over the North Fork of the Virgin River. There is a sign at the turn for the Zion Narrows. At this intersection turn left and follow the dirt road, ignoring side roads, to the signed parking area. Total mileage to the parking area is 12.5 miles.
GPS Coordinates
WGS84 Datum
Zion Narrows
North Fork Road Crosses Over North Fork of the Virgin River:
37°23.4400N
112°49.5400W
Gate at Chamberlain Ranch:
37°23.3950N
112°49.9830W
Parking at Narrows Trailhead:
37°23.1200N
112°50.3230W
GPS coordinates are only references and may or may not be accurate. Do not rely on GPS coordinates as the sole method of navigation. Always have an accurate, detailed map at hand and have the proper map reading and navigation skills before setting out on any hike. Many of the hikes listed in this guide travel into canyons where a GPS has limited capabilities. Always check your position with a detailed map before dropping into a canyon.
Orderville Canyon Narrows
Once in the Narrows there is a choice to go into the Orderville Canyon Narrows. The water is not as fresh as that of the Zion Narrows, but the slot canyon formations are spectacular and the canyon is much narrower than the Zion Narrows. This area is a tributary creek found about two hours upstream from the Zion Canyon entrance. The park allows hikers to go to the first waterfall when hiking from the Zion Narrows.
Remember slot canyons can change dramatically in a short time due to flash floods and water levels in this canyon change. These directions are only a general reference. Be prepared for variations in the canyon.
Backpacking Permit - A permit is needed for all overnight backpacks in the park as well as any trail that requires the use of technical equipment. Obtain permits at the Zion Canyon Visitors Center or by calling:
1.435.771.0172
Beta: Coordinates and other trail and canyoneering information
by Zion Park search and rescue veteran team member Bo
Beck and www.zionnational-park.com author Tanya Milligan.
To post trip reports, offer corrections, updates, or for more
information please visit the Zion
National Park Forum
Suggested Equipment: Bring a sturdy pair of shoes to hike the narrows. Some hikers prefer hiking boots due to the support they give to the ankles and the cushion that helps to prevent bruising from hitting the rocks at the bottom of the river. 5-10 Canyoneers give the boot effect and work great in river conditions. Those that like low tops will enjoy a good quality rubber shoe like the La Sportiva Exum River shoes. Be sure to bring a set of ski-pole style hiking poles to prevent falling on slick rocks and to help with swift water river crossing.
Zion Narrows
The diverse trek through Zion's premier canyon is one of the most touted and breathtaking adventures in America. Extraordinary beauty and unique character describe this amazing gorge. Hanging gardens burst from dramatically colored perpendicular walls while trickling water threads its way through moss covered boulders. Gentle slopes give way to sheer walls funneling streams of water into fluted slides and twisting channels cutting deeper and deeper as the journey continues its path southward. Along the sandy perches of the banks, towering ponderosa send their roots downward, hungry for nutrients and water. The entire trip is wondrous. The Zion Narrows deserves its reputation as one of the best, if not the best, hike in the National Park System.
Zion Narrows at a Glance
Photo Album: Zion Narrows Pictures
Topo Map: Zion Narrows Map
Day Hike:
It can be done as a long day hike or as a relaxed backpack. Distance: 16 miles Average Hiking Time:
13 hours. River hiking is time consuming. Don't underestimate your time. Equipment:
Dry bags, sturdy water shoes, neoprene socks, a pair of trekking poles, emergency supplies, emergency overnight gear and plenty of water. Hiking with just a single stick is not suggested in the narrows.
Difficulty:
This is a strenuous route due to the demands of river hiking, slippery rocks and swift water crossings, however, the profile is a gentle downhill trek. Swimming is often required for short sections. Elevation Loss: 1400' Permits:
Hikers are allowed to hike a few miles up the Narrows from the Riverside Walk and return without obtaining a permit. A permit is required to hike from Chamberlain's Ranch to Zion Canyon. There are a total of 80 permits allotted per day. 40 hikers are permitted through the online reservation system and 40 hikers are permitted as walk-in. Although you can get a permit the same day you are hiking, you will have better luck obtaining one of the few issued permits if you get your walk-in permit the day prior to the actual day of the hike. For more information call the backcountry desk at 1.435.772.0170 or log onto the parks website and use their online permit system.
Trail Conditions:
Most of the route requires hiking in the river under conditions with swift water and slippery rocks, but there are some sandy and beaten paths on the side of the river that offer a short reprieve. Be sure to check the weather and river flow before starting this hike, as flash floods can, and do, happen and heavy river flow makes travel tedious and dangerous. The park will not issue permits unless the river is and has been flowing less than 120cfs (cubic feet per second) near Springdale for the previous twenty-four hours. The hike is best done in the summer after snow-melt in the high country has subsided and air temperature is warmer. Trailhead:
Chamberlain's Ranch is just off North Fork Road on the east side of the park. It's best to have a 4WD to navigate the dirt road to the trailhead, but it is not required if the road is dry. Commercial shuttles can be rented that leave from Springdale. Trailend:
The route will end at the Temple of Sinawava in Zion Canyon. Arrange a shuttle from the Riverside Walk in Zion Canyon, which will be where your hike ends. From late March to late October park at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center or in Springdale and ride the Zion Canyon Shuttle. From November until late March drive into the canyon and park at the Temple of Sinawava parking lot. Trail Access: From late March to late October park at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and ride the Zion Canyon Shuttle. Get off at the last shuttle stop. From November until late March drive into the canyon and park at the Temple of Sinawava parking lot. Off the Beaten Path: Only 80 hikers are allowed through the Zion Narrows per day. However, the section of the narrows near the Temple of Sinawava, where a permit is not required, will be populated. Classic Zion Hike: Yes Best Season: Mid-June to mid-September. The water is cold the rest of the year but the canyon can be hiked in a wetsuit.
The Zion Narrows is a slot canyon and like any slot canyon there is a very real danger from flash flooding. Do not hike this trail if it is raining. Remember a storm far off can trigger a flash flood. Flash flood danger is high.
See our vacation planning section for classic Zion National Park trails or glance at our favorite Zion National Park trails list or choose from a complete Zion National Park hiking guide.
Zion Narrows
Trailhead - After setting up transportation, drive toward the east entrance of Zion National Park. From the gate it is 2.5 miles to the turn-off for the North Fork Road. Follow the North Fork Road for 5.5 miles, the next 13 miles to the sign indicating the trailhead will be dirt and gravel. Do not attempt to drive this road after a rain or snowstorm as the clay content makes travel difficult or even impossible. On the way north, Birch Hollow is bypassed at 8.5 miles, Orderville Canyon at 12.5 miles and a wooden bridge crosses the North Fork of the Virgin River at almost 18 miles. After the bridge, turn left onto the less traveled road leading to Chamberlain's Ranch, closing the gate behind you. Drive a little further, taking the left fork in the road to get to the parking area for the Zion Narrows, which is adjacent to the North Fork of the Virgin River. Locate the NPS information sign just above the parking area. The route crosses the river and follows a dirt road for the next 3 miles as it traverses privately owned meadows, sadly slated for development in the future. Through previous agreement with the landowners, the NPS has been able to maintain access to the trail. Please respect the rights of the owners and don't abuse their land by straying from the trail or leaving trash.
Zion Narrows - The road ends and a short beaten path drops into the river. The next 12 miles involves zigzagging in and out of the water so be sure to put all valuables into your dry bags. Keep eyes peeled on the right bank, during the next half-mile for a 50' jug handle arch. Beyond the arch, Navajo sandstone walls progressively elevate and several narrow sections begin to suggest the "flavor" to come. Soon, deep side canyons make their entrance and the first of twelve campsites are seen. A seemingly impassable waterfall is encountered about 7 miles into the hike but simply walk up the left embankment and pass through the cleft in the rock. Never jump off anything while in a canyon. Serious injuries have resulted in the past from hikers plunging from the top of the 20' waterfall into the pool below. As you continue down the canyon , high walls rise on either side and filtered sunrays cast shadows and reflect mystical colored light. The confluence of Deep Creek and the North Fork of the Virgin River appear at the halfway point of the hike. The new water from the side canyon almost triples the flow of water in your hiking path as it spills its crystalline, cold contents into the canyon. If you have not used hiking poles yet on this trip, now is the time. Farther downstream Kolob Creek enters from the right and may possibly add yet more flow to the river "trail" depending on whether the Washington County Water Conservancy District is releasing water from the Kolob Reservoir for irrigation purposes or not. The next side stream is Goose Creek, which also enters from the right. Big Spring is a picturesque oasis, located just past Goose Creek, where water cascades through lush vegetation and tumbles to the river below. This is a popular area to take a break and filter water for drinking for the rest of the hike. Nearly 11 miles into the hike, crowds that have hiked from the Riverside Walk start to appear. In this north-south running section of the Narrows the lighting is almost eerie. A glowing spectrum of orange, red and pink seem to radiate from within the rock itself. The most well known of the side canyons, Orderville Canyon, will be on your left, 2 miles down river. Expect this canyon to add a gentle flow of cold water to join the churning water you are now hiking in. Orderville Canyon is a popular route that requires a permit but hikers can explore up the to the plaque at the first waterfall without one. A little over a mile farther Mystery Falls trickles down the steep side wall as the water from Mystery Spring escapes down the smooth rock face. Now with just a quarter-mile of river hiking left, crowds grow larger as curious tourists dabble in a short walk from the end of the Riverside Walk. Take this trail back to the shuttle or your awaiting vehicle depending on the time of year you have chosen to hike.
There was, perhaps, no point from which, neither forward nor backward, could we discover a patch of sky, but many times our upward view was completely cut off by the interlocking of the walls, which, remaining nearly parallel to each other, warped in and out as they ascended.
