Joe's Guide to Zion National Park - Hikes in the Virgin River Narrows

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THE VIRGIN RIVER NARROWS

The Virgin River is the best place to be in the heat of summer and is home to many of Zion's most beautiful and elusive slot canyons. Aside from the most popular North Fork route (a.k.a. "the Zion Narrows") , there are many routes descending from various hanging canyons and tributaries of the Virgin River. Most of these canyons are technical routes, but the Zion Narrows day hike can be enjoyed by just about everyone.

THE ZION NARROWS -- Overview

The North Fork of the Virgin River (aka "The Zion Narrows") is probably one of the most legendary canyons to hike in all of Zion National Park. The Zion Narrows is the section of the Virgin River just upstream from the Temple of Sinawava (the end of the road up the main canyon). Here, the majestic walls of the main canyon close in to form a tall and narrow canyon with beautiful dark corners and the Virgin River flowing around you. With beautiful flowing water and barely any direct sunlight reaching the bottom, this is the slot canyon that all other slot canyons are compared to.
OVERVIEW OF HIKING ROUTES...

ZION NARROWS DAY HIKE

Rating: moderately strenuous/strenuous hike.

For tourists or casual hikers who want to see the best of the Zion Narrows, this is the route to do. Starting at the Temple of Sinawava, you can hike up the Riverside Walk trail and then continue hiking right up the river to see some of the best "narrows" sections of the North Fork of the Virgin River. Hike up as far as you want to go and then turn around and retrace your steps. A side hike up Orderville Canyon is also a good detour to see even more amazing slot canyon scenery.
ROUTE INFORMATION and PHOTOS...

ZION NARROWS TOP-DOWN ROUTE (Backpacking)

Rating: fairly strenuous backpacking.

Starting from Chamberlain's Ranch outside the northern corner of Zion National Park, the North Fork can be hiked top-down from the upper plateau. This is the longer and less popular way to hike the Zion Narrows, but it is quite a rewarding experience to see the more subtle beauty of the the upper North Fork as it slowly transforms into the majestic and deep slot canyon that opens into the main canyon in Zion. This route is usually done as a two-day backpacking trip and is a magical experience.
ROUTE INFORMATION and PHOTOS...

ORDERVILLE CANYON

Rating: strenuous hiking/semi-technical canyoneering.

Orderville Canyon is the amazing little sister to the main Virgin River narrows and is a good long day hike for beginning canyoneers. The lower sections can be explored as a side hike from the Zion Narrows, but the much better way is to do the top-down "semi-technical" canyoneering route. This hike involves two short rappels, several short swims, and a lot of downclimbs over boulders and rock formations. The canyon is tall, narrow, dark and wonderfully mysterious, and it is well worth the effort that it takes to get through it all!
ROUTE INFORMATION and PHOTOS...

DEEP CREEK

Rating: fairly strenuous backpacking.

The Deep Creek route is the longer big brother to the North Fork route: 14 miles of river hiking and bushwhacking until you join up with the Virgin River in the Zion Narrows proper -- 2 or 3 days for the total trip. Falcon has a good description of this route starting at Fife Creek on Webster Flat Road off of Highway 14. Note: most of this route is outside of Zion National Park, so please be unobtrusive and camp only in BLM land. Once you enter Zion, the Deep Creek narrows joins up with the North Fork, and you have 7 more miles of the classic Zion Narrows before you reach the Temple of Sinawava, or you can alternately hike up and out the North Fork.

Below are several of the more advanced canyoneering routes down through the Zion Narrows and Orderville Canyon. I do not include any detailed route information here; I simply list them in the interest of being thorough. Maybe I will add descriptions and photos some time in the next few decades! Many good sources of information are available for these routes, including Tom's website, Shane's website, and Tom's "Zion: Canyoneering" book. Note: Backcountry permits are required for any technical canyon.

MYSTERY CANYON

Rating: technical canyoneering route.

Mystery Canyon is another canyoneering greatest hit at Zion that gets a good deal of attention and is closely monitored and regulated by the National Park Service. Done as a day-hike, the route starts off of the east plateau northwest of Observation Point (off of the East Mesa Trail) and follows this oddly L-shaped canyon. Mystery Canyon has many intimate narrow slot sections and several wide-open sunburn-inducing sections as well. And many many rappels, some over 100 feet. The canyon is mostly dry, but there may be a few pools and flowing water by Mystery Springs. This route has the most spectacular ending: a final 100'+ rappel down the weeping wall into the Zion Narrows below.

KOLOB CREEK

Rating: advanced technical canyoneering route.

This is a classic hardcore adventure made infamous by the 1993 disaster where two adults in a church scout group were killed because they misjudged the danger of the water levels and whirlpools. (Water levels were much higher than normal due to the scheduled release of water in an irrigation dam upstream.) Kolob Creek is a deep and narrow slot with many, many rappels up to 150 feet and lots of swimming in cold water that doesn't get much sunlight. Check on water levels beforehand, bring your wetsuit, and take this route seriously -- it is beautiful but intense. Kolob Creek dumps into the Virgin River Narrows about 5 miles north of the Temple of Sinawava. Permit, technical skills, and research are required before attempting this route.

GOOSE CREEK (Closed)

Rating: technical canyoneering route.

Goose Creek is another tall narrow slot that feeds into the Virgin River Narrows. The route starts at the Lava Point Goose Creek Knoll area and the direct route involves several big wall rappels at the beginning, although a start from one of the side slots could be easier. The middle section is another beautiful slot with lush vegetation and soaring walls on both sides and only a few waist-high pools to deal with. A lot of bushwhacking and boulder scrambling and a few more rappels near the confluence with the Virgin River Narrows. Note: As of 2001, Goose Creek has been designated as a "Natural Research Area" and is off-limits to hiking or canyoneering.

IMLAY CANYON
Rating: advanced technical canyoneering. Imlay Canyon is a claustrophobic hanging slot that feeds the Narrows from the West Rim. This route is one of the most technically demanding canyons in Zion and requires many advanced canyoneering techniques to negotiate. This route should only be done by experienced and well-prepared groups.

ENGLESTEAD HOLLOW
Rating: technical canyoneering route. Englestead Hollow is one of the narrow slots that feeds into Orderville Canyon from the south. This short technical route is one big-wall rap after another with the crux being the 300-ft entry rappel. The exit route empties out into Orderville Canyon proper.

BIRCH HOLLOW
Rating: technical canyoneering. Another side slot of Orderville Canyon, this route also has a lot of rappels through fluted sandstone. This route made it onto the radar back in 2003 when bolts were found in what was then a canyon of all natural anchors.

BULLOCH GULCH
Bulloch Gulch is another one of the beautiful side slots of Orderville, worthy of exploration during a hike through Orderville. Its intersection with Orderville is one of the lushest, greenest areas of Zion.

Continue to the Kolob Terrace ->

Hiking symbols used for descriptions:
	ZION CLASSIC: a must-do hike if you want to see the best of Zion!
	FAMILY-FRIENDLY: a good choice for those with children who like to hike.
	BACKPACKING: a route enjoyable as a multi-day hike.
	TECHNICAL: canyoneering or scrambling route requiring technical gear and climbing and/or rappelling experience. Not suitable for casual hikers.