Original Word By Kate Siber; executive
summary by darmansjah
If any place has the power to
inspire awe, it’s the Zion Narrows, southern Utah’s premier hike in Zion
National Park. For 16 miles (26 kilometers), the canyon winds voluptuously
through the crimson sandstone, in some spots stretching 2,000 feet (610 meters)
high and narrowing to 20 feet (6 meters). Lush hanging gardens spring from the
walls, stately ponderosa pines grow in nooks, and the water can turn a shade of
turquoise that perfectly contrasts with the cliffs’ deep terra-cotta hues. The
hike isn’t necessarily a cakewalk, however: For more than half the time, hikers
walk in the Virgin River, which can be waist-high, and negotiate cobbles as
large and slippery as bowling balls.
Still, the appeal of the area is
certainly no secret, and the Zion Narrows attract plenty of keen hikers. Though
it’s possible to hike top-to-bottom in one long day or do a shorter
out-and-back from the bottom of the canyon, the ideal approach is to take two
days, camping overnight at one of 12 designated campsites deep in the canyon.
The stillness of evening and the otherworldly glow of moonlight make the
perfect atmosphere in which to absorb the beauty of those towering canyon
walls, sculpted by elements unfathomably more powerful than ourselves.
Need to Know: Zion Rock & Mountain Guides (www.zionrockguides.com) offers shuttles to the
top of the canyon for $30, rents dry bags and trekking poles, and offers advice
on flash-flood conditions. Contact Zion National Park (www.nps.gov/zion)
to reserve a permit for the full 16-mile hike or overnight camping.
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