Zion – The Narrows

Monday Matey stayed home while Bud, Adler and I went back to Zion.

We left very early and were on the shuttle by 7:40.

We turned off Utah 9 and onto the restricted road up through the main canyon, the canyon of the Virgin River.

The last stop of the shuttle was at the Temple of Sinawava, which is also the trailhead for the Riverside Walk which leads to the Narrows. The Narrows was the trail Adler most wanted to hike.

You are immediately surrounded by the huge rock walls.

Riverside Walk is a paved trail the leads along this beautiful canyon.

I’ve run out of superlatives to describe the beauty of this place.

We followed Riverside Walk just over a mile up along the river as the canyon narrowed.

Along the way we passed some very tame wildlife, like this mule deer,

and this squirrel, one of many.

We passed this spring…

and interesting rock formations,

a lot of interesting rock formations.

At the end of the Riverside Walk was the Narrows. The canyon walls come right to the river here so the trail takes you through the water.

The water was cold. Adler took this picture of me picking my way across the rocky bottom.

Even as early as we were, there were a lot of other people wading up to see this magnificent canyon.

After a bit we came to a place where it looked like you had to wade in up to your waist. I decided not to do that, so I took Bud’s keys, wallet and phone and the pack and his hat from Adler.

I stood in the cold water and watched them wade away from me. I noticed others coming back and they were only wet to their thighs. I changed my mind and followed, now carrying everything.

I made it through the deep part and was rewarded by this lovely spring running down the canyon wall.

I found Bud and Adler, but the current was getting more swift and the bottom more stony.

We decided to turn back. The guide said the Narrows was a nine mile out and back trail, we had probably not made more than a half mile, but it was enough for us.

We walked back to the Riverside Walk…

and back to the shuttle stop.

I can see why so many people visit Zion, and why private cars are kept out of the Virgin River Canyon. There were many more hikes we could have taken…maybe next time.