Hiking the Narrows Top-Down Overnight in Zion National Park

The Narrows is located in Zion National Park, which is located in southern Utah. As a trip itinerary goes, it's a great idea to couple this park with another like Bryce National Park or the Grand Canyon National Park due to their close proximity.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1

• Drive to Zion National Park from Colorado

• Afternoon/Night: Get to Zion and retrieve our permit from the Wilderness Desk before 5pm

• Find camping on BLM land close by

Day 2

• Pack up camp and meet our shuttle to start The Narrows top down

• Night 2: Stay overnight in The Narrows at campsite #10

Day 3

• Hike out of The Narrows

• Night 3: Camp at the National Park campground

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Permit & Gear Checklist

🎟️ Permits & Logistics

• Narrows Top-Down Overnight Permit (required)

• Pick up permit at Wilderness Desk (before closing time)

• Shuttle reservation to top-down trailhead

• Early arrival plan for Zion Visitor Center parking

• Check Virgin River CFS the day before (trip noted at 25 CFS)

🥾 Required / Strongly Recommended Gear

• Canyoneering boots (rentals recommended)

• Hiking stick or trekking pole (essential for balance)

• Dry bag for clothing and food

• Quick-dry layers (you will be wet all day)

• Headlamp (required for overnight)

• Tent + sleeping system (site #10 used on this trip)

  
  

🎒 Backpacking & Overnight Essentials

• Backpack suitable for water travel

• 6+ liters of drinking water (Big Spring is the only source below campsites)

• Meals for 2 days + snacks

• Bear-resistant food storage (as required by Zion)

• First-aid kit

• Navigation downloaded offline (no service in canyon)

🧠 Helpful Notes From This Trip

• Bottom-up hikers may be restricted or absent due to closures

• Campsites are numbered and easy to miss — count carefully

• Deep sections can reach chest depth, but most have walk-arounds

• Zion Outfitters offers showers near the Visitor Center

⚠️ Conditions Matter

• Narrows access can close with or without notice due to:

  • River flow

  • Weather

  • Search & Rescue activity

• Always check conditions the morning of your hike

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Hiking the Full Narrows Top Down - Overnight

Day 1 Goal - Get Our Permit

Once we drove down to Zion (just nearly making it in time for the wilderness desk hours), we immediately realized Zion itself is a tourist town with hotels, a brewery, souvenir shops, grocery stores, and more. You can do everything from bike rentals to hiking The Narrows, which we originally intended to do as the full 16-mile hike in one day—a huge feat when hiking through a river on uneven rocks the entire time.

Because The Narrows is a permitted hike, we made a one-day (no camping) reservation to guarantee a permit. However, when we arrived at the Wilderness Desk in the Visitor Center, we were surprised to learn there was one overnight permit left available and opted to take that. Scoring the overnight permit also meant we could take a later shuttle the next morning, rather than starting at 6am and racing to be out of the canyon by 7:30pm to catch the last shuttle from the Temple of Sinawava. I honestly don't know how we would've done it in a day and made it in time to catch the last bus back to be honest.

We were also given helpful information about:

• Nearby BLM dispersed camping

• Current river flow, which was 25 CFS (very low and calm)

  
  

The maximum allowable flow for hiking The Narrows is 150 CFS, so conditions were ideal. We still arrived at the Visitor Center at 6am to secure parking, then relaxed and people-watched while waiting for our 9am shuttle.

Parking note: The Visitor Center parking lot fills up by 7am. Overflow parking is available at the museum (the old Visitor Center), which is a short walk away.

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Outfitter, Shuttle, and Gear

After leaving the Wilderness Desk with our overnight permit, we headed to our outfitter and shuttle provider to pick up canyoneering boots and hiking sticks, which are essential for The Narrows.

We chose Zion Rock and Mountain Guides because:

• They offer a discount when bundling rentals + shuttle

• Staff are local guides involved in search and rescue

• They provided extensive local knowledge

Guru Stu geared us up and shared great advice, including photo tips. We highly recommend Zion Rock and Mountain Guides for rentals, shuttles, and guided trips.

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Free Camping Near Zion

We found free dispersed camping off the Smithsonian Scenic Byway in Rockville, just outside Springdale.

Directions:

• Take Bridge Road

• Follow signs toward Grafton Ghost Town

• Turn left at the Grafton sign and follow the road uphill

There are about three lower campsites before the road becomes difficult due to steep grades and loose rock. We camped at one of the lower spots in our van.

Free Camping

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Day 2: Making It to the Campsite

When our shuttle picked us up at the flagpole, we still had about an hour-long drive through the outskirts of Zion. We were dropped off outside the park boundary and followed a road through private property for about a mile before reentering the park.

The first 1.5 miles are flat, sunny, and exposed, with the river visible to the right. The trail weaves in and out of the river, but the goal is to stay in the water. After mile 2.5, you’re in the river almost the entire time.

We passed other overnight hikers, while most day hikers were far ahead trying to beat the shuttle cutoff. Water depth started at ankle level but quickly reached chest-deep sections. Almost every deep section has a walk-around, including the waterfall, which is protected by downed trees.

We carefully counted campsites after the waterfall until we reached the campsite. Our site #10 was tucked into trees above the river—perfect for drying wet clothes and relaxing.

Dinner was a shared mac-and-cheese rehydrated meal and cheesecake dessert pouch. We played cards in the tent and skipped the rain fly to enjoy the night.

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Day 3: Reaching the Temple of Sinawava

We woke around 6am, aiming for an 8am start but taking nearly three hours to pack. Breakfast was mango sticky rice, which turned into bland rice soup (would not recommend).

We expected to see bottom-up hikers after Big Spring, the only water source below our campsite, which required us to carry 6 liters of water (about 10 lbs). Surprisingly, we only saw two hiking groups near the Temple of Sinawava.

Upon exiting, we learned all Narrows hiking had been shut down due to multiple search-and-rescue incidents. This meant we had experienced the entire hike in near solitude—an incredibly rare and lucky circumstance.

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Final Reflections on Hiking The Narrows

The towering canyon walls, deep shadows, and narrow corridors are unforgettable. Side canyons offer even more exploration for those with time.

After hiking out, we returned to camp, then walked to a nearby brewery for burgers and beers. Showers were available at Zion Outfitters, within walking distance of the Visitor Center.

Completing this hike as my first real backpacking adventure was incredibly rewarding. It pushed my limits and gave me confidence to pursue more trips like this in the future.

A narrow canyon section of the Narrows in Zion National Park.

A deeper water stretch of the Narrows.

Towering sandstone walls along the Narrows.

A wider, calmer stretch of the Narrows.

Boulders and choke points along the Narrows route.

Clear water flowing through a canyon bend.

A sense of scale inside the Narrows canyon.

Route signage posted inside the Narrows.

Using trekking poles for balance in the Narrows.

Walking along the rocky riverbed in the Narrows.

Hanging gardens tucked into the canyon walls.

Clear water and steep canyon walls in the Narrows

A small waterfall inside the Narrows canyon.

Using trekking poles for balance in the current.

Wading through a deeper channel of the Narrows.

A darker, narrower stretch of the canyon.

Hiker standing waist-deep in the river while hiking the Narrows in Zion

The Virgin River flowing through towering canyon walls.

A clear pool tucked beside smooth canyon rock.

One of the narrowest sections of the Narrows.

Wading through the river between towering canyon walls.

Smooth sandstone and calm water along the route.

Moving through clear water with a trekking pole.

A shaded trail section near the river.

Rocky river currents cutting through the canyon.

Mid-hike smiles inside the Narrows.

Light and shadow at a canyon bend in the Narrows.

Light and shadow shifting through a narrow canyon bend.

One of the narrowest corridors in the Narrows.

A hiker dwarfed by towering canyon walls.