Thank you for sharing your first hand experience! Very comprehensive info for first timer people who wants to see where to start, where to park, what gears are needed and what the place looks like! Exactly what i am looking for! Keep it up!
I'm a bus driver for Zion and it's amazing to see just how many people try to hike the narrows in crocs or with no backpack (for water and food). I hope many visitors watch your video!
Thanks for all the tips. I have done the Narrows 3 times and your suggestions are right on. One thing I have heard is that trekking poles can break fairly easily. I know I put a fair amount of pressure on my rental stick and felt I could have easily snapped a trekking pole. The big pine sticks that they rent are much stouter. I did it once with a rental dry suit and twice with just boots and a stick.
I always hike with two poles regardless of the terrain. The two poles take a lot of stress off my knees and they also stabilize the walking and make falls much less likely...safer.
Our family went to Zion with hiking the Narrows as the priority; we did this 4 years in a row. Only a couple of people in our group rented shoes & neoprene socks. Half of us bring our own pole which is very helpful especially if water is swift and can’t see rocks. I agree with your bringing backpack with dry bag. I also like your recommendation of using the bathroom BEFORE starting the hike. Yes, that water is cold but I think you get use it. My children and I did the Narrows before the shuttle system was established. To protect and maintain the beauty of the park, limitations are required. I am happy we still get to enjoy and be in awe of the majesty created in the rocks.
You're advice on this paid off so much. My group and I followed your guidance on the gear, the time of year, the water depth, basically everything and it was spot on. It really did make a difference. Other than the shuttles we used E-bikes and to anyone who wants to truly control your own schedule E-Bikes are the way. We rode 40 miles in 3 days but nothing we did was dependent on someone else or a ride. Thank you!
The first time I went to Zion, I spent most of my energy doing two other hikes first so when I started Narrows in the afternoon, I only hiked in about 2 miles before turning back. If I had known, I'd do the Narrows first.
Love this. We just came back last week and it was awesome. My legs felt like mush by the time we were coming back. We went 3 hours in to the fork, went right a little and then came back. It took us 2 hours coming back so we took 5 to 5.5 hours and we could have taken longer because we could have gone into the Narrows more. We didn’t want to come back when it was getting dark because we started about 11 am. This was a great video. I wish I saw this before I left.
Thanks for this making this showing what it is really like. Many videos want to convey it's a secluded hike only showing angles away from people but your video illustrates what it is really like.
Thank you so much for all the info. We are first timers visiting Zion next month. You answered many of my question. excellent video. Very, very helpful
This video was so helpful. I just did this hike this morning. I rented the gear and am glad I did. The stick was absolutely necessary for me. I also bought the waterproof cellphone case for $15 at the shop and it was around my neck, it was easy to take pics.
I am so happy that you addressed,how and where and what do you do when you have to go to the bathroom. No one is talking about. What do you do when your on the hike and you have to go number one or number two.
Just did the Narrows: 9 Mile round trip. Thank you for both of you for putting in detailed and useful info. We rented and prepared well. The hike was a blast.
We hiked the Narrows maybe ten years ago. Unfortunately it was the first day they opened after three nights of heavy rains and the water was so murky you couldn’t see a thing, which made it very very difficult. We rented our equipment from a place on the way into the park and I liked that they also rented fleece in case of flash flooding and you were stranded. They also had you watch a video on flash flooding so that you knew the early signs to watch for. This was one of my favorite hikes ever, but much more difficult than I anticipated due to the flow rate and not being able to see any rocks. But thank you for this very informative video!
Thank you for the video. We had to cancel our Hawaii trip so now we are looking to go somewhere else. Zion is perfect and we've always wanted to go. We should be there in 14 days. Thanks again.
Thank you so much for this video! I'm heading there in October and so excited. Really appreciate the helpful advice and lovely footage of your time there. Gonna move on to your other videos on Zion National Park. Thanks again!
Thanks very much for doing this video. Great advice! We are going next week and super excited! I didn't know about the rentals, so I already bought the water shoes for everyone. I hope it'll work!
I’ve just found your channel while doing research for a trip to Monument Valley and surrounding spots. I really appreciate your enthusiasm and great deal of details on each location. It’s proving to be an invaluable resource for my planning. One question: I hope to go in early March and am not familiar if that is too soon to go (cold, snow, places closed, etc). If you have any advice, I’d really appreciate it. BTW, I will be driving there from Florida, so it will be quite a bit different in so many ways.
March is cold but uncrowded. It’s not quite a pretty because the trees aren’t yet in bloom. Overall it’s a great time to visit if you don’t mind wearing a coat at times. However, Bryce Canyon will still be covered in snow most likely
Others have said that they thinner sticks don't work as well. They wedge between the rocks, get stuck and can break. The wooden ones stay on top of the rocks and provide traction.
Thank you for your information. Your videos have been so helpful. We are hiking the narrows in a few weeks and will be renting shoes. What do we do with the shoes that we will have to wear to the park to get the rental shoes? Do we need to carry them in our backpack? Thanks for your help.
I love your channel and always try to watch it before we hike a new National Park! Thank you for all the great tips on hiking The Narrows, we will be there in mid May 2022. This is our third trip to Zion National Park, and we love the hikes there! Also on this trip we are hiking Glacier NP, Badlands NP, Rocky Mountain NP, and Mount Rushmore. Do you have any videos on Glacier NP, too?
We are so glad they are helpful to you! We love sharing our information with others. It sounds like you have a fun summer planned! You can check out this video of ours on Glacier ua-cam.com/video/mkVB-pCkll0/v-deo.html
I’m currently camped outside of Zion and plan to visit as soon as we can get shuttle tickets. This information is right on time for me. Thanks for sharing!!
@@WereintheRockies this is wonderful info thank you my two young adult sons and I plan to be there May 26th 2021.Of course we couldn’t get the shuttle tickets. Hoping we can get same day or the commercial ones, thanks for that info again. Great tips. Looking forward to your future videos 🤗
Haha. Have fun! Make sure to check Zion's national park page. We have had so much snow in Utah this year that the Narrows may be closed a bit the next few months.
Great advises - and wish that I knew some of this a couple of years ago, when I visited Zion. As non-US resident you don't have the opportunity to frequently visit all the great places that you visit. You might only have one visit in your life to a place like Zion - and therefore insights and planning is essential, so THANK YOU very much for these videos. And Zion in my list for a re-visit, once COVID-19 is over.
@@WereintheRockies Just continue what you already are doing - the advice's you are giving are low-practical, straight forward and easy to follow. I have just share the link to your channel on a Facebook page for local US-travelers and other members are already excited. Keep on going :-)
... and by the way, even though I through the years have been visiting great places like Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Death Valley, Rocky Mountains Ntl. Park, Natural Bridges, Mesa Verde, Monument Valley, Black Canyon of Gunnison, Canyon de Chelly, Colorado Nat. Monument, Valley of Fire and Zion Ntl. Park - I can now blame you for the necessity to return to most of these places on top of all the other placed I have on my bucket list :-)
Awesome tips however if you do it in the summer and you do this as the last hike of the day for about a two hour span you will not need any other equipment. It’s very doable with the regular sneakers and no sticks My kids and I did it yesterday our shoes dried quickly ❤️
We're in the Rockies 861 subscribers THANK YOU so much for watching our video! We hope you have a GREAT time hiking the Narrows. For itineraries for your trip to Zion, check out our website, wereintherockies.com/store Here are some useful links: Our website for Zion itineraries (coming soon): www.wereintherockies.com Flow Rate (best if under 50): waterdata.usgs.gov/ut/nwis/uv... GO PRO (Waterproof): amzn.to/3juf8mL Our favorite backpack, the Camelback: amzn.to/3juf8mL Dry bag: Just use a grocery sack to wrap up your valuables. Then re-use the sack to wrap up the shoes and neoprene socks after the hike for the rest of your day. Trekking poles: amzn.to/36rqEf2 Ergo baby carrier (We can’t recommend this enough!!): amzn.to/3ixNiVj There is another option if you don’t want to rent gear, or carry around the big water boots the rental company gives you: You can buy amphibian shoes that can double to hike the narrows and other hikes. You do NOT want water-proof hiking boots, because they will fill up with water. You want shows that will drain. And you don’t want to buy the same water boots that you can rent, because they are expensive and you’ll likely never use them again. Amphibian shoes for men: something like amzn.to/3cTMMA3 Amphibian shoes for women: something like amzn.to/3cVQusJ Socks: amzn.to/2GzDI7n After the hike, do the Riverwalk back to the shuttle in your neoprene socks and amphibian shoes to let them dry out a bit (or maybe walk in your shoes without any socks). Then you can take off your neoprene socks, put them in your backpack, and put on your dry socks. Hopefully by then, your amphibian shoes have dried out enough and you’ll have a nice day of hiking ahead of you with very little to carry in your pack! (You might want to pack two pairs of dry socks in case the first gets too wet from the shoes).
Just got back . I Hiked the narrows with closed toed sandals. I used My own poles.The big stick looked cumbersome. I Left my hiking boots at the start of the water hike. I didn’t want to pack them and my fellow hikers didn’t strike me as thieves.Water temp was not that bad for me in early October. Visit Kolob canyon “old Taylor trail “ less crowds.
I just hiked the Narrows this June. I did not have a stick and just used my Teva's. I had no issues. If you rent the shoes and socks, they don't work the rest of the day. Also, you must carry the stick the rest of the day as well. I saw a lot of kids with hiking sticks, wonder who carried them the rest of the day? My guest is the parents. Also, if you use the special hiking boots, you have to carry them around as well. Most people I saw, went to the Narrows first. Another suggestion is to take the side hikes along the River Walk; great small hikes along the Virgin River, and less people.
I love the narrows. I would say you do no need hiking sticks or rental boots to enjoy this legendary hike. For the older less athletic humans yes they need that extra advantage/help. But as long as you have good stamina, good balance and are genuinely a nature person (not just someone there because its popular) then you can make this hike with normal walking/constraining shoes and some shorts. If you go during the monsoon season (as we did) expect a lot of rain. If you are lucky you will get to see many waterfalls do to heavy rain. Great place to visit
Good morning. Thank you very much for your videos, these are very informative. We will travel to Zion in 2 weeks, we are nervous. We have: 2 hiking poles for each of us, diving socks that we will use together with our water shoes. Do you think we're okay with that? Or do you think it is better to rent the equipment there? We will wait for your answers. Thank you so much for everything.
Another great video! (I have a feeling that I'm going to end up telling you this a bunch. :P ) I like the low-key, but *very* informative nature of the video. You anticipate questions really well, and give great advice while answering them.
LOVE watching y'all's videos! Thanks so much! You've got us so excited about our upcoming UT trip! But, I wanted to ask if you think my Vibram KSO's & my own hiking sticks would be adequate for the Narrows? Or would I be better off renting?
Thank you for all the details... It is so helpful. I'm planning a trip with my parents in October. They're both very active in their late 50s. My mom was born with only one arm though. I'm sure she's capable but do you think it would be an issue?
From what you said, I think she would be fine. We saw plenty of older people doing it and having a blast! Worst case scenario is she can turn around. So definitely try it!!
Great tips! We plan to visit Zion possibly this summer so just perfect time to see this video. For me, I would definitely rent the wet boots and socks but bring my own sticks (I will need 2!). I do not have a GoPro but that would definitely be better to capture our hike instead of carrying around my large camera or Iphone which can fall into the water, yikes.
I love your guys #5! I’ve been asking around different videos and you guys covered it! Got the whole family going in August and I know Forsure I can’t hold in my bladder that long. 😂
If you go the full hike and don’t plan to sleep over or come back make sure to have transport waiting for you at your end location!! Be smart don’t wing it 🤙🏽
@@jillknight5559 It is a permit won by lottery at the time, I made friends with a couple that won and their other friend didn’t make it so I kicked it with them, I was able to go the regular way all the way up and then I went back down with them. I would not advise that as it will require excellent conditioning but I also took the hard way because it was much more fun 😉
Awww the narrows! I did this on a whim while at Zion! My favorite of all the hikes I did. I’m hoping to go back and do the top down trail at some point in the future.
Great video and very detailed information. My family of 4 will visit Zion at the end of March. We will drive from Las Vegas to Zion in the morning. I expect to arrive Zion around noon time. We will stay the night at the Zion Lodge and spent the next day in Zion. We will drive to Bryce Park in the evening. So we have about one and half days in the Zion. Here are my questions: should we do the Narrows in the afternoon of the first day or in the morning of the next day? Any suggestions on how to plan the entire 1.5 days there? Thanks in advance!
Good question! About the Narrows: Morning is usually the best time, but March, afternoon might be better because mornings might still be kind of chilly. You should call Zion Outfitters or Zion Guru and ask them. They will be familiar with the crowds and the weather to help you pick the best time. For your question about planning other things, we've created a guide on our website that might help you: wereintherockies.com/store/. And of course we have other videos here on UA-cam as well: ua-cam.com/play/PLbhuXgSSAbWbSMEJsXz0GcX-4NJ5R-Wey.html
Y’all have been so helpful today in my plans for Zion. I may call the Zion Guru people and book with them. We will be at the Grand Canyon before heading to Zion so not sure about trying to find good internet for day before tickets so might as well spend the extra. I just wander if these groups will allow you to stop at the visitor center/gift shop or do we drive back later in the day? Do you know what the drive is like from the Grand to Zion?
Thanks again for the guide. I was wondering, I see that on the website where you purchase the shuttle tickets there is a warning regarding toxins in the water and visitors are warned to stay away from the waters. Does this mean all the trails with waters are closed off? Is there somewhere I can find if the trails are open or not? Thank you.
None of the trails are closed due to the water. A dog died from drinking the water and they found some bacteria in the water. so they have put a warning on it. But, as long as you don’t drink the water you’re fine.
It says on the video that you have to buy a ticket for the shuttle? Where do I reserve or buy tickets for the shuttle for the zion? I thought the one at the park is free
Thank you both for the very informative video! I had hiked the Narrows a couple years ago but went in early October. I seem to recall I wore my technical pants and some athletic pants over and was pretty comfortable. My brother and I are planning to hike the Narrows this coming Sunday (June 6th) . Do you think the water will be colder? I am wondering if I need to layer up again or if shorts will work?
If the water is shallow, you will be fine with the water boots. You will want to check with the rental gear company to see how deep the narrows are right now. Thanks for the comment!
Thanks for the great info! So the one ticket is for leaving the visitor center, riding all day and returning to the visitors center? Also how would you go about booking for 3 days of the shuttles for 2 people? Would you need each person to book one day? Thanks!
One person can book for both of you, although it increases your chances if both of you are online trying to get in there. You’ll need to select your day, pick your ticket time, and book it. Then select your next day and book that, etc. You can do it in one sitting (assuming your day’s don’t cross over the open window times). I booked for three days in a row and got tickets at different times each day.
honest answer- shoes-wise, you think Teva sandals, the hurricane model made for water,( i've worn them white water rafting) would be okay shoes for the narrows or would you definitely recommend renting water boots?
If you aren't worried about rolling an ankle, your Teva's should be fine. I hardly ever worry about rolling my ankles but I was glad I had the boots I rented in the Narrows. It's a personal preference : )
I have not used those type of shoes before but they should work just fine, as long as there is enough protection on the bottom, so the rocks won't hurt your feet.
Going to Zion in July 2021. I’m curious, would hiking sandals be sufficient to use on this hike? Something durable with tread and ankle straps? It would eliminate the need for water shoes, socks, and a dry set up for later.
Plenty of people hike it in sandals like you’re talking about. Personally, I thought the gear was well worth it and made it much nicer and kept me from falling down. But, maybe if I was 23 instead of 43 I would be more inclined to go the sandal route. Lol. I think I put a link to some recommended sandals in the description.
@@WereintheRockies I’m right behind you at 42. Thank you for the input and for all of the work you have put into these videos! I will check out the link for those sandals.
It's all a matter of preference, many people hike in them and they will work fine. But if you want to protect your toes and the rest of your foot from the rocks, you may want to consider shoes that cover your whole foot and/or boots that give more ankle support.
@@WereintheRockies thanks. I’ll be getting my son the water shoes anyways from the outfitters so we will check them out. I just noticed you all do your spring break earlier in the month so hopefully that’ll cut down on some of the potential traffic.
Don't wear any cotton in the Narrows! Wooden poles can be used as a lean-to in deeper, heavy flow areas. You can place them upstream and put a lot of your body weight on them for stability, something you don't want to do with lightweight/collapsible hiking poles (I used both depending on the hike). Sam, below, has more on metal poles.
Each time I’ve hiked the Narrows I’ve done it in winter. January each time to be specific. It’s the best time to go. The crowds you’re seeing in their video aren’t there. You can also drive into the park, which avoids having to use their shuttle system. The narrows only “closes” based on the flow rate of the water. Even then “closing” is a suggestion. There’s no one there to actually stop you. I forget the actual flow rate that closes the narrows but I’ve never had that issue. Snowmelt starts in January down there anyway. The first time I went huge chunks of ice were falling into the canyon. Cool, but deadly. If you do it in winter rent a full-body dry suit, it’s about $50 from any of the local outfitters.
Great video, great suggestions! We can’t wait to hike the narrows, such a beautiful iconic hike. We are planning our itinerary for ZION & Bryce mid October, and it seems that Zion shuttle tickets are the hardest thing to come by! Lol. We may just rent bikes. Is the Zion Park Rd pretty level or hilly?
The tickets are difficult to get! The road is pretty level, if you had to bike it. Remember that you can take a private shuttle into the canyon right now. We did another video about the shuttles (ua-cam.com/video/quDGg6s6CBM/v-deo.html). We also did a video about Bryce (ua-cam.com/video/E8X5FLw7F4c/v-deo.html). When are you going in Oct? In our video about the shuttles, I give some ideas in case you can't get tickets. Let me know if you have any questions. Hope your trip is awesome.
Thank you for sharing your first hand experience! Very comprehensive info for first timer people who wants to see where to start, where to park, what gears are needed and what the place looks like! Exactly what i am looking for! Keep it up!
I'm a bus driver for Zion and it's amazing to see just how many people try to hike the narrows in crocs or with no backpack (for water and food). I hope many visitors watch your video!
Are the waits this summer really that bad? I heard the lines get full but they move and buses come every 15 min.
Lol I'm from Miami and know better.Thx for the comment
I just did this hike and there was a kid with jeans and flip flops????
@@jayinla228we paid for rental boots sticks and a ride to and from. So worth it. Hassle free
Thanks for all the tips. I have done the Narrows 3 times and your suggestions are right on. One thing I have heard is that trekking poles can break fairly easily. I know I put a fair amount of pressure on my rental stick and felt I could have easily snapped a trekking pole. The big pine sticks that they rent are much stouter. I did it once with a rental dry suit and twice with just boots and a stick.
Thanks for sharing your input and for watching.
Thanks!
I always hike with two poles regardless of the terrain. The two poles take a lot of stress off my knees and they also stabilize the walking and make falls much less likely...safer.
Our family went to Zion with hiking the Narrows as the priority; we did this 4 years in a row. Only a couple of people in our group rented shoes & neoprene socks. Half of us bring our own pole which is very helpful especially if water is swift and can’t see rocks. I agree with your bringing backpack with dry bag. I also like your recommendation of using the bathroom BEFORE starting the hike. Yes, that water is cold but I think you get use it. My children and I did the Narrows before the shuttle system was established. To protect and maintain the beauty of the park, limitations are required. I am happy we still get to enjoy and be in awe of the majesty created in the rocks.
You're advice on this paid off so much. My group and I followed your guidance on the gear, the time of year, the water depth, basically everything and it was spot on. It really did make a difference. Other than the shuttles we used E-bikes and to anyone who wants to truly control your own schedule E-Bikes are the way. We rode 40 miles in 3 days but nothing we did was dependent on someone else or a ride. Thank you!
I'm so glad we were able to help you prepare! That's awesome about the eBikes! We love eBiking and Zion is a great place to do it.
You two are HONESTLY the BEST on UA-cam! I love the details, I love the honesty, and I love the professionalism. Thank you so much!!!!
The first time I went to Zion, I spent most of my energy doing two other hikes first so when I started Narrows in the afternoon, I only hiked in about 2 miles before turning back. If I had known, I'd do the Narrows first.
Love this. We just came back last week and it was awesome. My legs felt like mush by the time we were coming back. We went 3 hours in to the fork, went right a little and then came back. It took us 2 hours coming back so we took 5 to 5.5 hours and we could have taken longer because we could have gone into the Narrows more. We didn’t want to come back when it was getting dark because we started about 11 am. This was a great video. I wish I saw this before I left.
Sounds like you had a great time!!! What a cool hike
Thanks for this making this showing what it is really like. Many videos want to convey it's a secluded hike only showing angles away from people but your video illustrates what it is really like.
Thanks for interested video, I learn more from you and will support you 👍😊
Thank you so much for all the info. We are first timers visiting Zion next month. You answered many of my question. excellent video. Very, very helpful
You are welcome 🙏. Have so much fun hiking those Narrows. Such a cool experience
This is extremely helpful! Great video and thank you! 😄
Glad it was helpful!
This video was so helpful. I just did this hike this morning. I rented the gear and am glad I did. The stick was absolutely necessary for me. I also bought the waterproof cellphone case for $15 at the shop and it was around my neck, it was easy to take pics.
Glad you found it helpful!
This is super helpful. Thank you!
Thank you for the tips.
I am so happy that you addressed,how and where and what do you do when you have to go to the bathroom. No one is talking about. What do you do when your on the hike and you have to go number one or number two.
Go number one in the water and if you need to go number two, find as private a place as possible, pack out your waste.
Just did the Narrows: 9 Mile round trip. Thank you for both of you for putting in detailed and useful info. We rented and prepared well. The hike was a blast.
Great to hear!
Did you have to get there by a certain time to get on the shuttle or get tickets?
No. You don’t need tickets for the narrows. Only for angels landing. Shuttle doesn’t require tickets. Can arrive anytime but It’s busy all day.
I am going in 2 weeks and I am super excited, thank you for covering everything!! Super informative
You’re welcome!
Great info! Thanks!
You're welcome
Great information. Thank you so much
You're welcome.
We hiked the Narrows maybe ten years ago. Unfortunately it was the first day they opened after three nights of heavy rains and the water was so murky you couldn’t see a thing, which made it very very difficult. We rented our equipment from a place on the way into the park and I liked that they also rented fleece in case of flash flooding and you were stranded. They also had you watch a video on flash flooding so that you knew the early signs to watch for. This was one of my favorite hikes ever, but much more difficult than I anticipated due to the flow rate and not being able to see any rocks. But thank you for this very informative video!
Ok. Your videos are the most informative and educational that I have found on UA-cam related to fun stuff to do. Thanks for the great info.
Glad you like them!
Great video guys!! Thank you so much! We are going this coming week!
Great info for us Floridians! Thank you!
Just came back from Yellowstone , thanks for all your advice and recommendations!!! Heading to Zion and hitting the narrows in July!!!
Thank you! We hope you enjoy Zion too!
Thank you for the video. We had to cancel our Hawaii trip so now we are looking to go somewhere else. Zion is perfect and we've always wanted to go. We should be there in 14 days. Thanks again.
Thank you for this. My daughter and I plan a visit at this same time frame this year 2022!
Have fun!
Great job. Very helpful!
This is the best youtube video on Zion narrows!! Thank you!.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much for this video! I'm heading there in October and so excited. Really appreciate the helpful advice and lovely footage of your time there. Gonna move on to your other videos on Zion National Park. Thanks again!
Thanks for watching. Have a great time!
Look forward for the itinerary
Superb tips and considerations. They will make for a more enjoyable Narrows hike. You can tell you guys are educators!
Enjoy 💗
Thanks very much for doing this video. Great advice! We are going next week and super excited! I didn't know about the rentals, so I already bought the water shoes for everyone. I hope it'll work!
Thanks! Taking my 3 boys next week after Easter. This is insanely helpful.
planning on going in July or Aug. and your video had great information. Thank you!
I did this up to mystery falls. Went 26th May memorial weekend. Was overcrowded long lines for shuttle.
I hope you had a good time. Memorial weekend is busy, as is summer.
So informative! Best video so far!!! Thank you
Heading to Zion in about 3 weeks. This was the most helpful video I’ve found!
Let us know how it went? I’m going in 3 weeks!
You guys rock! Your video's have been incredibly helpful in planning my upcoming trip. Thank you for making these, I appreciate it!
Our pleasure!
Very well done. My favorite was 23:27. I have a feeling he snuck that one into the edit…..
Love your informative videos! Watching as many as I can before our trip at the end of May.
😂 we LOVE seeing you guys with the super water moccasins 😂. I can't believe they got you on that did they get you on the stick by also? Tourist
Yes we did rent them and we were glad. 😊
I’ve just found your channel while doing research for a trip to Monument Valley and surrounding spots. I really appreciate your enthusiasm and great deal of details on each location. It’s proving to be an invaluable resource for my planning. One question: I hope to go in early March and am not familiar if that is too soon to go (cold, snow, places closed, etc). If you have any advice, I’d really appreciate it. BTW, I will be driving there from Florida, so it will be quite a bit different in so many ways.
March is cold but uncrowded. It’s not quite a pretty because the trees aren’t yet in bloom. Overall it’s a great time to visit if you don’t mind wearing a coat at times. However, Bryce Canyon will still be covered in snow most likely
Others have said that they thinner sticks don't work as well. They wedge between the rocks, get stuck and can break. The wooden ones stay on top of the rocks and provide traction.
Very informative video. Thanks for posting. Hope I can find more of your videos.
We have lots! Thanks for watching.
@@WereintheRockies Do you think water will be too cold to hike the Narrows 2nd week in April?
Cold isn’t a big deal because you can’t rent waiters. Water might be too high though
Thank you for your information. Your videos have been so helpful. We are hiking the narrows in a few weeks and will be renting shoes. What do we do with the shoes that we will have to wear to the park to get the rental shoes? Do we need to carry them in our backpack? Thanks for your help.
Yes, carry them. No lockers
Overall is all about having good balance and body coordination. Practice at your local river how to walk on rocks.
Thank you guys for these amazing tips!!
You’re welcome! Please let us know how your trip was!
I love your channel and always try to watch it before we hike a new National Park! Thank you for all the great tips on hiking The Narrows, we will be there in mid May 2022. This is our third trip to Zion National Park, and we love the hikes there! Also on this trip we are hiking Glacier NP, Badlands NP, Rocky Mountain NP, and Mount Rushmore. Do you have any videos on Glacier NP, too?
We are so glad they are helpful to you! We love sharing our information with others. It sounds like you have a fun summer planned! You can check out this video of ours on Glacier ua-cam.com/video/mkVB-pCkll0/v-deo.html
so excited
I’m currently camped outside of Zion and plan to visit as soon as we can get shuttle tickets. This information is right on time for me. Thanks for sharing!!
Good luck!!!
@@WereintheRockies this is wonderful info thank you my two young adult sons and I plan to be there May 26th 2021.Of course we couldn’t get the shuttle tickets. Hoping we can get same day or the commercial ones, thanks for that info again. Great tips. Looking forward to your future videos 🤗
You’re welcome. Remember the other options
. wereintherockies.com/zion-shuttle-guide/
Good luck!
I'm planing to go this year in October so these tips are great !
My favorite time to go. Enjoy! Hope you have a great trip. Let us know how it went.
Going in October as well. Little worried about the cold weather, however Excited 😝
October won’t be cold - it is AMAZING weather in October!!
We are in Vacay in Zion rn! We are heading to the narrows tomorrow!
Great video! Gets us more excited about our up coming trip. What time of the year did you go?
We went in September. Have a fun and safe trip, you'll love it.
Definitely packing my sports bra & spandex!😂
Love all your videos. So very helpful! Thanks! Peace and blessings.
Haha. Have fun! Make sure to check Zion's national park page. We have had so much snow in Utah this year that the Narrows may be closed a bit the next few months.
@@WereintheRockies hubby and I are going early October. Staying at Flanagan's Inn Springdale. Just getting my planning done ahead of time.
Great advises - and wish that I knew some of this a couple of years ago, when I visited Zion. As non-US resident you don't have the opportunity to frequently visit all the great places that you visit. You might only have one visit in your life to a place like Zion - and therefore insights and planning is essential, so THANK YOU very much for these videos. And Zion in my list for a re-visit, once COVID-19 is over.
Thanks Jim. One of my goals is to help foreigners. What other information would be helpful for someone out of the country?
@@WereintheRockies Just continue what you already are doing - the advice's you are giving are low-practical, straight forward and easy to follow. I have just share the link to your channel on a Facebook page for local US-travelers and other members are already excited. Keep on going :-)
... and by the way, even though I through the years have been visiting great places like Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Death Valley, Rocky Mountains Ntl. Park, Natural Bridges, Mesa Verde, Monument Valley, Black Canyon of Gunnison, Canyon de Chelly, Colorado Nat. Monument, Valley of Fire and Zion Ntl. Park - I can now blame you for the necessity to return to most of these places on top of all the other placed I have on my bucket list :-)
I just hiked the narrows yesterday
How was it?crowded, low water?
Awesome tips however if you do it in the summer and you do this as the last hike of the day for about a two hour span you will not need any other equipment. It’s very doable with the regular sneakers and no sticks
My kids and I did it yesterday our shoes dried quickly ❤️
Very surprised you went with sneakers and no sticks, I'm pretty athletic and found myself slipping on some rocks even with appropriate hiking shoes.
You were able to do the whole hike in 2 hours?
I wish there was close up of the Sox and shoes.
You can get a little bit closer view here: zionoutfitter.com/narrows-rentals/
Your vibe is very good
We're in the Rockies
861 subscribers
THANK YOU so much for watching our video! We hope you have a GREAT time hiking the Narrows.
For itineraries for your trip to Zion, check out our website, wereintherockies.com/store
Here are some useful links:
Our website for Zion itineraries (coming soon): www.wereintherockies.com
Flow Rate (best if under 50): waterdata.usgs.gov/ut/nwis/uv...
GO PRO (Waterproof): amzn.to/3juf8mL
Our favorite backpack, the Camelback: amzn.to/3juf8mL
Dry bag: Just use a grocery sack to wrap up your valuables. Then re-use the sack to wrap up the shoes and neoprene socks after the hike for the rest of your day.
Trekking poles: amzn.to/36rqEf2
Ergo baby carrier (We can’t recommend this enough!!): amzn.to/3ixNiVj
There is another option if you don’t want to rent gear, or carry around the big water boots the rental company gives you:
You can buy amphibian shoes that can double to hike the narrows and other hikes. You do NOT want water-proof hiking boots, because they will fill up with water. You want shows that will drain. And you don’t want to buy the same water boots that you can rent, because they are expensive and you’ll likely never use them again.
Amphibian shoes for men: something like amzn.to/3cTMMA3
Amphibian shoes for women: something like amzn.to/3cVQusJ
Socks: amzn.to/2GzDI7n
After the hike, do the Riverwalk back to the shuttle in your neoprene socks and amphibian shoes to let them dry out a bit (or maybe walk in your shoes without any socks). Then you can take off your neoprene socks, put them in your backpack, and put on your dry socks. Hopefully by then, your amphibian shoes have dried out enough and you’ll have a nice day of hiking ahead of you with very little to carry in your pack! (You might want to pack two pairs of dry socks in case the first gets too wet from the shoes).
2 years later….42,000 subs now!! Great job!
Just got back . I Hiked the narrows with closed toed sandals.
I used My own poles.The big stick looked cumbersome. I Left my hiking boots at the start of the water hike. I didn’t want to pack them and my fellow hikers didn’t strike me as thieves.Water temp was not that bad for me in early October.
Visit Kolob canyon “old Taylor trail “ less crowds.
I'm so glad you had a great time. Thanks for your comments!
We will be there at the end of October! Great video, thanks!
Gonna be cold!!
I just hiked the Narrows this June. I did not have a stick and just used my Teva's. I had no issues. If you rent the shoes and socks, they don't work the rest of the day. Also, you must carry the stick the rest of the day as well. I saw a lot of kids with hiking sticks, wonder who carried them the rest of the day? My guest is the parents. Also, if you use the special hiking boots, you have to carry them around as well. Most people I saw, went to the Narrows first. Another suggestion is to take the side hikes along the River Walk; great small hikes along the Virgin River, and less people.
Thanks for your insights and thanks for watching.
We were there for a short period of time in 2019 and now going Spring of 2021 for two days.
Love your videos can i ask what type of camara you guys use
iPhone 14 Pro Max
I love the narrows. I would say you do no need hiking sticks or rental boots to enjoy this legendary hike. For the older less athletic humans yes they need that extra advantage/help. But as long as you have good stamina, good balance and are genuinely a nature person (not just someone there because its popular) then you can make this hike with normal walking/constraining shoes and some shorts. If you go during the monsoon season (as we did) expect a lot of rain. If you are lucky you will get to see many waterfalls do to heavy rain. Great place to visit
Good morning. Thank you very much for your videos, these are very informative. We will travel to Zion in 2 weeks, we are nervous. We have: 2 hiking poles for each of us, diving socks that we will use together with our water shoes. Do you think we're okay with that? Or do you think it is better to rent the equipment there? We will wait for your answers. Thank you so much for everything.
Great tips. Thank you so much. Do you think seniors over 70 are able to go to the Wall Street?
70-year-old can be very different. If they are active, pretty stable, and have trekking poles, they should be able to.
Did you film this all on your go pro? It looks great either way! But curious to what you used.
Another great video! (I have a feeling that I'm going to end up telling you this a bunch. :P ) I like the low-key, but *very* informative nature of the video. You anticipate questions really well, and give great advice while answering them.
Thank you!!
LOVE watching y'all's videos! Thanks so much! You've got us so excited about our upcoming UT trip! But, I wanted to ask if you think my Vibram KSO's & my own hiking sticks would be adequate for the Narrows? Or would I be better off renting?
If you don't need ankle support, you should be fine.
Great! Thanks!
4M's & a C We loved meeting you and being in your video! ❤️ 5 gals from California❤️
Yaaa!!!!! You’ll be in our video soon. I haven’t forgotten about you!
Oh ya we did put you in that video. But we have another one coming out soon
Thank you for all the details... It is so helpful. I'm planning a trip with my parents in October. They're both very active in their late 50s. My mom was born with only one arm though. I'm sure she's capable but do you think it would be an issue?
From what you said, I think she would be fine. We saw plenty of older people doing it and having a blast! Worst case scenario is she can turn around. So definitely try it!!
Great tips! We plan to visit Zion possibly this summer so just perfect time to see this video. For me, I would definitely rent the wet boots and socks but bring my own sticks (I will need 2!). I do not have a GoPro but that would definitely be better to capture our hike instead of carrying around my large camera or Iphone which can fall into the water, yikes.
Perfect!
I love your guys #5! I’ve been asking around different videos and you guys covered it! Got the whole family going in August and I know Forsure I can’t hold in my bladder that long. 😂
Absolutely something to be aware of : )
If you go the full hike and don’t plan to sleep over or come back make sure to have transport waiting for you at your end location!!
Be smart don’t wing it 🤙🏽
Sleep over? Should we pitch a tent at the end & stay the night there?
@@jillknight5559 It is a permit won by lottery at the time, I made friends with a couple that won and their other friend didn’t make it so I kicked it with them, I was able to go the regular way all the way up and then I went back down with them. I would not advise that as it will require excellent conditioning but I also took the hard way because it was much more fun 😉
Awww the narrows! I did this on a whim while at Zion! My favorite of all the hikes I did. I’m hoping to go back and do the top down trail at some point in the future.
Me too!
The day we hiked the Narrows the water was in the low 50s our Legs were numb within 2 minutes
But it was fun
Great video and very detailed information. My family of 4 will visit Zion at the end of March. We will drive from Las Vegas to Zion in the morning. I expect to arrive Zion around noon time. We will stay the night at the Zion Lodge and spent the next day in Zion. We will drive to Bryce Park in the evening. So we have about one and half days in the Zion. Here are my questions: should we do the Narrows in the afternoon of the first day or in the morning of the next day? Any suggestions on how to plan the entire 1.5 days there? Thanks in advance!
Good question! About the Narrows: Morning is usually the best time, but March, afternoon might be better because mornings might still be kind of chilly. You should call Zion Outfitters or Zion Guru and ask them. They will be familiar with the crowds and the weather to help you pick the best time. For your question about planning other things, we've created a guide on our website that might help you: wereintherockies.com/store/. And of course we have other videos here on UA-cam as well: ua-cam.com/play/PLbhuXgSSAbWbSMEJsXz0GcX-4NJ5R-Wey.html
Y’all have been so helpful today in my plans for Zion. I may call the Zion Guru people and book with them. We will be at the Grand Canyon before heading to Zion so not sure about trying to find good internet for day before tickets so might as well spend the extra. I just wander if these groups will allow you to stop at the visitor center/gift shop or do we drive back later in the day? Do you know what the drive is like from the Grand to Zion?
Thanks! The drive from Grand to Zion is about 3 hours. It’s been a long time since I did it but I’m going to do it this summer.
Do they allow hunting knives? Is there a no knives rule or anything? Thanks.
Thanks again for the guide.
I was wondering, I see that on the website where you purchase the shuttle tickets there is a warning regarding toxins in the water and visitors are warned to stay away from the waters. Does this mean all the trails with waters are closed off? Is there somewhere I can find if the trails are open or not?
Thank you.
None of the trails are closed due to the water. A dog died from drinking the water and they found some bacteria in the water. so they have put a warning on it. But, as long as you don’t drink the water you’re fine.
Do you happen to know the Adidas Terrex boots they use for rentals?
We do not, sorry.
It says on the video that you have to buy a ticket for the shuttle? Where do I reserve or buy tickets for the shuttle for the zion? I thought the one at the park is free
Just FYI Zion National Park is NOT in the Rockie Mountains. Was a little confusing to me.
Just kidding. Not really. Good video and great advice.
Technically, you're right 😉
Where do you rent water shoes?
Zion adventure, Zion guru, or Zion outfitters
Thank you both for the very informative video! I had hiked the Narrows a couple years ago but went in early October. I seem to recall I wore my technical pants and some athletic pants over and was pretty comfortable. My brother and I are planning to hike the Narrows this coming Sunday (June 6th) . Do you think the water will be colder? I am wondering if I need to layer up again or if shorts will work?
If the water is shallow, you will be fine with the water boots. You will want to check with the rental gear company to see how deep the narrows are right now. Thanks for the comment!
Thanks for the great info! So the one ticket is for leaving the visitor center, riding all day and returning to the visitors center? Also how would you go about booking for 3 days of the shuttles for 2 people? Would you need each person to book one day? Thanks!
One person can book for both of you, although it increases your chances if both of you are online trying to get in there. You’ll need to select your day, pick your ticket time, and book it. Then select your next day and book that, etc.
You can do it in one sitting (assuming your day’s don’t cross over the open window times). I booked for three days in a row and got tickets at different times each day.
honest answer- shoes-wise, you think Teva sandals, the hurricane model made for water,( i've worn them white water rafting) would be okay shoes for the narrows or would you definitely recommend renting water boots?
If you aren't worried about rolling an ankle, your Teva's should be fine. I hardly ever worry about rolling my ankles but I was glad I had the boots I rented in the Narrows. It's a personal preference : )
What kind of pants are you wearing when you are hiking in the narrows? Would neoprene pants be too hot in beginning of October? Thanks!
We wore shorts. I think neoprene would be too hot, but you can check with Zion Outfitters
Are body glove water toe shoes ideal for this hike?
I have not used those type of shoes before but they should work just fine, as long as there is enough protection on the bottom, so the rocks won't hurt your feet.
Are there lockers at Zion Outfitters to hold your regular shoes or do you just pack them around?
Pack them around
Going to Zion in July 2021. I’m curious, would hiking sandals be sufficient to use on this hike? Something durable with tread and ankle straps? It would eliminate the need for water shoes, socks, and a dry set up for later.
Plenty of people hike it in sandals like you’re talking about. Personally, I thought the gear was well worth it and made it much nicer and kept me from falling down. But, maybe if I was 23 instead of 43 I would be more inclined to go the sandal route. Lol. I think I put a link to some recommended sandals in the description.
@@WereintheRockies I’m right behind you at 42. Thank you for the input and for all of the work you have put into these videos! I will check out the link for those sandals.
Are Chaco sandals appropriate for hiking the narrows
It's all a matter of preference, many people hike in them and they will work fine. But if you want to protect your toes and the rest of your foot from the rocks, you may want to consider shoes that cover your whole foot and/or boots that give more ankle support.
@@WereintheRockies thanks. I’ll be getting my son the water shoes anyways from the outfitters so we will check them out. I just noticed you all do your spring break earlier in the month so hopefully that’ll cut down on some of the potential traffic.
Don't wear any cotton in the Narrows! Wooden poles can be used as a lean-to in deeper, heavy flow areas. You can place them upstream and put a lot of your body weight on them for stability, something you don't want to do with lightweight/collapsible hiking poles (I used both depending on the hike). Sam, below, has more on metal poles.
This is lovely and so useful. We are planning to go towards the end of May. Are the Narrows closed then because of spring snowmelt?
Not usually. Just check with a place like Zion Guru or Zion Adventure. Also the official Zion website
Each time I’ve hiked the Narrows I’ve done it in winter. January each time to be specific. It’s the best time to go. The crowds you’re seeing in their video aren’t there. You can also drive into the park, which avoids having to use their shuttle system.
The narrows only “closes” based on the flow rate of the water. Even then “closing” is a suggestion. There’s no one there to actually stop you. I forget the actual flow rate that closes the narrows but I’ve never had that issue. Snowmelt starts in January down there anyway. The first time I went huge chunks of ice were falling into the canyon. Cool, but deadly. If you do it in winter rent a full-body dry suit, it’s about $50 from any of the local outfitters.
Great video, great suggestions! We can’t wait to hike the narrows, such a beautiful iconic hike. We are planning our itinerary for ZION & Bryce mid October, and it seems that Zion shuttle tickets are the hardest thing to come by! Lol. We may just rent bikes. Is the Zion Park Rd pretty level or hilly?
The tickets are difficult to get!
The road is pretty level, if you had to bike it. Remember that you can take a private shuttle into the canyon right now. We did another video about the shuttles (ua-cam.com/video/quDGg6s6CBM/v-deo.html). We also did a video about Bryce (ua-cam.com/video/E8X5FLw7F4c/v-deo.html). When are you going in Oct? In our video about the shuttles, I give some ideas in case you can't get tickets. Let me know if you have any questions. Hope your trip is awesome.