Tips for Hiking The Narrows in Zion with Kids

The Narrows is one of those hikes that genuinely stops you mid-step. You are walking up a river, with thousand-foot canyon walls leaning in on both sides, and the light bouncing down on the water in ways that feel almost unreal. It is the kind of place that makes our kids go quiet for a minute, which if you have kids, you know is basically a five star review.

Here is a quick facts section before you dive in.

We hiked it as a family in September and learned a lot along the way. Here is what I would tell a friend before they went, especially if they are bringing little ones.

Talk to a ranger before you start

I cannot say this enough. Stop at the visitor center and actually talk to a ranger before you head in. They will tell you the current water flow, the water temperature, and whether the canyon is even safe to enter that day. The Narrows can close for flash flood risk with very little warning, and conditions change fast.

Check the official Zion National Park Narrows page the morning of your hike, and then confirm in person. Rangers are kind, they want you to have a great day, and they will be honest with you about whether it is a good call to go in with kids.

A quick word on cyanobacteria

One thing a lot of families do not know to check for: Zion has periodic cyanobacteria (toxic algae) advisories in the Virgin River. It is worth a quick look at the National Park Service alerts page before your hike. Even when there is no active advisory, the rule of thumb inside The Narrows is simple. Do not put your head underwater, do not drink the river water, and try not to let the kids splash it into their mouths. Rinse off when you get out and you are good.

The weather is the whole game

Here is the part I want you to really hear. The Narrows is a slot canyon. If it rains, even a little, even miles away, water funnels into the canyon and a flash flood can come through with almost no warning. People have died here. This is not me trying to scare you, it is me telling you to respect it.

Build extra days into your Zion trip if The Narrows is on your list. We planned multiple days in the park on purpose, because you may show up and the canyon is closed for weather. If you only give yourself one shot, you may not get to do it at all. Flexibility is the difference between a great trip and a disappointing one.

Going in September was honestly a sweet spot for us. It is shoulder season, the crowds had thinned out, and the heat was manageable. We practically had the road to ourselves on the ride up.

Where we stayed

We stayed at a Holiday Inn Express in La Verkin on points, which made the trip a lot more affordable. La Verkin is a short drive from Springdale, the little town right at the entrance of Zion. It worked great for us, but if I could do it again with the kids, I would honestly try to stay right in Springdale. When you are staying in town, you can park the car and pretty much forget about it.

One heads up on the La Verkin Holiday Inn Express, breakfast is available but it is not included in the room rate. We are so used to Holiday Inn Express having free breakfast that this one caught us off guard. The breakfast itself was actually delicious and had more options than the usual free spread, just know going in that you will be paying for it or planning ahead with groceries.

The other big perk of staying in La Verkin, you are right next door to the brand new Zion Canyon Hot Springs. We spent an evening there after hiking and it was the perfect way to recover. It is a full geothermal mineral pool resort with pools at different temperatures, cold plunges, lounging areas, a swim-up bar, and a stunning red rock backdrop for sunset. They offer day passes and cabanas if you want to splurge. After a long day in the river and on the bikes, soaking those tired legs in a warm mineral pool while the sun dropped behind the cliffs was unreal. More info at zioncanyonhotsprings.com.

Where to eat in Springdale

A couple of food spots we loved and would absolutely go back to. Oscar's Cafe in Springdale is a must, they are known for their giant burgers, garlic fries, and hearty Tex-Mex inspired plates that hit hard after a long day on the trail. Big portions, great patio, exactly what you want post-hike. We also loved Bumbleberry Gift Shop and Bakery, it is the cutest little stop with adorable gifts, clothing, souvenirs, and seriously yummy ice cream and baked goods. Worth a wander even if you are not hungry, but you will be.

Zion Guru handled everything, and I mean everything

I want to give Zion Guru their own moment here because they honestly made this trip. We rented our e-bikes, waders, neoprene socks, canyoneering boots, hiking poles, and dry bags all from them, and the whole family was set up from head to toe in one stop.

What really stood out was the customer service. They took the time to sit down with us, pull out a map, and walk us through exactly where to ride, where to park the bikes, and how the shuttle rules worked on the scenic drive. Then they went a step further and pointed out specific spots on the hike itself to look for once we were up in the canyon. Little things we would have completely missed on our own. Top notch service for our family, and we already know we will use them again next time we are in Zion. Their reviews are fantastic and it is easy to see why.

Riding e-bikes from Zion Guru all the way up to The Narrows

We rode our Zion Guru e-bikes from town all the way up to the Temple of Sinawava, where The Narrows trailhead begins. Here is the thing most people do not realize: private cars are not allowed on the Zion scenic drive. Everyone else is waiting in long lines for the shuttle bus to get up to the trailheads, but e-bikes are allowed on the road. So instead of standing in a shuttle line and packing in with a crowd, we cruised up at our own pace, stopped whenever we wanted, and turned the commute into one of the most beautiful rides of the whole trip. Honestly, I was nervous about the heat and whether it would be too much for the family. It ended up being one of the most beautiful drives we have ever done, and having the road almost to ourselves made the whole trip that much more special.

Because of the pedal assist, the ride never felt overly hard, even for the kids. Jake had Noah on the back of his bike, I had my own, and Aniston had her own youth e-bike. I really thought she would be too young to handle it, but she loved every second.

The one rule to know: once you are on the scenic drive past Canyon Junction, shuttle buses are the only vehicles allowed. If a shuttle comes up behind you, you pull over like a pedestrian, let it pass, and then hop back on. We only had to do it a handful of times the entire ride, and it really was not a big deal.

Our e-bikes also had a slot for hiking poles, which made hauling gear up to the trailhead so easy. There is e-bike parking at pretty much every trailhead, and honestly you can park them just about anywhere. We never had any issues, and Zion is known for being a really respectful, low-theft area. We still used the lock that came with our rental at The Narrows trailhead, just for peace of mind.

One thing I wish someone had told us: cover your black bike seats while you are away. We came back after hours of hiking and those seats were screaming hot. Throw a shirt, a hat, anything over them. You will thank me later.

For reference on distance: the ride from Zion Guru in Springdale up to the Temple of Sinawava (where The Narrows trailhead is) is right around 8 miles each way. With pedal assist and the canyon scenery, it honestly flew by.

What to wear in the water

The water in The Narrows is cold, even in summer. Like, takes-your-breath-away cold in spring and fall. Most people rent gear in Springdale, and it is 100 percent worth it. We hiked with neoprene socks, canyoneering boots, and full waders, plus hiking poles, and it was a game changer. We stayed comfortable, were able to actually enjoy the cold water, and when it warmed up midday, we just rolled the waders down or off and tucked them into our dry bags.

Rent the hiking poles too. Do not skip them. You are basically walking on bowling balls down there and the river floor is uneven, slick, and full of rocks you cannot see through the current. The poles keep you upright and keep your ankles in one piece.

Points and miles (how we make trips like this happen)

A huge part of how we are able to travel as often as we do comes down to credit card points. Our absolute favorite is the Chase Sapphire Preferred. The travel protections alone (trip delay, lost luggage, rental car coverage) have saved us more than once, and the points we earn on everyday spending have covered flights, hotels, and rental cars for trips just like this Zion one.

If you want to check it out, here is our referral link: Chase Sapphire Preferred, our favorite travel card. Using it helps our family out at no cost to you, and it is the same card we recommend to friends in real life.

How far you can hike (and where you need a permit)

The Narrows from the bottom-up is a no-permit hike, which means you can hike upstream and turn around whenever you want. You are allowed to go as far as Big Spring, which is about 5 miles in from the trailhead. Anything past Big Spring, or hiking the full top-down 16 mile route from Chamberlain's Ranch, requires a wilderness permit from the park.

We hiked about 4 miles in and 4 miles back out, which felt like the sweet spot with the kids. You get well past the famous narrow sections, you see Wall Street, and you still have enough energy left to bike back to town.

What the hike is actually like

Before you even hit the river, you walk about a mile on a paved path called the Riverside Walk to get to the trailhead. That part is easy, stroller friendly, and honestly beautiful on its own. Just know that is the only stroller-friendly stretch. Once you step into the river, it is boots, poles, and little hands only.

Once you are in the water, the hike itself is not technically hard. It is just strenuous in a different way. You are constantly looking up at the canyon, looking down at your feet, picking your line through the rocks, and trying to stay steady. It demands your attention the whole time.

There is one section where it gets deep. I am five foot three and it came up to my chest. The kids had to ride on Jake's shoulders through that part and they thought it was the best thing ever. I honestly did not think it was hard at all, and the dry bags kept all of our stuff safe and dry.

How the kids actually did

This is the question I get the most, so let me be really honest about it. Our kids were 9 and 6 when we hiked The Narrows, and they did incredible. Not because they are little superheroes, but because we set the day up for them to succeed.

Aniston, our 9 year old, loved every minute. She had her hiking poles, her waders, and full control of her own pace. She felt like a real adventurer, and honestly she kind of led the way for a lot of it. She was proud of herself the entire time and did not complain once about being cold or tired.

Noah, our 6 year old, did amazing too. He is a little shorter, so on the sections where the water got higher he had to hop up on Jake's shoulders for a bit, but that was really the only time he needed a lift. Both kids were so infatuated with the canyon walls, the river, and how beautiful it all was that they just kept walking. The scenery honestly did half the parenting for us.

The moments that got both of them were the deep crossings and Wall Street. Riding on Jake's shoulders through chest-deep water with the canyon towering over them, they were laughing the whole way. To this day it is one of the first stories they bring up when someone asks about our trips.

If your kids are younger than 6, you can absolutely still do the Riverside Walk and dip into the mouth of The Narrows. Go as far as feels good, take pictures, and turn around whenever. There is no rule that says you have to hike the whole thing to have done it.

Real tips for hiking it with kids

A few things we learned along the way:

Go early. The canyon gets crowded, the light is better in the morning, and you want time to turn around if anyone is struggling.

Set a turnaround time, not a turnaround spot. Tell the kids, we are walking up the river for X amount of time and then we are heading back, no matter where we are. Wall Street is incredible, but it is not worth pushing past your kids' limits to get there.

Bring way more water and snacks than you think you need. Hiking in a river burns more energy than you would guess. Fill up at the trailhead water station before you head in, because that is the last one you will see.

Pack a dry bag (or two). Phones, keys, a dry layer, snacks, all of it stays safe. You will get wet, often higher than you expect.

Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat, even in the canyon. The sun comes down in patches and you will fry without thinking about it.

Watch the water color. If you notice the water suddenly looks muddy, debris coming down, or hear a roar, get to higher ground immediately. That is the textbook flash flood warning.

Hold hands on the deeper crossings. Even a knee deep crossing can knock a small kid off their feet if the current is strong enough.

Keep heads out of the water and no sipping from the river, cyanobacteria and general river bacteria are not worth the risk.

Bring a positive attitude. The kids feed off of yours. If you are excited, they will be too.

Our gear list, and where we got it

Our waders, neoprene socks, canyoneering boots, hiking poles, dry bags, and e-bikes for this hike all came from Zion Guru, and I cannot recommend them enough. For everything else we always travel with (packing cubes, kid gear, camera stuff, snacks that survive a backpack), you can peek at our full travel gear list and grab our free printable adventure resources on the freebies page.

The honest takeaway

If your family is on the fence about hiking The Narrows, I hope this encourages you to go for it. It ended up being one of our favorite adventures we have ever done together, and it is a memory our kids still talk about today.

Respect the weather, gear up properly, ask a ranger, check for cyanobacteria advisories, and then let the canyon do its thing. Stop, look up, and soak it in while you are down there. The hike goes by faster than you think.

If you go, come back and tell me how it went. We love hearing from other families who tackled this one. Follow along on Instagram @the.ventureseekers for more of our Utah trips.

-Brittany, The Venture Seekers