The Narrows Regulations

 

Bottom-up hikers may not travel beyond Big Spring in the Virgin River (roughly 4.7 miles in) or beyond 1/4 mile into Orderville Canyon.

NPS Map

Permits and Boundaries

Bottom-Up Hiking Route

Wilderness Permits are not required for hiking trips starting at the Temple of Sinawava (Shuttle Stop #9). However, upstream travel is limited by the following boundaries:

• Upstream travel in the Virgin River Narrows is not allowed beyond Big Spring.

• Upstream travel into Orderville Canyon is not allowed after 1/4 mile from the junction.

Top-Down Hiking Route

Permits are required for all top-down 16 mile trips from Chamberlain’s Ranch through the Virgin River Narrows. Permits must be obtained in person from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Desk during normal hours of operation. Learn more about permits on our Narrows Permits page.

 

Plan Ahead and Prepare

Rescue is not a certainty. Your safety is your responsibility. Learn about proper clothing, gear, and behavior on our Narrows Safety page.

Leave No Trace

While hiking in Zion, please show respect for your national park and your fellow visitors by following each of the Leave No Trace principles.

• Leave No Trace: Center for Outdoor Ethics

• Watch an NPS Leave No Trace video.

Dispose of Waste Properly

Human waste is harmful to both the environment and the experience of other visitors. All hikers must carry solid human waste out of The Narrows in personal wilderness toilet bags.

• All Wilderness Permit groups must carry at least one personal wilderness toilet bag per person while hiking.

• Pack it in, pack it out. Carry out all trash, including toilet paper, food wrappers, apple cores, fruit peels, nut shells, and other such waste. Dispose of all waste in a proper trash can or dumpster. Please recycle any appropriate items.

Leave What You Find

Leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects as you find them. Please do not build rock cairns.

• Leave the canyon in a natural state for others to enjoy. Protect the canyon walls from graffiti, vandalism, and muddy handprints.

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

When hiking in the Zion Narrows, please stay in the watercourse to protect vegetation. Using and creating social trails can lead to soil compaction, erosion, and unsightly scars on the landscape.

Campfires are Prohibited

Campfires are prohibited in the Virgin River and throughout the Zion Wilderness. In the interest of environmental and scenic values, protection of natural resources, and public safety, restrictions on fires are necessary.

• Fuel stoves and lanterns may be used for camping purposes, but should only be lit on bare ground away from all vegetation.
• Please do all you can to protect the park from human-caused wildfires.

Recreational Inflatable Tubes are Prohibited

Recreational inflatable tubes are not allowed on any watercourse within the park boundaries. If you wish to float the river in a kayak or other vessel, visit our river trips page.

Group Size Limits

Above the junction of The Narrows and Orderville Canyon, the maximum group size for upstream travel is 12 people. For top-down trips, group size limits vary — visit the Narrows Permits page for more information.

• A group is any number of people sharing the same affiliation (e.g., club, scout troop, colleagues, family, friends, etc.) on the same trail on the same day, even if they have multiple permits.

• Group size limits are strictly enforced to protect the visitor experience. Permits will be denied and violators will be cited if limits are exceeded.

Structured and Guided Activities

Structured and/or formally guided activities facilitated by educational, commercial, or like organizations are authorized to occur only on frontcountry trails. Such activities are not authorized to take place in park wilderness areas (Primitive and Pristine Zones).

Protect The Wilderness

Wilderness is a rare wild place where one can retreat from civilization, reconnect with the earth and find healing, meaning, and significance. Knowledge, respect, and understanding for these wild and undeveloped places will ensure that they remain spectacular for years to come. To learn more, visit the National Park Service Wilderness page and Wilderness Connect.

Much of The Narrows are Designated Wilderness. Learn about additional Wilderness Regulations before embarking on a trip.