Yes—we hiked the Narrows with our 5, 8 and 9 year old kids. Why? Because kids can do hard things.
BUT, having the right gear definitely helps.
Here are the details:
Understand the Zion Narrows
The Narrows hike is an incredible slot canyon with Zion National Park, carved by the Virgin River. The hike involves wading and possibly swimming (depending on how long your legs are!) through river sections surrounded by towering canyon walls.
Best time to Hike?
We went in late March and scored a beautiful spring day, but note that the snowmelt increases river flow which can make it more challenging and potentially unsafe. Check the flow the night and morning before heading out just to be safe. Late spring (late April-early May) might have lower flows. For up to date river gauges all the info for hiking The Narrows, visit this page on the Zion Guru website.
Planning and Permits:
For the TOP-DOWN route (via The Subway) you’ll need a permit through the lottery system. For those without a permit or for families we recommend the Riverside Walk ( Bottom-up route ) that does not require a permit. We walk about 2 miles up the Narrows to the Wall Street section, for a total of 4 miles round trip.
Pro tip: Start early to avoid crowds and to make sure you have plenty of time to enjoy the day!
Gear and Packing:
We went with Zion Guru to fit our entire family with drysuites and complete waterproof shoes, which we highly recommend! Get fitted the day before so you’re ready to go first thing the next morning. And of course take into consideration the time it will take to get all those clothes on the kiddos!
There are lots of places to stop along the river to enjoy lunch and rest stops for the little ones, so bring plenty of food and water. And as always, leave no trace! Let’s keep the Narrows beautiful for the next person!
