Hiking The Zion Narrows July 18, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Exercise & Fitness, Mindfulness, Nature.trackback
On both cross-country trips I’ve taken (in 1972 and 1992), I enjoyed the spectacular vistas offered in Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks.
From The Trust For Public Land:
The Zion Narrows hike is one of the world’s best canyon hikes. For 16 miles, the canyon winds through soaring sandstone walls, in some spots stretching 2,000 feet high and narrowing to just 20 feet. Since the Virgin River is the trail, plan on getting wet!
Whether done from the top down as an overnight through-hike, or from the bottom up and going as far as you’re comfortable, the Zion Narrows hike is a classic not to be missed.
Here’s a quick glimpse at Hiking the Zion Narrows with Erik Weihenmayer, a blind mountaineer.
And another video by two folks who donned wet suits for the hike:
Want more? Hiking the Zion Narrows ~ Best Hike Ever
Aah . . . that’s better!
Do you have a favorite hike? In what country? Have you ever hiked it with your eyes closed?
Thought to Ponder: My ideas usually come not at my desk writing but in the midst of living. ~ Anais Nin
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Spirit Lights The Way 
Nancy it looks beautiful! BUT I don’t hike and I don’t camp.. 😀 I love to walk a certain park in St. Louis and finally found a nice one where we live now!
We love day hikes (with NO packs on our backs) . . . especially along rivers or by waterfalls. But we’ve never hiked IN a river. That would be a new experience. 😯
The Narrows was the one hike I really wanted to do, but was too cold in November when we went. 😦
Zion is spectacular…loved it!
We are overdue for our next trek out west . . . now we can’t say we’ve gone once “every 20 years.”
Zion is a fabulous place to explore. Hope you get a chance to visit it again when it’s warmer.
I was there last January. Too cold for The Narrows, but we went to the end of the paved trail.
My favorite hike is in the Blue Valley of Western North Carolina/North Georgia, where three creeks (Big, Overflow and another I can’t remember) come together to form the West Fork of the Chattooga River. Lovely waterfalls and spectacular vistas, and barely a soul.
We loved hiking in North Carolina . . . around the waterfalls of the Blue Ridge and Great Smokey Mountains. We’d check the map, pick a waterfall, pack a lunch, and head in. Or head out.
We also loved Sliding Rock in the Pisgah National Forest . . . but the water was a bit brisk. 😯
What an incredible hike! I’d simply love to do it.
Oh, good. Something to add to your bucket list. Have you been to the states before, Col? Maybe a trip is in the cards.
I liked the idea of wearing a wet suit for warmth.
The best ever hike I did was in Namibia – the Fish River Canyon. I actually did it twice. Magnificent landscape. Not easy, but an incredible experience. Your description of the Zion Narrows reminds me of the Fish river canyon.
That sounds great, Don . . . the Fish River Canyon in Namibia looks quite similar in terms of basic topography:
Wonderful shots Nancy. The boulders bring back lots of memories. The hard part is that for two solid days you have to boulder hop which is extremely difficult, especially with your kit. Thanks for the memories.
I am always amazed by the offerings available on youtube. There were a few different videos of Fish River Canyon hikes, but I loved the stills in this one.
I love a good boulder hop . . . or two. But two solid days would be too much for me (even with sherpas to carry my gear).
I’d love to be able to do a hike like that, more gentle terrain is the order of the day for me now!
I’m not sure whether this is in the cards for us either. It depends when we next head west. The beginning of the river walk looks doable by most people who enjoy walking.
The PCT, any part of which traverses Washington State. It’s beyond beautiful! Rivaled, IMO, by a stretch of the Appalachian Trail that cuts through Southern MD, Northern VA and WV. The Fall colors are especially spectacular.
The West Coast has some spectacular scenery, but we’ve never made it as far north as Washington State. Maybe next trip. We enjoyed some beautiful hikes in Shenandoah National Park in Northern VA . . . and around Frostberg in MD.
“This land was made for you an me.” 😀
We drove through Bryce Canyon and Zion Park a couple of years ago. I’ve been dreaming ever since of returning. I would definitely try this hike! Thanks for the great info.
Excellent! I hope you make it back in the not too distant future ~ it really does look enticing.
Oh..I’ve never really been on a hike before! Not too much of an outdoor-sy person…but that canyon looks totally awesome! Loved the rocks and the river 🙂
Hiking, walking, and/or wandering in the great outdoors is a balm for the spirit. But I’ve never felt like marching for miles with a 28 pound knapsack on my back. So it’s always been day hikes with picnics and magical vistas as rewards and incentives.
That I could do! I’d love to go to a lake..with big old trees and snow capped mountains in the not so very distance…that’s usually my happy place when I meditate..hehe
That sounds like a perfect spot to soak up sustenance while pressing the PAUSE button! 😎
I get out and take lots of good “walks” wherever I go, but I’ve never been a real hiker. One that I took many years ago and I keep thinking I might like to do again is a hike to the volcano in Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northern California. There are so many exciting and beautiful places to see on foot. I’m at an age now when I do have to consider whether I can “make it” before I begin. It would have been a good thing to have had the same level of interest an curiosity when I was a bit younger! 🙂
I know just what you mean. What if we started, right about now, growing younger and stronger every day? (With our wisdom and curiosity intact.) How grand would that be? 😀
Can you believe I’ve lived in Arizona for over 25 years and haven’t made it to this neighboring state before? (I’ve only been to the Grand Canyon twice.) I would love to visit Zion and Bryce canyon. One of these days…
That is hard to believe. Sounds like a road trip is in order ~ Zion and Bryce are both worth a visit!
Happy Hiking! 😎
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We would love to visit Zion Canyon.
I have never hiked with my eyes closed.
Most of the hiking we have done, has been in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada. Kananskis has some beautiful scenery all year round.
We lived in Swakopmund, Namibia, then South West Africa, for three years, but unfortunately there were a few places we didn’t visit, one of them was the Fish River Canyon ;-(
Since then we have learn’t to visit places while you can, as you might not have a chance again.
Your comment reminds me of the song by Seals and Croft, We May Never Pass This Way Again:
It pays to walk through life with eyes wide open.
So true.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Thanks! You too.