We have all of our gear reserved with Zion Adventure Company.

My question is how far do I want to go into the Narrows? I am wondering how much time to allow for my hike. I don't want to hike in 3 miles and find out when I get out that I missed something spectacular if I had just kept going. What is there to see along the way. I was planning on 2 or 3 hours in and 2 or 3 hours out. Is this about right?

Sounds about right, perhaps a little longer. When we did it several years ago, we underestamated how tired you get walking in water for most of the way. It really saps your strength, so keep that in mind. We went as far as Orderville (sp) canyon and walked partway up. It's all pretty spectacular and in 3 hours you should be able to see most of it.

My husband and I hiked it last Fall and it took us around 6 hours. We were pretty fast hikers and really wanted to do the hole hike. Most turn around or do part of it but we were so glad we did the entire hike. It is quite beautiful and worth the trip. Make sure to bring a lunch and snacks.

I want to bring this question back to top. How far in the canyon is order vile? Is this a good turn around point? Is this where wall street is? I like spiro don't want to hike in and find out later if I only went another 15 minutes

I will be there 9/29-101 and plan to hike this. I will be renting shoes and pole but otherwise how should I dress? I have a regular backpack, and was going to put my stuff inside in plastic. Would it be better to buy a waterproof backpack?

Thanks for all your help

I've done the full bottoms up hike and loved it, but it was a very long day (7+hrs round trip) and I'm a very fast hiker when I want to. I did spend a time lounging in quiet sun when I found a sunny spot (few and far between).

I forget the exact point, but there is a section - maybe it's "wall street?" that is truly the narrows, where there is NO riverbank on either side. I enjoyed playing around in that section, and inflating my dry suit to float a 50yard section several times. This was in May, when a dry suit was needed due to the water temperature.

If you go no further than that point you'll see the best of the Narrows. I do not recall any aha points after that.

Be aware that due to the rains over the last few days the Narrows is closed. Any water level over about 100 or 120cfm and they close it down as unsafe. The river level will drop again after this storm is over, but do not be at all surprised if it is closed when you are there. Nothing you can do about it.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=09405500

You do not need a waterproof backpack - you just need to have your keep dry items well bagged. Camera, food, clothes. Leave wallet and cell phone behind.

On a normal hike you would not get wet above your waist, but there can be spots where you may step into deeper water as you cris-cross the river.

In addition to food and drink, you should definitely bring extra clothes - including long sleeved fleece and wicking layers. It is quite easy to get a chill when you get wet, so having something dry to change into is a good plan.

Thanks j62. Lots of good info! I sure hope the water will be down when we get there

Great info from J62. Yes, the Orderville Canyon junction is a good destination and turnaround point. It's about 2 1/2 miles from the start of the hike. Orderville Canyon is worth exploring a bit as well. Here's a photo by the junction:
http://nelsonchenkin.zenfolio.com/p2...f292#h1971f292

The people are standing about where Orderville Canyon comes in from the right.

Definitely bring warm clothes as J62 says. I was there on a day in July when the temperatures were to hit 100 degrees, but it was still chilly in the canyon.

Good luck with water levels, have a great trip.

Nelson Your pictures are georgous!

Stupid questions to follow - 2 1/2 miles from start of hike. Is that from the very beginning of river walk or from when you walk down the steps to the river?

Will I know when I get to Orderville canyon?

Thanks powers, it's an easy place to get good pictures. I did wish I had my wide angle lens in The Narrows.

Good questions.
1) I used my Topo! program and am getting ~2.75 miles from the beginning of the Riverwalk to Orderville Canyon. So roughly a mile on Riverwalk then 1.75 in the river.

2) As I recall it's the first canyon that you come to that is big enough to walk into directly from The Narrows. It enters from the right, can't miss it!

Oderville is the first side canyon you come to - can't miss it.

If you are attempting to track your distance with a GPS receiver, eg a garmin wrist GPS, forget about it. You don't get a clear reliable signal inside the narrows. GPS tracking isn't really reliable anywhere in Zion Canyon, especially on any of the hikes that go up the east (Observation point) or west (Angel's Landing).

Thanks all - good info

J62 I used your link just now and see the narrows are open again! Thanks

Yep, you'll know it when you are there. We just went a ways up into the side canyon.

The Narrows along with Angels Landing are 2 of my all time favorite hikes. You might want to consider getting some type of wet pants from Zion Adventure Co. if the water and air temps are cold. I think we probably took about 5-6 hours. We didn't really linger much anywhere tho.

Here is a link to our photos. http://share.shutterfly.com/action/w...0IatW7FqybsWxw

Awesome photos Nelson!

Thanks spiro! Very much appreciated.